The Strangers Across the Street

"There's a paradox to power. The more force you bring to a situation, the more likely you are to meet resistance."

- Gary Noesner

"The Strangers Across the Street" is the second episode of Waco. It aired on January 31, 2018.

Overview
ATF Agent Jacob Vasquez goes undercover to infiltrate Mount Carmel and befriends David Koresh in hopes of finding illegal weapons or other activity. While the ATF plans a raid on the compound, a local newspaper leaks a damaging story about Koresh, forcing the ATF to accelerate its plans, and the stage is set for a showdown.

Recap
Across from the Waco Branch Davidians compound now lives Jacob Vazquez. He’s taking pictures, watching the cult. Soon, David Koresh, David Thibodeau, and Steve Schneider come to give a warm welcome with some beer and pizza. Rodriguez claims they’re "ranchers" looking for property. Although the cult leader is already quite suspicious, which is more than obvious.

In Washington, Gary Noesner speaks of the "paradox to power" when he’s trying to tell his buddies to invest more in negotiating tactics, rather than a show of force with guns.

The Branch Davidians are discussing what to do from here on out. Koresh seems to want to be an open book, while the rest of them, except for Judy Schneider think inviting people in will invite danger and misunderstanding. Wayne Martin has concerns about their guns, as well as the polygamy, the “statutory rape” that’s going on even if David and the others see it as all above board, parent-sanctioned. This is where Thibodeau comes in. They need him to marry Michelle Jones, sister to Rachel Koresh, so her having kids with the almighty saviour doesn’t cause them any legal issues.

The ATF are already planning their entry into the compound, possible routes and plans of attack. They’ve also got Angela Duke running publicity. Meanwhile, Vazquez has to continue playing a dangerous game, treading the line going undercover amongst the Branch Davidians. He takes up Koresh’s earlier offer, heading in to their compound for a closer look around. He’s privy to one of David’s sermons. It’s a rousing talk about the "End Times" and all the Book of Revelation rambling. Koresh speaks about the Seven Seals, telling his congregation about the Lamb of God. "I am that Lamb," he says with a smile on his face.

Until the cult leader takes a whittled branch and explains someone’s broken a rule, meaning punishment. This is the first time we see part of their arsenal, too; many, many guns. Someone ate unauthorized ice cream. It’s actually little Cyrus, the preacher’s boy. He doesn’t give the boy "a licking" with the branch – he gives him a lick of ice cream on a spoon. Afterwards, everybody gets ice cream.

The undercover man gets some face time with Koresh later, they talk more personally. David says Jacob was brought to him by God. It’s still evident that the cult leader does not believe the guy fully, he’s too paranoid for that. He can’t keep his mind off it. Not just that, his own wives are starting to worry about what it’ll mean to be judged by real laws and not the Biblical ones. "Those men live by man‘s law, not God‘s." Now, Koresh sees it more as a game, an assertion of his power that he believes he can convert Rodriguez. He’s so narcissistic he’ll put the entire group at risk by letting the guy stick around.

Thibodeau calls up his mom Balenda, telling her he’ll visit soon. She’s not the type to dig the "man shit" of religion, which is awesome. There’s also still a part of David that knows he’s not meant for this.

In Washington, Noesner gets a drop in from Mitch Decker who got word about the possible complaint coming up. The negotiator doesn’t like how Mitch works, neither does he like the "direction the bureau‘s heading in." But Decker’s willing to make professional trouble for Gary should things move forward. Noesner laments to his wife that night about being involved in a man’s death, calling him out after a long negotiation so that an FBI sniper could kill him.

The wedding goes ahead. Man and wife are joined in holy matrimony by the cult leader himself. That reservation on Thibodeau’s part is crushing, you can see the side of him that doesn’t want to do it all but leaping out. During the reception Jacob is brought into the crowd, Koresh goading him on to dance with everybody. The two of them join Wayne and a few others once the dancing’s done, they talk about deeper things. And the cult leader asks if Jacob has a gun, requiring he turn it over.

The press are already printing SINFUL MESSIAH articles on the front page, news teams are searching out Mt. Carmel where the compound’s located. The federal raid is about to come down on the compound. Jacob heads in to see if Koresh and the Davidians expect anything. Right at the same time as word starts spreading to the cult leader that there are ATF agents on their way. Naturally, Koresh starts asking Jacob questions, and he tells him to stop the raid, believing the man’s seen their true lives and not the supposed garbage in the media. Luckily, Mr. Rodriguez manages to get out alive, trying to get the ATF to call the raid off. Except it’s not being stopped, for fear of bruised egos, no matter how hard Robert tries.

Starring

 * Michael Shannon as Gary Noesner
 * Taylor Kitsch as David Koresh
 * Andrea Riseborough as Judy Schneider
 * Paul Sparks as Steve Schneider
 * Rory Culkin as David Thibodeau
 * Shea Whigham as Mitch Decker
 * Melissa Benoist as Rachel Koresh
 * John Leguizamo as Jacob Vazquez
 * Julia Garner as Michelle Jones

Guest Starring

 * Camryn Manheim as Balenda Thibodeau
 * Christopher Stanley as Edward Wiggins
 * Demore Barnes as Wayne Martin
 * Annika Marks as Kathy Schroeder
 * Steven Culp as Peter Hardwick
 * Andy Umberger as Perry Jones
 * Stephanie Kurtzuba as Carol Noesner
 * Sarah Minnich as Angela Duke
 * Eli Goodman as Barry Skinner

Co-Starring

 * Matthew Page as Nate Madrono
 * Vivien Lyra Blair as Serenity Jones
 * Ryan Jason Cook as Derek Ludlow
 * Jack O'Donnell as OPR Agent
 * Tait Fletcher as Brad Branch
 * J.B. Tuttle as Davey Jones
 * Darcel Danielle as Sheila Martin
 * Cayen Martin as Jamie Martin
 * Duncan Joiner as Cyrus
 * Kenneth Miller as Mike Schroeder
 * Kimberly Bigsby as Jaydean Wendell
 * Kimberly Kiegel as Catherine Matteson