Doctor Plague (2026) Movie Script
1
[logo chimes]
[eerie music]
[eerie music continues]
[heavy breathing]
[heavy breathing]
[eerie music continues]
[heavy breathing]
[blades swishing]
- We'll see you next week.
[heavy breathing]
Oh!
- Repent or die.
- You what?
- Repent or die.
Oh!
[squeals]
[flesh squelches]
[grunts]
[body thuds]
[heavy breathing]
[whimpering]
[blows landing]
[whimpering]
[gasping]
[eerie music continues]
[breathing heavily]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music continues]
[ambient city noises]
[dog barks]
[indistinct chatter]
[brooding music]
- Fuck this.
I'm going home.
- You can't.
It's too early.
- She's right, you know.
It ain't safe.
Not with him out there.
[breathing heavily]
- Plague?
- Yeah, fucking Plague.
Who else?
- You scared the shit out of me!
- Where do you
think you're going?
- Nowhere.
- Wrong. You're coming with me.
You two get back on that corner,
or I'll tell Jake you've
been leaving early again.
Good girl.
[footsteps tapping]
[upbeat music]
- I...I don't like this.
- Listen, you'll be fine.
Be nice.
Be good and have fun.
Come on.
[upbeat music continue]
[knocking on window]
Are you looking for a good time?
- Are you two taking the piss?
Do you know who
you're fucking with?
Huh?
- Looks to me like one little
torture boy and his skank.
- If I see you
around here again.
I'll open you up.
- Fuck are you gonna do, huh?
- Yeah?
- Jake is gonna hear about this.
- Jake can suck my...
[blades swish]
[intense music]
[heavy breathing]
- Sarah.
[heavy breathing]
- Shit.
[Sarah whimpering]
[gate rattling]
[tense music]
- You wanna fuck with us?
- Oh, God. No!
[flesh squelching]
[Sarah screams]
[body thuds]
[blade slices]
[screams]
Aah!
[screaming]
[screams]
[heavy breathing]
[indistinct growling]
[Sarah whimpering]
- Another night,
another horrific crime scene.
Three bodies believed to be the
latest victims of Doctor Plague
were discovered just a few
hundred metres from here
in the early hours
of this morning.
The police insist the
murders are gang related,
dismissing claims
of a serial killer.
However, sources closest
to the investigation
suggest that unusual
staging of the bodies
moved and deliberately placed
points to something more
than a typical gang dispute.
- Detective Verni,
there is a body over here,
and these two bodies are from,
uh, from rival gangs.
- Have you seen the bodies?
- No, sir.
- Well, let's have a look, eh?
Oh, Jesus.
[camera snapping]
- Jesus.
- All in one piece
this time, eh?
- Makes a change.
- If you ask me,
The doctor's doing
us all a favour.
Certainly clearing up the
rubbish, that's for sure.
- Wait, are we sure this is not
just some gang rivalry thing?
- What do you reckon?
Torture boys, grave
diggers, Bloods,
Torture boys over there.
Grave diggers here.
This is the ninth one
they've lost so far.
- Where the fuck a sucker?
[phone rings]
- Hang on a minute.
[tense music]
Yep. Well, I'm at work, ain't I?
Yes. Have you tried his mobile?
All right, uh, look,
I can't deal with it now.
Just. I'll...
I'll get on it later.
Yeah.
No cameras again, right?
- No.
[tense music continues]
You really want to hit the
ground running, detective?
- Yes, sir.
- You get yourself back
to the station, right?
Get on the phone and check out
every camera that you can find.
Ours, plus the
private ones as well.
You never know, we
might get lucky.
All I know at the moment
is three months in,
we've got 25 dead and six
people are still missing.
Probably abducted.
Get on it.
Yes, sir...that's what
I don't understand is..
Is why is he killing some
of them and not the rest?
- That's what we're trying
to find out, isn't it?
- Yes, sir.
- Sam.
- Yes, sir?
- Don't call me sir.
- No, sir.
[car tires screech]
- You best find out who
this no face is soon.
Otherwise, we're going to
start taking our own actions,
if you know what I mean?
And you don't want that?
Yeah, alright, whatever, jog on.
[tense music continues]
[car doors slam]
[engine revving]
[gentle music]
- Detective.
- You alright?
- Hmm.
[indistinct] wasn't
alone last night.
He was with our friend Sarah.
- Sarah?
- Sarah Stringer.
We haven't seen her since
she left with him last night.
- You sure about that?
- Mm. 100%.
- Alright.
You take care of yourself,
you alright?
- Hhm.
[gentle music continues]
[car engine starts]
[eerie music]
- What is up, Plague Nation?
So today we are going to
be talking about our
killer's weapon of choice.
And, you know, the cops,
they are useless.
Because let's be honest here,
Dr Plague, he is making history.
[sirens wailing]
- Still nothing?
- I'm afraid not.
The only time she does say
anything is when she's dreaming.
And even then,
it's just screams.
- I'm not surprised with
what she's been through.
- Indeed.
- Did she ever use the
charcoals and paper that
I bought him last time.
- No, there's been nothing.
- If she can't
talk, she can draw.
[footsteps tapping]
[machine beeping]
- Mary?
