Forever Knight (1992) s02e06 Episode Script

Faithful Followers

[.]
[CHIMES TINKLING.]
[HEAVY BREATHING.]
[ELECTRICITY SPARKING.]
[SCREAMING.]
[PEOPLE GASPING FAINTLY.]
[.]
NARRATOR: He was brought across in 1228.
Preyed on humans for their blood.
Now, he wants to be mortal again To repay society for his sins To emerge from his world of darkness From his endless forever night.
[GROWLS.]
SCHANKE: It's been two weeks.
I haven't heard from him either.
COHEN: And there's no way to contact him at all? SCHANKE: Deep cover was Nick's idea.
He's gotta get into that core group of insiders.
These Luminologists are tighter than Roseanne's underwear.
They trust no one outside their cult.
I was down there after the Cardelli kid was fried.
Getting info was like pulling molars.
Speaking of whom, I don't have to remind you who the boy's father is.
Councilman Cardelli, the guy who signs the paychecks.
And he wants movement on this, ASAP.
Got it? Find out what Knight's up to.
But if I go busting in there looking for Nick, that might [DOOR SLAMS.]
jeopardize the whole operation.
MAN: People say we worship the sun.
We don't worship the sun.
I think they have us confused with Californians.
[LAUGHTER.]
I mean, look at me.
Do I have a tan? [ALL CHUCKLING.]
No, the sun is a symbol.
It's our focus point.
We use it to facilitate our meditation.
We are scientists, you and I.
That's right, scientists.
Someone comes up to you and asks you who you are, you tell them.
You stand right up to them, and you tell them, "I am a scientist.
"And thisis my laboratory.
"This is where we conduct our experiments.
"And this is where we make our discoveries.
" But you know what the problem is, don't you? There's all thisstuff in here.
[OTHERS MURMURING IN APPROVAL.]
Old stuff.
Bad stuff.
Awful stuff.
Terrible stuff.
"I am so guilty.
" "I am such a bad person.
" "I have done things "that no one can ever forgive me for.
And I sure can't forgive myself.
" MAN: You stand in the company of kings, Nicholas.
At the birthplace of antiquity.
There is more than treasure here.
There is knowledge.
This is surprisingly good.
Cow's blood, you say? KNIGHT: Yes, it travels rather well, doesn't it? Ah, the Cush ruins are remarkable.
You run a very orderly dig, Thomas, but I have the impression, I'm not sure why, that you're looking for something specific.
And you would be right.
Nicholas, Carnarvon's discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb pales beside what I have discovered here at Khartoum.
What have you found? The Cush, as you know, date back almost 3000 years.
At their peak, their culture is said to have amassed an impressive store of medical knowledge.
What does that have to do with us? You came here at my bidding because you know that I, like yourself, believe that we vampires are not totally beyond redemption.
It has taken me 1600 years to come to this belief.
Would it shock you to learn that the Cush arrived at the same conclusion a thousand years before my time? But that would mean-- That they knew of the vampires.
And that they found a remedy.
Perhaps, Nicholas, perhaps.
There are clues.
I propose that we search for the cure together.
Looks like the Reduction of Paperwork Act's kind of passed you by.
Wasn't this Nick's case? Don't ask.
So where is he? We can only guess at this point.
You mean he hasn't contacted you? Nope.
What do you mean, "nope"? I mean he hasn't called.
No hablamos telefono.
As in, "The party you are trying to reach has traveled outside the service area.
" But you guys had a conference call scheduled with Cohen for this afternoon.
You're not listening, Natalie.
He is completely incommunicado.
Don't you think that's a little weird? Weird is B.
A.
U.
"Business as usual" for Nick.
Look, he probably just can't get away without blowing his cover.
You'd think he'd get a message out.
I mean, he is one of the more resourceful people that I know.
You don't think he's in any danger, do you? Oh, come on, Natalie.
I mean, it's the love shack over there.
It's a kindergarten for recently paroled inner-children.
