“Speaking in Tongues” is episode six of season one of First Wave.
The episode opens in a building that looks like a barn at night and a preacher is speaking to the crowd. He talks about how the Almighty Force looked down from above after scouring the galaxy and finding Earth. The Almighty Force decided it must establish a kingdom on Earth. So that mankind would welcome it with open arms, the Almighty Force created one of its own in the image of man. Two women in the audience are with each other; one looks impressed, the other does not. The preacher says that the Almighty Force came down and the name of the one who did is Elton Beleye. Bowing, for that’s his name. Elton says the Almighty Force lied to him and worse, lied to them. For they are not lambs and have free will. Elton will not lead them to the aftertime, as it will be their slaughter. The countdown to their destruction has begun, and one hope remains. Their saviour, Elton. He will lead them to salvation as their one true saviour and Elton rises into the air.
Cade is being let into a compound by guards; he’s been led to a grassroots preacher who claims extra-terrestrial ancestry. If he is alien, he could help clear Cade’s name and expose the conspiracy. Cade is posing as a drifter looking to join the cult. He’s greeted by Jenny (Kendall Cross) the woman from the audience who looked impressed. Jenny says that the sundown service starts in an hour and Cade needs to hand over his personal belongings, because Elton provides. She talks about her sister Cassandra joined the cult and now feels the same way. Jenny found meaning in her life through Elton, though she warns Cade about mocking him.
The sundown service is not as extravagant as the previous service seen. Cassie does not look impressed still, despite what her sister said. One of the audience talks about how he wants to go because he misses his wife. Elton grabs him by the throat, rather annoyed. Then sees Cade and asks why he’s there. The end of the service has a supplication in an unknown tongue. Most are bowing their heads, the exceptions being Cassie and Cade.
Jen and Cassie are arguing about Elton; Cassie joined the cult because she cares about her sister. Cade enters after Jen leaves, and asks whether Cassie truly believes. He doesn’t believe that she feels the same way as the others, and manages to convince Cassie he isn’t trying to trick her.
Cassie says they need to talk elsewhere. She talks about her sister and how Jen joined the cult. Cassie is trying to convince her to leave. Their family hired a PI but they never heard from him again. Cade asks where Elton lives and Cassie points it out; there appears to be a peculiar-looking aerial on the building.
That night, Cade breaks into Elton’s home. He finds a lockbox full of IDs and personal possessions. One ID belongs to a PI. He hears a noise and finds some sort of communications device with strange words coming from it. On the way out, he bumps into the patrolling guard.
Cade is brought before Elton, but he manages to convince him that he wasn’t in his study and that he didn’t feel worthy of Elton’s perfect love. Elton insists he is; he seems convinced though his guard, Zachary, is not. After Cade leaves, Zachary asks what if Cade was sent by the others. He can’t pretend to understand Elton’s ways, but Elton doesn’t listen to their messages any more and they call every night. Elton smashes the communications device.
The next day, Cade speaks to Cassie about people who leave. Elton just lets them go apparently. Why is he asking. Cade has a hunch they never left. There was personal stuff, including the ID of the PI Cassie’s family hired, which Cade swiped.
It seems clear that Elton is an alien and knows about the plan, but doesn’t want to go along with it. He appears to have become enamoured of having devoted followers hanging on his every word, and sleeping in his bed. Joshua (Roger Cross), who was first seen in “Crazy Eddie” and was said to be one of the aliens’ greatest commanders, finally appears again.