You have a visitor.
- Good to see you, Mary.
Listen to me.
I need your help.
The man that hurt you,
attacked you,
he's killed again.
You're the only person
that's ever seen him.
[machine beeping]
[sighs]
If there's anything you
can tell me about the
night you were attacked.
I need your help.
We can't let this
happen to someone else.
If there's anything you
can remember about the
night you were attacked,
anything at all.
Did you hear his voice?
What did he sound like?
Anything at all.
You just told Dr Cole,
and she'll call me,
anytime of the night or day.
Alright?
[machine beeping continues]
[sighs]
Alright.
[indistinct]
What did she say?
She said something.
Mary.
What was it, Mary?
What was it?
- Repent. Repent
or die.
[choking]
- Mary, let him go!
[grunting]
- Repent or die.
Repent or die.
- [Dr] Let him go!
Repent or die.
[panting]
[machine beeping]
- I'm so sorry, Detective.
- If that girl says anything.
Anything at all.
I'm your first call.
[door creaks]
- Sam?
Yeah, tell me something good.
- You were right.
The torture boy's victim
wasn't alone last night.
There was another girl.
- Carry on checking the cameras
on the surrounding area.
Yeah. Widen that
search to about a mile.
We've got to find out how he's
getting in and out alright?
Well, I don't know, do I?
He's not a fucking ghost, is he?
Huh? Just find him.
[phones ringing]
[tense music]
[indistinct chatter]
[handbrake clicking]
[police radio chatters]
- Listen, you said she was in.
This is in.
- It's not that, it's, uh...
- Well, what then?
What, are you worried
about the Plague?
Don't worry about that,
we've got that covered.
Shit!
[chair clatters]
[tense music continues]
- Is it that obvious?
- Yes.
You might as well have a
massive siren on your head.
- Get in the car.
I'm taking you home.
- Nah, I'm alright.
- I'm not asking you.
- Dad, you can't make
me come with you.
- This yours?
- That...That's not mine.
- I don't see anyone else here.
You know, I could take you in
for less than that, don't you?
- You wouldn't do that.
- No, I wouldn't.
'Cos I'm taking you home.
[gravel crunching]
[eerie music]
I don't want you
seeing them any more.
- They're my mates, dad.
- No they're not.
Guys like that don't have mates.
- Whatever.
- Did they tell you what
happened last night?
Mm? What plague did
to two of their mob?
- Yes.
Of course, everyone knows.
But don't worry,
we're taking care of it.
- What's that supposed to mean?
What's that supposed to mean?
You're taking care of it.
Hang on a minute,
I ain't finished with you.
Mum's got dinner ready,
and I'm starving.
[eerie music continues]
- Hello mate, you alright?
- Alright?
- Hi.
He's late.
- Yeah, I know, I'm sorry.
I found him down by Smiths.
- God, really?
- Yeah.
- That's where all the
smackheads hang out.
What's he doing down there?
- Oh, he just had a
bag of grass, you know.
- All kids do it.
- Just a bag of grass?
- Oh, my...
This is getting out of hand.
You've got to do
something about this.
- Yeah, I am.
- You are?
- Yeah, I'm talking to him.
- Well, that's clearly
not enough, is it?
He needs a proper dad.
- Oh, come on, we're not
going there again, are we?
I'd still be here if
it weren't for you.
You were the one who
asked me to come out.
- No, no, no, no, no, no.
- It was! It was though!
- You cannot blame this on me.
- If you'd managed to
keep it in your pants
- I'd still be here, wouldn't I.
- Then maybe I wouldn't
have had to kick you out.
[phone ringing]
- I told you, it's
just the once.
Just the once, that's all.
- Oh, yeah. Once.
- Yeah, once!
- One time.
- That's the truth.
- Expect me to believe that?
- I got to take this.
- Oh, God.
Here we go again.
You can't even talk to the
mother of your only child
about your son's life.
- I'll get rid of them,
hang on a minute.
- No, do you know what, John?
Take your precious call.
Just do me a favour and
take an interest in his life
before it's too late.
Go on.
- This better be important.
[eerie music]
[siren wailing]
[heavy breathing]
[eerie music continues]
[eerie music continues]
[girls laughing]
[tense music]
[heavy breathing]
[music intensifies]
No!
[suspenseful music]
- Repent.
[heavy breathing]
Or die.
[girls screaming]
- Woohoo!
[Dr Plague groans]
[combatants grunting]
[suspenseful music continues]
- You're under arrest.
- It's a prank, bro.
[grunts]
It's a prank, bro!
It's for YouTube.
- Yeah, well, the
joke's on you, innit.
You're nicked.
- It's a prank,
bro, for YouTube.
- It's fucking plastic!
- What?
- You bastard!
- Get back! I'm a policeman.
- Get out!
- It's a fucking prank!
I'm gonna do you, man, for
battery and wrongful arrest,
you fascist fuck!
- Last night, the investigation
took another shocking turn.
Newly surfaced footage
appears to show Detective
Inspector John Verney
in a violent altercation
with a popular YouTuber.
The clip has intensified
criticism of the police,
fuelling concerns that law
enforcement is losing its grip.