I mean, they might stroke him to death, but they won't force-feed him cyanide, if that's what you're thinking.
It's about energy.
Energy we can see.
Energy we can feel.
Energy we can measure.
But the most important thing-- The most important thing is that we learn to receive.
We learn the science of receiving.
We open ourselves up to it.
We let it in.
And itcleans us out.
[OTHERS MURMURING IN APPROVAL, APPLAUDING.]
Oh, Matthew, it's David again! He's got a gun.
He says he's gonna kill himself.
Where is he, Holly? Take me to him.
David? [SOBBING.]
Matthew Please don't.
Don't stop me.
I don't want to live.
Your parents came to visit you again, didn't they, David? [SOBBING.]
They want to take me back.
They want me to give up all this.
MATTHEW: No one can harm you as long as you're here with me, David.
You have made your choices, and I will see that your parents respect those choices.
Still the same I'm still the same as before.
Still screwed up.
MATTHEW: Nothing is the same as before.
What was in the past is no more in the present.
We've rendered the past inoperative, David.
We've swept it behind us.
Nothing means anything.
Nothing I do means anything.
Isn't that the voice of your father telling you that, David? You're a member of a new family here, David.
A family like you've never had before.
We believe in you.
We share your dreams like they're our very own.
We want you to stay with us, David.
Don't leave us.
Not this way.
Let us make you whole again.
You can be.
You can be whole again.
[DAVID CRYING.]
Oh, Matthew.
Another miracle.
MATTHEW: Visualize it.
All of the energy of the sun.
All of the power of the greater light entering your body and filling it completely and totally.
Can you see it, David? It's far away.
Reach for it, David.
Try to go to it.
DAVID: I see it It's bright.
Let that brightness invade you, David.
Take that radiance into yourself so that you, in turn, may radiate to others.
Don't resist.
Open up.
The light is our cure.
The light is knowledge.
This one.
It was the first clue that I had discovered something of huge importance to our kind.
One of the creatures of the dark world, neither dead nor alive.
And here, one of the creatures of the underworld drawing sustenance from the life force of the living.
Where's the indication of a cure? Here.
One of the creatures of the underworld standing in the sun, and surviving.
This is very interesting.
And you believe that between here and here-- Lies our salvation.
A cure.
Our quest, Nicholas, is to unlock the words.
But how? You spent some years at Oxford, did you not? Yes.
Are you familiar with the work of Helen Ruskin-Slater? Why, yes, she's the finest translator of hieroglyphics in the world.
And are you not an acquaintance? We have had some dealings in the past, yes.
What you may not be aware of is that Miss Ruskin-Slater is at Taragma, less than a day's journey away by boat.
Yes? I need you to convince her to come here.
You can be my letter of introduction, as it were.
To a mortal like her, the finds here are seemingly unimportant, but to us, Nicholas, they are-- They are the grail we have searched centuries for.
All right.
Yes, I'll see if I can arrange that.
Wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
MATTHEW: Now, who's next? Nicholas.
MAN: Go on.
I don't care what's classified.
I want to know what's going on, now! Talk to Detective Schanke, councilor.
And you.
You say you have no idea where he is.
Of course, I know where he is, but-- But? But I have no idea how much progress he's made.
He's investigating undercover as we speak.
He's inside the cult? Yes, councilor.
That was supposed to be our secret.
Look I know my son was murdered.
And I know that bastard guru, whatever the hell he is Matthew had something to do with it.
I have every confidence in Detective Knight, councilor.
Well, let's hope he, at least, is doing his job.
[DOOR OPENS.]
[DOOR CLOSES.]
This is just a device to help us focus on our objective.
Are you comfortable, Nicholas? Yes.
This reminds us the sun's healing power must be channeled into all our senses, especially this least-used of our receptors, our link with the mystic and invisible.
The opening through which psychic energy enters to cleanse and enrich our spirit.
Now, focus, Nicholas, and visualize the sun's healing rays flowing into your body and soul.
