The Walking Dead season 8 episode 15: Carl's letters to Rick and Negan revealed - full transcript

Chandler Riggs returned in a voiceover role for the penultimate episode of season 8

Rick Grimes finally got around to reading the letter left behind by his fallen son Carl in this week's episode of The Walking Dead.

The letter, recited by a returning Chandler Riggs whose voiceover plays over the episode's opening, recounts memories of the Grimes clan pre-apocalypse as well as detailing Carl's hopes for a peaceful future.

You can read the letter in full below.

"I remember my eighth birthday at the KCC, with that giant cake and Aunt Evie showing up on leave, surprising all of us. I remember mum. I remember Codger. I remember school and going to the movies and Friday night pizza and cartoons and grandma and grandpa and church, the summer barbecues, and the kiddie pool you got me. I could've used that at the prison.

You told me about the walks we would take when I was three. You holding my hand around the neighbourhood, all the way to Ross' farm. I didn't know that I remembered them, but I do because I see the sun and the corn and that cow that walked up to the fence and looked me in the eye. You told me about all that stuff, but it isn't just that stuff. It's how I felt. Holding your hand, I felt happy and special. I felt safe.

I thought growing up was about getting a job and maybe a family - being an adult. But growing up is about making yourself and the people you love safe. As safe as you can, because things happen. They happened before. You were shot before things went bad. It kind of felt like things went bad because you were shot. I want to make you feel safe, dad. I want you to feel like I felt when you held my hand. Just to feel that way for five minutes … I'd give anything to make you feel that way now.

I wanted to kill Negan. I wish I did. Maybe it would have been done. I don't think it's done now. You went out there again, but I don't think they surrendered. I don't think they will surrender. There are workers in there, dad. They're just regular people: old people, young people, families. You don't want them to die, dad. We're so close to starting everything over, and we have friends now. It's that bigger world you used to talk about: the Kingdom, the Hilltop. There's got to be more places, more people out there - a chance for everything to change and keep changing. Everyone giving everyone the opportunity to have a life. A real life.

If they won't end it, you have to. You have to give them a way out. You have to find peace with Negan. You have to find a way forward somehow. We don't have to forget what happened, but you can make it so it doesn't happen again, and nobody has to live this way. That every life is worth something. Start everything over. Show everyone they can be safe again without killing, that it can feel safe again, that it can go back to being birthdays, schools, jobs and even Friday night pizza somehow - and walks with a dad and a 3-year-old, holding hands. Make that come back, dad. And go on those walks with Judith. She'll remember them.

I love you.

- Carl"

Carl's letter to Negan was also unveiled by Michonne (Danai Gurira) who read it aloud to The Saviours' leader over a walkie-talkie which he promptly smashed after threatening to kill every single member of Alexandria, the Kingdom and Hilltop. Read it below.

“Negan,

This is Carl. I was helping someone. I got bit. Didn't even have to be doing what we were doing. I was just helping someone, and now I'm gone. You might be gone. Maybe my dad made your people give you up and he killed you, but I don't think so. I think you're still around. I think you're working on a way out. Maybe you got out. Maybe you think we're a lost cause and you just want to kill all of us. I think you think you have to be who you are. I just wonder if this is what you wanted. I wanted to ask you. I wish I could have.

Maybe you'll beat us. If you do, there will just be someone else to fight. The way out is working together. It's forgiveness. It's believing that it doesn't have to be a fight anymore - because it doesn't. I hope my dad offers you peace. I hope you take it. I hope everything can change. It did for me. Start over. You still can.

- Carl“

Next week sees The Walking Dead season 8 draw to a close next week with a finale that is expected to see Rick and The saviours to lock heads for one final time as the conclusion of All Out War arrives.

The Walking Dead season 8 continues on AMC every Sunday with the UK premiere arriving the next evening on FOX as well as being available to stream on NOW TV.

Are you a longtime fan of Lost? Or looking for a new series to start? Subscribe to two of our writers' new podcast 'The LOST Boys' following their journey watching from the very beginning - one for the first time, the other for the eighth

Follow Independent Culture on Facebook