Protests have erupted
across the city,
driven by fears that authorities
can no longer contain
the escalating violence.
Some see Verney's
actions of those of a man pushed
to his limits,
while others believe they
exposed deeper issues
within the police service.
Chief Inspector Parker is
expected to make a
statement later tonight,
but it's not just
answers the public want,
it's decisive leadership.
- It's gone viral.
Basically, everybody's seen you
beat the crap out of that kid.
[tense music]
- Oh, Bollocks.
[phone ringing]
- Detective Jones.
Yes, sir. He's here.
He's here with me now, sir.
Okay, sir.
Guv wants a chat.
- Come on then.
- On your own.
He was dressed as Doctor Plague.
I mean, you can buy the
costume online now.
- [Parker] Well,
why is that, John?
- Well, they're cashing in,
aren't they.
- Cashing in because
the public have bought into
this ridiculous idea
that there is this Jack the
Ripper like maniac on the loose.
- Yeah, and they'd be right.
- Based on what?
A few grainy images of
someone wearing a mask?
The theories of a
few internet wackos?
- No, no, no, that
footage is real,
we had it authenticated,
you know that.
- All the killings so
far are on gang members
or those affiliated
with them in some way.
This is a gang matter.
- No, no, no, no,
gangs don't abduct.
Right. I mean, where are
you going to take them?
All I know is that we've
got 6 or 7 people
connected with these murders
that are still missing.
- It's all circumstantial.
Not everything's a
conspiracy, John.
- I know that,
I'm not saying it is.
I just want to
find them before...
Before it's too late.
- Look, I'll be honest with you.
Just got off the
phone with the super,
and she has suggested
it'd be a good idea
to get a fresh pair of
eyes on all of this.
- So what? I'm being stood down?
- No. Not yet.
We agreed you can work
till the end of this month,
but if sufficient progress
isn't made by then,
we're going to bring in someone
else to lead the task force.
- Oh, this is ridiculous.
- I hear you saw Mary Woodall.
I hear she gave you the jump.
[phone ringing]
- Who told you that?
- I've got to get this.
The gangs.
The solution to everything
is with the gangs.
Concentrate on the gangs.
Never mind the boogeyman.
Hello?
[tense music]
[door creaks]
[door opens]
[gentle music]
Oh!
[sighs]
Yeah.
[computer ringing]
Hey. Hey, mate.
- Hello.
- You alright?
- Yeah, I'm alright.
- Good. Um.
Look, how do you fancy going
cinema tomorrow night?
You know?
Uh, I can meet you after work.
You can choose the movie.
- Yeah. Yeah, sure,
that sounds good.
Great. Um, shall we say 6:00?
How's that sound?
- 6:00 is good.
- Good, alright,
I'll see you there.
And, uh, mate, uh, choose
something we both like, eh?
- Yeah.
- All right. Good.
- See you later.
- Cheers, dad.
[phone beeps]
[sighs]
[gentle music continues]
[keys clacking]
- [on computer] As a specialised
physician in 17th century...
[voice on computer
speaks indistinctly]
[voice on computer
speaks indistinctly]
[tense music]
[sirens wailing]
- Hello?
What's going on?
- Sam?
I wanted to talk to
you off the record.
- Yeah, sure, boss,
but shouldn't we be
heading on over to the
junkyard crime scene?
We can talk in the car.
- Are you familiar with
the Whitechapel murders?
- Jack the Ripper?
- Yeah.
- Yeah, I mean,
everyone's heard of him, right?
- Yeah, you know, I've
been doing some reading.
The similarities are obvious
when you look at it, right?
The choice of victims,
the location, the
ferocity of the attacks,
even the messaging
that's left behind.
- Okay, so why the
secrecy, though?
Why are we on a roof?
- Well, they say
Jack was never caught
because he had
friends in high places.
Like he was connected
to aristocracy, like
a secret society.
They say that he even had
his claws into the Met.
- Wait, so, you think
our killer's got an
accomplice on the job?
- No.
Plague only attacks
where there's no camera
coverage, right?
So he's really lucky, or...
he's got someone on the inside.
- Okay, so what now?
- He's got to leave
a trail somewhere.
And when he does, we jump on it.
You get yourself over
to the murder scene,
and when you're done there,
right, you check every piece of
CCTV footage that we've got.
Every single frame.
You find anything,
you come to me.
No one else.
Understood?
Someone's got to know who he is.
[tense music continues]
- Wait, are you not coming
over to the crime scene?
- I've got something
I need to do.
So you're a professor
of medieval history
and religious symbolism, right?
- Professor emeritus.
- I was wondering
if you could help me...
identify this.
[eerie music]
Do you recognise it?
- Yeah, that, uh...
looks like some kind of flame.
- Well, it's a piece of
evidence, an ongoing
inquiry at the moment.
- Fire is one of
the base elements.
But fire can also be
a symbol of cleansing,
of purging and renewal.
It's a force of truth.
A light in the darkness.
- More darkness than
light, recently.
Without fire we'd be dead,
inside and out.
Where'd you say you got this?
- I didn't.
- Hmm. I have an idea.
[intense music]
- What is up, Plague Nation?
It's your boy Eric,
with big news...