Seeking out and illuminating the darkest recesses, filling you up with a perfect white light.
Cleansing and purifying Stay focused, Nicholas.
Think of yourself as being involved in a process of incorporation.
Take her.
Yield to your thirst.
Drink, my love.
Your spirit melding with the greater light.
It's flowing into you finding evil and eradicating it.
Seeking out your sins and vaporizing them.
Let us find the truth in you.
What pains you, Nicholas? What do you need to be rid of? I I am Bois, mon amour Bois.
Drink out.
[HISSES.]
Don't be sorry, Nicholas.
Guilt is a useless emotion.
It's invalid in the present.
It hinders you, prevents you from healing.
SCHANKE [WHISPERS.]
: Nick.
Nick Nick.
Nick! Nick! What's with you? I-- You don't call, you don't write.
I don't hear.
Cohen's been sharpening her guillotine for both our necks.
Where the hell have you been? Jeez, Nick, are you okay? Tell all our people no new members, not until Vincent Cardelli's death is solved to everyone's satisfaction.
Consider it done.
Oh, and Barton Nicholas Corrigan.
Everything you can find.
He's told me some very disturbing things.
Very disturbing.
You shouldn't have come.
Yeah, well, tell that to the councilor.
He's understandably in a snit because Junior beamed up.
He thinks we're sitting on our hands here.
Nick, what's with you? You look real wiped.
I'm fine.
And? What do I tell the boss? Tell them I'm staying here.
You're staying? And don't come back.
SCHANKE: I don't know, he was stirring the soup.
It was-- It was indescribable.
It was just so weird.
I mean, you should've seen the way he looked at me.
How? The thousand-yard stare.
"Nick Knight of the Living Dead.
" I got the distinct feeling he was not happy to see me.
He was probably afraid that you'd blow his cover.
Oh, come on, Natalie.
I am smarter than that.
He wasn't making any sense.
He was talking like he had a head full of marbles.
Maybe you were being watched.
I'm pretty sure we were alone.
Natalie! I'm scared they've got him.
He was like a zombie or something.
Close.
[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING.]
[CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY.]
My, my, my.
Look who's here.
Somebody must have died.
I came to speak to you about Nick.
Oh.
And here I thought you'd come for a little girl-talk.
Go.
You can finish tomorrow.
But it'll be gone.
I'll have to do it all over.
Of course you will.
That's half the fun.
JANETTE: So About Nick You've, uh, known him for some time.
Yes, that would be fair to say.
How vulnerable is he? To love, do you mean? Sort of.
To being loved.
Nick is undercover in a cult.
Luminology, you ever heard of it? They worship the sun, or the cosmic lighthouse, or whatever.
Hmm.
Nicholas in a cult Somehow the word "ironic" comes to mind.
We're worried about him.
He's behaving strangely.
He's cut us off.
Really? Do you think he's joined? Brainwashed? Maybe.
Usually, it's Nicholas who does the brainwashing.
In answer to your question there are times when I, too, feel that I hardly know him, andyes, he can be highly impressionable, depending on, you know, who is doing the persuading.
And I'm here to tell you that I am worried about him.
My dear doctor Nicholas is a vampire.
And so, if he is running with that pack he is the wolf.
They are poodles.
Thank you.
So I guess there's really nothing to worry about is there? Good evening, Nicholas.
How are you feeling tonight? [SIGHS.]
I'm fine, thank you.
Good.
I was quite pleased with the way you responded to your first cleansing.
Some people don't respond till after two or three sessions.
A few don't respond at all, of course.
I don't remember much.
A common side effect in the beginning.
Our first cleansing is a powerful, cathartic experience.
Dark thoughts and feelings come to the surface.
Fantasies.
Secrets from this and past lives.
Was anyone else there? I meandid anyone watch? No.
As a courtesy, no one is permitted to witness the first cleansings.
I do videotape the sessions, though.
But don't worry, Nick.
The tape's yours.
I'm happy you found us.
I think you're gonna do well here.