No, huge news about
tomorrow's show.
Live, 8 p.m.
I'm going to be joined
by Jake Tortelli,
a man whose friends,
family, associates
have all been brutally
and viciously killed
by none other than
Doctor Plague.
Jake wants to go on the record
raw, unfiltered, with a personal
message to the killer himself.
So that's right, Plague,
if you're watching,
and I know you are,
you do not want to miss this.
[gentle music]
[door closes]
- I've seen it.
- It's had half a
million views already.
I'd give my left nut for
that sort of coverage.
- It's not journalism,
it's clickbait.
Nothing more than
self-promotion and narcissism.
- Call it what you want.
This little twerp keeps
getting the jump on us,
and I'm not having it.
[phone beeps]
[gentle music continues]
See, we've got ourselves a
modern day Jack the Ripper.
He's out there cutting
up kids with impunity.
But what?
No one knows his identity?
I don't buy it.
- So what are you suggesting?
Some kind of conspiracy?
- You're damn right I am.
Well, we're living in an age
of fake news and cover-ups.
That's not us.
We're in the truth business,
or at least we were
the last time I looked.
See, good old-fashioned
print journalism
can still make a difference.
We can make a difference.
- I'm not saying you're wrong.
- I'm not wrong.
- But if you are
and it's a big if.
What then?
We're going to look like fools
if we're on the wrong
side of this story.
- Well, let me worry about that.
You, uh, know who the lead
investigator is, don't you?
- Yes.
A dinosaur who still
thinks he's in the Sweeney.
- Yeah, well, John Verne is
one of their best detectives.
So if the victims
aren't important...
[gentle music continues]
The killer must be.
- So what do you want me to do?
- Well, you and Vernie
have history, don't you?
Go and flutter your eyelashes,
whisper sweet nothings.
Do I really need
to spell it out?
- You want me to whore myself?
- I think you'll find
it's called being sex
positive these days.
[laughs]
Just get me a quote.
Something, anything I can
put on the front page.
Go on then.
The clock's ticking.
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.
[door closes]
[sinister music]
- Right.
And, um.
Upload. [phone beeps] Oh, sorry.
It seems that your symbol
belonged to a secret
society called the
brethren of the flame.
The brethren believed
that the pandemic was
divine wrath and judgment
upon a sinful society.
Among their number
was a faction who'd go out
disguised as plague doctors
to kill those they deemed
corrupt and criminal.
And who refused to repent.
- Plague doctors?
What about?
A revival?
- Is it safe to assume
that your visit is
somehow connected with the
killings that are
happening in East London?
- Does it say anything about
the brethren abducting people?
- No.
I'm afraid not.
- Could you look
into that for me?
- I'm very, very busy.
- Now, if you can give
me any sort of help,
we could save lives.
- I don't think I
can refuse, can I?
- I'd appreciate if you
could keep our conversation
just under wraps.
You know, I don't want anything
getting out and provoking him.
- Yes, of course.
- Yeah, uh, look,
here's my card.
Call me if you think
of anything, okay?
I'll see myself out.
- Right.
[sinister music continues]
- Hello, John,
it's Francesca.
Yeah, I know it's
been a long time.
Too long.
I was thinking maybe
we can get together.
- I ran through the
other disappearances,
and in all instances,
there's no sign of Plague
or where he takes them.
It's like they just disappear.
- We know all this, right?
- But I think I found something.
You see, there's this theory
that during his killing spree,
the Ripper would use the
city's old utility
tunnels to evade capture.
That theory later gave
birth to those boogeyman-like
tales you hear today.
He's still down there, lurking,
waiting one day to reemerge.
Now, this map here dates
back to late 19th century,
when those tunnels
were still in use.
I've managed to match
all the crime scenes
of all the Plague murders
and disappearances
with all the CCTV blind spots.
- And what about this stuff?
The green? What's that mean?
- Those are all the old
utility tunnel openings.
And they were used to transport
the sick and dying out of London
during the bubonic plague.
- By plague doctors.
- But I think this is
how Plague is escaping
and where he's taking
those he abducts.
- Shit.
- Should we go tell the guv?
- No. Just keep it between
ourselves for a while.
I think we need something
a little bit more concrete
before we take this
to the old man.
- Let's go find something then.
- Yeah.
Hello?
When?
You're joking.
Alright, I'm on my way.
Everything okay?
- You carry on doing that.
I've got to go
over to St Mary's.
[tense music]
[sirens wailing]
- I'm sorry, detective.
- So what happened?
- She cut off her own
tongue and bled to death.
She must have had a psychotic
episode during the night.
There was nothing we could do.
[suspenseful music]
[door creaks]
She was dead when we found her.
- What do you mean?
She cut her own tongue off.
How?
- We found some
scissors in her room.
[John sighs]
- How did she get hold
of a pair of scissors?
- It's unfortunate,
but sometimes the patients
hide things from us.
Things that can
cause them danger.
[suspenseful music continues]
Goodbye, detective.
[phone rings]
- Hello mate, what's up?
[tense music]
Uh, no, no, no, no, no.
Um, I just didn't think
it mattered, that's all.
Uh, yeah. No.
Look. You're right.
I should have told you, Jake.
I'm sorry.
What?
Um, I don't know.
I don't know, I don't have it.
[tense music continues]
Um.
My dad, my dad.
My dad...
He took it,
he found it, and he took it.
Look, I'm sorry, Jake.
I promise I'll make it
up to you, I promise.
Jake?
Shit!
[tense music]
[gentle music]
- Sorry I'm late.
- No, it's fine.
- You remembered?
- Of course.
- Cheers.
- Is everything all right?
- Off the record...
Not really.
Our only living witness to a
Plague attack has just died.
- What happened?
- Gross negligence,
if you ask me.
[phone rings]
Sorry. All right.
I'm all yours.
[gentle music continues]
- What's the position of
the Chief Inspector on this?
- He thinks it's
all gang related.
- Really?
From what you've
described of the murders,
it's so obviously
ideologically driven.
What's his big
brain take on that?
- He thinks all of
missing are related to the
murder or something.
He thinks they're all suspects.
[Francesca laughs]
- Well, you know what
I'm going to say.
[John scoffs]
- Well, you should,
he's an idiot.
You should have
that job or better.
Not that paper pushing
path of least resistance.
- I've got too many
black marks against me.
- Really?
I find that hard to believe.
[traffic rumbling]
[phone ringing]
- Yeah.
I'm on my way.
[phone beeps]
- Any other breakthroughs?
Off the record.
- Off the record?
Yeah, I think we might have.
We think that Plague is
using this old system of
utility tunnels to, uh,
to escape from the
scene of the crime.
- Have you taken
that to the chief?
- No.
I'm already skating on thin ice.
When I go to the old man,
I've got to take more
than just a hunch.
- I heard about the divorce.
- Yeah, well, it happens.
- Was there anything
to do with us?
- No.
Well, maybe.
- Did your wife find out?
- She found out I
was seeing someone.
She didn't know it was you.
- Sorry.
[gentle music continues]
- What about you?
You, uh, disappeared
quickly, didn't you?
Didn't even say goodbye.
- Yeah. Why do you think?
I was just sick of all the lies.
- Do you want to
get out of here?
Come on.
[eerie music]
[heavy breathing]
[eerie music continues]
- Don't be caking
that shit on me.
I don't want to look
like a fucking satsuma.
- I know what I'm doing.
- She did makeup in college,
you know.
She's got certificates
and everything.
- And who the fuck asked you?
- I was just saying.
- Yeah, well, don't.
You can fuck off.
- I ain't even
finished your hair yet.
- Yeah, well. You're
done. Fuck off.
- Fuck this.
I'll be in the hot tub.
- Fucking mouth on that.
- Mate.
The chat's blowing up for real.
Listen to this.
- Is this going
fucking viral or what?
- You're trending, man.
- What's the difference?
- Well, trending is like when...
- Oh, well, do you know what?
I don't give a shit.
Just fucking... Just carry
on doing what you're doing.
And what do you
think of my shirt?
- Yeah. It's fine.
- Fine? Fucking fine?
- Jake.
- It looks great,
you look great.
- You sure?
- Sure.
- Hey.
We're good to go.
- Alright, fuck it,
come on, let's do this.
[tense music continues]
[hot tub bubbling]
[water splashing]
[eerie music]
[Tilly sniffs]
[eerie music continues]
[gravel crunching]
[heavy breathing]
[intense music]
[heavy breathing]
- We're going live
in three, two, one.
- What is up, Plague Nation?
This is it.
As promised, the big one.
Tonight I'm here
with a special guest.
A man who has
experienced unspeakable horrors
and bloodshed
in recent weeks.
It's my main man, Jake Tortelli.
What are you saying, Jake?
- Listen, I'm not going to lie,
it's been dark, dark times.
- Yeah, because of, uh,
Dr Plague, right?
Because of what he's done?
People he's killed,
I mean, your people.
- [Jake] They had their whole
lives in front of them.
It's tragic.
[eerie music]
[heavy breathing]
[door creaks]
[eerie music continues]
[door creaks]
[heavy breathing]
- Let's say that, uh, Dr Plague
is watching this right now.
Have you got a message for him?
- Yeah, yeah, I do.
Listen, you fucking psychotic...
- Sorry I'm late. I, uh...
- Stop, we're filming.
- Oh. Sorry.
- Listen, you fucking clown.
You think that you can
come here in my manor,
take my people,
my fucking family?
You're wrong.
Because this is what's
going to happen.
I'm coming for you, you hear me?
And I'm gonna fuck you up bad.
And this ain't no idle threat.
That's a gold-plated
promise from me to you.
I'm gonna fuck you up.
I want Plague dead.
I want his head on a spike.
I want to piss on his corpse,
I wanna...
[flesh squelches]
[screaming]
- Fuck!
[tense music]
[heavy breathing]
- You motherfucker!
I'm gonna kill you!
[blow thuds]
- Shit!
They're everywhere.
Listen, fellas.
It's him you want.
I'm a nobody, I'm a nothing.
- It's him!
It's Plague!
- Please.
[blow thuds]
[flesh squelching]
[eerie music]
- Repent or die.