Matthew? I'd like to help.
Um The others say that you've got plans to expand the facilities here.
I know you're probably strapped for money, and I'm I'm in a good position to help.
Well, I'll admit that we do operate at a loss but I don't want your life savings, or your house, or your car.
If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have offered.
We'll talk about it later.
Well, here we are.
Miss Ruskin-Slater, we are humbled in your presence.
When Nicholas wired me that you had agreed to visit our site, I could not have been more honored.
I must admit, I wouldn't have come had Nicholas not used his very persuasive charms to convince me.
Well, do sit down, please.
I'm not here on vacation, Mr.
Monroe.
Nicholas mentioned your discovery of some Cush artifacts.
Yes.
Are you familiar with their hieroglyphics? Enough to know they're very complex.
The Cush assimilated many languages and cultures.
It will be a very difficult task.
A challenge only the best may rise to.
You're not alone in your persuasiveness, Nicholas.
Our faith in you is not unfounded, is it, Helen? I am quite able to resist blatant appeals to my vanity, Nicholas.
But I cannot resist a challenge.
Show me the glyphs.
Nicholas, the servants have gone to bed.
Would you get a cup of tea for our distinguished guest? KNIGHT: Of course.
[HUMMING SOFTLY.]
[GASPS.]
Oh Sorry I scared you.
Oh, no, it's all right.
So how was it? Interesting.
Don't you feel great? Well, I have to say that for the first time in quite a while I feel better.
Isn't Matthew wonderful? He has made such a difference in my life.
I can't tell you.
If you would have seen me two months agohah! I was nuts.
This close to losing it.
You know The pressure, you know? The stress.
My marriage was falling apart.
My mother, my father, the kids You have children? Uh-huh.
Two baby girls.
Oh, that's great.
Where are they? I don't know.
[GIGGLES.]
And I thank you very much.
Hey, Schank.
This is getting sweeter by the minute.
Vincent Cardelli, the body electric Yeah? had a trust fund worth thousands.
Inheritance from his mother's side.
Guess who the beneficiary is? Matthew Davidson.
You forgot to phrase your answer in the form of a question.
Uh, who is Matthew Davidson? You're a winner! On to the next round.
And I've got something for you.
Vincent Cardelli's toxicology report.
Hot off the laboratory presses.
Everything's on the up and up, right? One little thing jumps out, though.
You see that? Trace elements of something called Tritetranovazine, a rather powerful psychotropic drug.
Now, it's not commonly prescribed, because it's very habit-forming, and I've never seen it in an alkaloid-based compound like this one before.
Well, it's possible the kid was on medication.
I mean, he did have a history of emotional problems, as did Anthony Demaine, Edward Gelson, Holly Barber.
These are some of the people I interviewed the night of Vincent's death.
The place is a regular bughouse.
I mean, all of them have major psychiatric files, which, of course, I'm not allowed to see, so I can't tell if any of them are homicidal.
Well, that doesn't surprise me.
I mean, Davidson made his name by treating supposedly untreatable people.
Well, maybe this will surprise you.
I checked all these people up, and all of them are, relatively speaking, filthy rich.
They're all insiders, members of the core group.
Nick's probably the only poor slob in the whole bunch.
So if Nick really did go over to the other side, then we'd know.
If there was any unusual activity in his bank account, which I'm checking out, as we sprechen Sie here.
I've got a call into Cohen.
Oh, come on, I mean, you don't really think that Nick would give that guy any money, do you? Nah.
Very generous.
Thank you.
COHEN: You think he what?! SCHANKE: Well, he's, uh He's, uh Well, we're a little-- A little "concerned" is a good word.
And I'm a little, let's see "ticked off" is a good word.
We sent him in there to find a murderer, not religion.
Well, it's not exactly a religion, captain.
It's more like a psychoanalytic, uh psychiatric, uh It's a meditative, sort of illuminating-- It's a It's a crock, is what it is, and I cannot believe that Nick has actually fallen for it.