- Last night, a horrific
home invasion left
multiple people dead,
with parts of the attack
streamed live on the internet.
The shocking footage
has since gone viral.
Doctor plague is no longer
just a local nightmare.
His crimes are now global news.
With no arrests, no suspects
and no clear end in sight,
the city remains
on a knife edge.
[sombre music]
[phone chimes]
- John! Wake up.
It's Liam.
- Oh, man, my head
is banging as well.
You got any paracetamol?
- Your son!
It's on the news.
John.
[John groans]
- [Jan] ...is no longer
just a local nightmare.
His crimes are now global news.
- Is this for real?
- ... No suspects and
no clear end in sight,
The city remains
on a knife edge.
- [Reporter] Police officers
from East London
Serious Crime Unit...
- No.
No.
[sombre music]
- [Reporter]... Dr
Plague killings...
[tense music]
- Christ!
[tense music continues]
Liam!
Has anyone seen my boy?
My boy was here.
- No, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no, no.
He was meant to be with you!
Was meant to be with you.
- I know, I know.
I texted him.
- You lying bastard!
You lying fucking bastard!
He was meant to be with you!
He was meant to be with you!
[Alice sobs]
He was meant to be with you!
- No, no, no, he's not here.
He's not here.
It's alright.
It's alright, he's not here.
He's not here.
[sombre music]
Sir. Sir.
My son, Liam.
He was here tonight.
I think Doctor Plague has taken
him down into the tunnels.
- Plague Doctor?
What tunnels are
you talking about?
- The other day, I
went to see Mary.
She passed me this note.
I think she said
this is the symbol
that she saw the night
that she was attacked.
I had it checked
out by an expert.
He says it's the symbol of
some ancient religious cult
called the Brethren
of the Knife.
I think all of these attacks,
all of these Plague attacks,
they're connected to
this cult somehow.
And that's why Mary was killed.
Because she passed me the note.
She was warning me.
- Murdered by whom?
- Doctor Cole.
- Are you serious?
- No. Have a look on the note.
Look...Look what
Mary wrote, look.
She knew she was being
watched by the Brethren.
- What has this to
do with tunnels?
- Detective Jones.
He saw there was this
old utility tunnel system.
I think Plague has been using
it to organise his attacks
and to escape with his victims.
We were going to go down there,
but I got this call from Mary.
- And where's
Detective Jones now?
- I don't know.
I've got a couple
of missed calls.
I called him back,
he wasn't there.
But listen, we need
uniforms down here.
We need Trojan.
We need them now.
We can't muck about.
- I'm not calling
SO19 into tunnels
because you believe in a
medieval secret society.
I need evidence.
- You've got it in your hand.
- What this?
The scribblings of a
dubious woman whom we can't
even interview now
because she's dead.
- For fuck's sake,
my boy is missing.
Don't you understand?
- Ancient gods.
Religious zealots.
For God's sake, John,
listen to yourself.
Look around.
This is gang warfare.
[phone rings]
If you'd listen to
me in the first place
and not focused on
these fancy theories,
this may not have happened.
I'm sorry, John, but
I'm suspending you
until further notice.
- Oh, bollocks.
Hello.
- Hi, detective,
it's Professor Altman.
- Yeah, this ain't a good time.
- [Altman] I have more
information for you about the br
- What information?
- About the abductions.
- Go on.
- Any charges
against the brethren,
they would take their
enemies and torture
them, then sacrifice.
- Oh, Christ.
[tense music]
- Where are you going?
John!
[intense music]
[muffled talking]
[eerie music]
[heavy breathing]
[muffled talking]
[muffled groaning]
[clock ticking]
[eerie music]
- What have you done?
[blades swishing]
[indistinct dreamlike chatter]
- Dad, please!
Please help me, dad.
[indistinct dreamlike chatter]
[groaning]
- [John] Liam!
Liam!
[water dripping]
[John breathing heavily]
[tense music]
Liam!
Liam.
[eerie music]
[gate rattling]
[eerie music continues]
[gravel crunching]
[heavy breathing]
Brethren symbols.
[gravel crunching]
[eerie music continues]
[heavy breathing]
[blade swishing]
[blow thuds]
Sarah?
- Congratulations,
John, you did it.
She signed a full confession
admitting to murdering those
three gang members that night.
She claimed they were
abusive and pimping her out,
and that she used Plague
as a cover to kill them.
And after she went in those
tunnels to evade arrest.
According to her, this
Dr Plague is nothing more
than some symbolic figure
that these gang members
use to frighten each other
and settle old scores.
- Oh come on, what
are you talking about?
You don't believe her, do you?
- What's not to believe?
She's confessed to everything.
She has a motive.
This was never the work
of a masked murderer,
let alone these ancient,
resurrected cults.
You've been chasing a ghost.
- What about Sam?
He's one of our own.
Mary. The symbol.
The Brethren of the Flame.
Huh? What about my son,
who's still out there?
- All within the framework
of her confession.
- What, are you saying that
my son is part of this, huh?
I mean, just give me five
minutes with her, right?
Let me talk to her.
There's gotta be something
more to this than
gangs in some
fucked up cos-play.
- I'm sorry, John, I can't.
- Why can't you see this?
[tense music]
- There's no easy
way to say this.
I've been informed that
your disciplinary hearing
has been concluded.
You're going to be
dismissed from active duty.
- I'm fired?
- I'm sorry, John,
but let's be honest.
The writing's been on the
wall for some time now.
You know that.
Ignoring the signpost doesn't
change the destination.
Your union rep will
call you later.
[tense music continues]
[gentle music]
[knocking on door]
- Where have you been?
I've been worried about you.
[gentle music continues]
[John sighs]
I can see you've been busy.
Have you
been searching the
tunnels?
- Yeah.
- And have you
found anything yet?
What are they?
- Well.
The Brethren symbols.
I found loads of
them down there.
You see, back in the day,
the Brethren,
they were involved in all sorts
of black magic and sorcery.
I think these are
like occult talismans
or they're warnings to
others to stay away.
Something like that.
- Well, maybe you should.
I mean, no, sorry, of course.
- Oh, I've gotta go.
- Please don't do this.
I don't want what happened
to Sam, happen to you too.
- If my son is down in those
tunnels, I'm going to find him.
Lock up when you leave.
[gentle music continues]
[door closes]
I need to talk to you about the
Brethren tunnel photographs.
- Wait.
What happened to your face?
- I...I was attacked.
- Attacked? By who?
- Yeah. It doesn't matter.
Look, have you looked at
those pictures that I sent you
with the symbols in the tunnels?
- Are you here in an
official capacity, detective?
- No, not exactly.
- Well, then, may I
ask what capacity you
are here in, exactly?
- I need your help.
- Right.
Look, um, John isn't it?
- Yeah.
- I have been asked
to distance myself
from this
investigation
of yours.
- What? Why?
- Well, they say that
my association with you
will damage the reputation
of the university.
- Who are they?
You were the one who told me
about the Brethren of the Flame
in the first place.
- I'm sorry.
I'd rather you didn't
turn up unannounced in future,
in fact, it's best if
you don't turn up at all.
- Now, listen to me, right.
When I first went
down in those tunnels,
I thought they were signposts,
I thought they were
warning signs telling
people to stay away.
But they're not.
They're telling you
which way to go.
But there's something
I'm missing, right?
Because I keep...
I keep going around in circles.
- John, please leave!
- Please leave? Leave?
Listen to me!
My son is down there, right?
My son is missing
and he's down there!
If you know anything, anything
at all about a signpost,
you're gonna tell me now.
Do you understand?
- There is something!
I couldn't figure it out
but the symbol,
the branches,
they're not random.
They face in a direction.
[gasping]
[door closes]
[sighs]
[breathing heavily]
[laughs]
- What were you expecting?
A monster?
- Why are you doing this?
You can let me go,
I won't tell anyone, I promise.
I am...
No monster.
When all is said and done, I'm
not that much different to you.
No one knows.
It wasn't that long ago
I was in your position,
a lost soul.
But I repented and
everything became so clear.
- Clear?
You're killing people.
People!
- No. Not people.
Vermin.
We are cleansing this city.
[tense music]
He gave drugs to
a 16-year-old girl
named Lucy.
She was bright.
She was funny
and she had dreams
of becoming a doctor.
Just imagine the difference
she could have made.
And Lucy
was not his first victim either.
Police failed those
girls and their families.
We
won't.
[gasping]
- Wait.
[flesh squelching]
[grunting]
[eerie music]
- You see?
The world just
became a safer place.
- Say he did do those things.
- He did.
- Alright, he did.
- If he did then I'm with
you 100 per cent, I promise.
But the police they're not,
they're not all like that.
My dad is trying to
make a difference.
- Oh, yes.
I know all about the
great John Verney.
Cheat!
Liar!
Thug!
And he has just been dismissed.
Why?
Because of the choices he made.
He seems to think the
rules don't apply to him.
Come on, Be honest.
When did he ever put
your needs or your mother's
ahead of his own?
[eerie music continues]
You have such potential,
Liam.
You just need...
[scoffs]
Direction.
[door creaks]
- Verney's off the case.
- I heard.
- Well, you know, why don't you?
- The official word is
internal restructuring.
I think we both
know that's crap.
- Oh, of course it's crap.
The moment he started to
get close to the truth,
bang! He's out.
What coincidence?
I don't think so.
I am telling you,
this is one big cover-up
and it stinks to high heaven.
- Jesus, you're is
starting to sound like those
tinfoil hat loonies.
You don't have a
shred of evidence.
- Wrong.
Voila.
- What's that?
- It's a symbol of
an ancient cult.
The Brotherhood of the Flame.
They're the ones
behind all this.
A mate of mine from my
old Fleet Street days
knows someone on the inside.
Someone who's had
enough of the bloodshed,
wants to go on the record.
- Eddie, I'm worried about you.
Maybe you should take a break.
Be with your family.
- You haven't met my family,
have you?
Now, we have a duty to our
readers to expose
criminality and corruption.
Hell, we have a duty to
every man, woman and
other of this country.
[suspenseful music]
That's the fact.
The Plague is the biggest
story of my career,
and I intend to
crack it wide open.
- That's Darius.
We've been watching
him for a while.