Well, how well do you know your partner? How well do I? [WHEEZING LAUGHTER.]
How well does anybody know--? Nick and I go back a long ways, captain.
I mean, we are-- We are like We're like We're like this.
And that's why I have to take a look at those bank accounts.
See if he's opened up the purse strings to this Matthew Davidson guy.
All right.
He's going by Nicholas Corrigan, right? Right.
Captain, uh Why don't you have them run a check on Nicholas Knight, too, just to be sure? [DOOR CLOSES IN DISTANCE.]
[KNOCKS ON GLASS.]
Hi! Hi.
I-- I'm, uh I'm-- I'm looking for Actually, I-- I'm interested in finding out more about your, uh Your-- Your organization.
Oh, well, gee you should try one of Matthew's books.
It's a great way of getting started-- No, look, you-- You don't understand.
I can't handle my life anymore.
I feel like I'm losing my mind, and I need help, now! I feel for you, honestly, but I'm afraid-- [SOBBING.]
Oh, my gosh, are you okay? No.
Come in then, please.
Let us try to help you.
Holly, Holly, I don't know about this.
[SOBBING.]
What's wrong with you? Can't you see she needs us? That she selected us? Yeah, but-- Holly, no.
Uh-- We were told-- Matthew said no new Damn it.
Here are the bank records you wanted.
All up to date.
Thanks, captain.
Listen, if Nick has a problem, I'm not going to let this play out much longer.
If you think it's warranted, we go in after him tomorrow.
Your call.
You son of a It'll be okay.
Whatever it is, don't worry.
It'll be fine.
[GASPS.]
What did you say your name was? Uh, Natalie.
Right.
[SNARLS.]
What have you done? He appears to have won our little wager.
Well done, Thomas.
You see, Nicholas, my very old friend, Thomas, wagered me that he would be able to persuade you to deliver this most intelligent and beautiful woman to him simply by telling you what you so desperately wanted to hear "There may be a cure.
" Well, there isn't one, of course.
When will you learn, Nicholas, that this quest of yours is a hopeless one? That it will only cause you and others misery? Normally, I hate to lose, but the look of utter foolishness on your face now makes it almost worthwhile.
[LAUGHING.]
Sometimes I-- I get urges.
Terrible, violent urges.
I want to hurt people My kids And I'm really afraid that one day I might actually do something.
I couldn't-- I couldn't bear that.
But, you see, if If I killed myself, then I couldn't hurt anyone, could I? Can you help me? I am losing my mind.
Believe me I know how hard it gets.
But you've come to the right place.
We'll help you.
We're We'rescientists of the heart here.
Well Matthew likes to call them our laboratories.
Wait till you meet him.
He's wonderful.
HOLLY: help you to calm your thoughts, to see yourself clearly without judgment or guilt, only love.
[TELEPHONE RINGS.]
BARTON: Yeah? Turn on your monitor.
You can't do it alone.
What did I tell you? That Holly chick just won't listen to reason.
Well, then, use something else besides reason.
I'm holding you personally responsible.
Take care of it, Barton.
Whatever pain you bring here, Matthew will show you the technique to free yourself of it completely.
It's scientific.
It's energy and we can all use it.
HOLLY: You'll be fine.
You'll see.
I guarantee you'll feel better by the morning.
Promise.
[BOTH CHUCKLE.]
I'll see if I can find Matthew.
He'll help you.
Oh, and you can bunk in with me if you have no place else to go.
Okay? [UNDER BREATH.]
Blah, blah, blah, blahGod.
[CELL PHONE BEEPS.]
[TELEPHONE RINGS.]
Nick? Natalie? Either one will do.
Schank, listen, it's me.
I'm inside the Luminology building.
I saw Nick, but he didn't even acknowledge me.
I think there's something really wrong.
Man, I knew I should have gone with you.
No, no, listen, I'll be okay.
Besides, two basket cases showing up at their door at the same time would be a tad strange, don't you think? [WOMAN SOBBING QUIETLY.]
It's okay.
is to open ourselves SCHANKE: Listen, I'm on my way.
Lay low.
Don't do anything till I get there.
No, no, no, no, I have to find Nick first, Schank, and-- [DIAL TONE.]
Schank? [HISSES IN FRUSTRATION.]
Rats.
I think you should go now.
Matthew's not gonna like it when he finds out why you're here.
It would be best if you left.
Oh, no, please, I, uh I need your help.
I really need to be here.
You can't stay here.
receive.
To receive is to open ourselves Are you looking for something, Mr.
Corrigan? Or should I say "detective"? You're not here for help.
You're a spy.
[WOMAN GRUNTS.]
[POLE HITS FLOOR.]
Poison.
He's poisoning everything.
Just like Vincent Cardelli.
Trying to tear Matthew down.
Uh, Holly, wait, wait.
Wait a minute.
He's poison.
You won't find anything illegal.
Especially if you're investigating the death of Vincent Cardelli.
We had nothing to do with it.
I'd say that administering drugs without consent is illegal enough.
Whatever are you talking about? The patch, whatever's on it.
Something to goose the religious experience, I suppose.
Well, you'd have to prove that in a court of law.
And you won't be able to.
LAMBERT: Schank.
I called for paramedics.
Where's Nick? What the hell happened here? I'm not exactly sure myself, but there's a girl named Holly running around with a loaded .
38, and she is not very happy right now.
MATTHEW: Holly? What's troubling you? We can talk this out.
I didn't believe Vincent when he told me.
I wanted to believe you, Matthew.
There's no need to stop believing.
Don't listen to anyone or anything but your own heart.
I thought I thought he was just trying to tear you down, you know? I thought he was trying to ruin you To ruin us.
MATTHEW: Holly what are you talking about? Everybody believed in you, Matthew.
We We trusted you.
We gave you all our money.
[COCKS GUN.]
I loved you, Matthew.
Holly, listen to me.
It's all right, Holly.
Tell me.
What happened? I killed him.
[SOBBING.]
I I killed Vincent Cardelli.
I-- I had to.
I-- I had to protect Matthew.
I owe Matthew everything.
No, you don't.
No, Holly, he stole from you.
Your money, your love, your ability to control your life.
It's not your fault, Holly.
I know it isn't.
He saw you'd do anything to find hope and direction.
That's when it happens.
That's when we're weak enough to be deceived.
[WHIMPERING.]
[SOBBING.]
[CRYING.]
That was nice work.
Sure was.
[LOCKING HANDCUFFS.]
SCHANKE: So, what's the prognosis, doctor? Well, he'll live.
No residual effects from those disc things? I don't think so.
Well, I guess I'm history.
Schank, what is it? Well what about that bank account, Nick? I mean, the 1.
2 million? That was dummied up, right? Yeah, it was just a courtesy of a friendly bank manager.
Couldn't have Matthew Davidson thinking that I was a bad investment.
So I just had the bank transfer some of the money from my savings account into my checking account.
Pretty simple, huh? Yeah, right.
Well, just don't go getting weird on me again because it is bad on my nerves.
See you.
Good night, Schank.
It's a good thing he didn't get a look at that blood-pressure gauge.
I would have loved to have seen you wriggle your way out of that one.
You took a big chance coming looking for me.
Yeah, well, what can I say? You buried yourself in your part.
Who knew? When were you on to the drug? Oh, right from the first session.
I could smell it on the disc.
But it was an odorless compound.
Well, to you, maybe.
The effect was fairly subtle on me.
Matthew used it to guarantee everyone some sort of transcendental experience, even if it only made them feel queasy.
It is beyond me how people get sucked in by cults.
No one ever seems to learn.
Not until it's too late.
No.
You can learn from them even it's only a very simple truth.
Oh, yeah, like anyone who promises you that you can have everything that you want probably wants everything that you have.
And that once you've given them everything you're a nothing.
You did good work, detective.
No one can take that away from you.
[.]

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