He's on his way to
that new club in town
where he'll sell his product.
MDMA, ketamine, whatever
else he's cooked up.
If we choose not to act,
he will spread his poison
and ruin more lives.
Or...
We can do something.
- Given the choice,
repent or die.
- No.
Some things there's
no coming back from.
You, Liam,
you do have a choice.
What will it be?
Good boy.
[eerie music]
- Oh, fuck.
Fuck!
That's fifty grand's worth
of gear, take a look.
- Do it! Go on.
Go! Go!
[gasping]
Congratulations.
You just made the
world a safer place.
[tense music]
- Hello?
[eerie music]
- Detective Verney.
You look like shit.
- You got it?
- I hear you've been
kicked off the job.
Must be like losing
a piece of your soul.
- You got it or not?
- I got it.
- Let's get it on then.
- They made a real mess of you,
didn't they?
- Look, if you can't help me,
I've got somebody else who can.
- Ssh.
See?
New series in UK or Europe.
Totally clean.
I even oiled it for you.
Single mag, fully loaded.
[tense music]
I trust you.
And I know where to find you.
- Can I have it?
- You take this
and you're heading down a road
where there's no coming back.
- Just give me the gun.
[tense music continues]
- Well here we are.
[indistinct]
[blows hands]
- Jesus.
What are you trying to do?
Finish me off.
- Sorry, mate.
- So where is this
mysterious source?
Here. You better not
be yanking my chain.
- I'm not.
But you have to understand,
this is a delicate situation.
It's like the Freemasons.
You can't just walk away
when you've had enough.
Not without consequences.
This individual needs to
be certain you're
prepared to go all the way,
no matter what.
- I am.
- I had a funny feeling
you might say that.
- What do you mean?
[flesh squelching]
[grunting]
[body thuds]
This sinner
has been cleansed.
[water dripping]
- Look down here. Look.
- [Francesca] Yeah.
Why did you bring
me to the caves?
Do you think Liam's down here?
[breathing heavily]
Why are we here, John?
- Shit!
It's a dead end.
- John, stairs.
[eerie music]
Isn't that the brethren symbol?
What does it mean?
Let's follow the arrow.
- [John] Look at this.
[eerie music continues]
You all right?
Yeah. This way.
Alright?
Yeah, let's go.
Come on.
- These must be
the old catacombs.
My God, John, rats.
[rats squeaking]
- [John] Just follow them.
Just follow them, yeah?
- [Francesca] Where are we?
Is that a forest?
[tense music]
- Just watch your step.
Come on.
[heavy breathing]
[dramatic music]
- [Francesca] I think
we should go back.
- Come on.
- Watch yourself.
- I'm right behind.
[both panting]
- Come on.
Come on. This way.
[eerie music]
- [Francesca] It's not a flame.
It's a tree.
[eerie music]
- Where's my son?
- He is quite safe.
- I want to see him.
- Oh, you will see...
You will see everything.
- Where's my boy?
- Hello, John.
- Where is he? Where's my boy?
- All in good time.
- If you've hurt him,
I will kill you.
I swear to God, I will kill you.
- No, John,
you are not in any position
to threaten anyone just now.
- I want to see him.
- Very well.
Let us begin our reunion.
[eerie music continues]
Now.
Do you see?
- Repent or die.
It wasn't a threat, was it?
It was a choice.
You weren't killing them.
You were...
You were recruiting them.
You killed Mary, right?
- She was cleansed.
- You're sick.
- After that...
And a measured disclosure
of information.
It wasn't difficult to
have you discredit yourself
to your senior officers.
After all,
who would believe all of this?
But I was not the only
person that you encountered
the day that Mary died.
Or have you forgotten?
[eerie music continues]
After you came to visit me.
I had Francesca go
to keep an eye on you
while we took care of Mary.
- Just tell me, was it
before or after we met?
- Oh, John.
When our leadership realised
you couldn't be turned,
I was sent elsewhere.
That's why I left you.
- I just want to see my boy.
- We gave you so many chances,
but you would not give it up.
The only reason we
haven't killed you already
is that Francesca thought
that you might join us.
- I just want to see my boy.
I want to see my son.
You're all crazy.
- We are the cure for a
sick and diseased society.
- And you think you're the
ones to do that, do you?
- My grandfather and I?
Yes.
- Jack the Ripper.
- Well done.
Unfortunately,
my grandfather died
before he had a chance to
recruit to our cause.
And so it was left
to me eventually, to
take up his mantle.
He is buried
underneath this very tree.
See
how it has grown unlike
any other in the forest,
nurtured by the
blood of mine own.
Surviving
for decades.
A flame
that will never die.
[eerie music continues]
- Just bring me my boy.
- The brethren of the flame
have always been
and will always be
all of us.
Here
is our newest recruit.
- Jesus Christ.
No.
Jesus Christ.
[eerie music continues]
[Francesca laughs]
- Your son is here
on his own volition.
- Liam.
I don't know what
they've done to you.
Is it..?
This ain't you.
- I've repented
and I'm cleansed.
- Your son has repented.
- [All] And the gods
are well pleased.
- Just let him go, please.
Just let him go.
- Your son is here on
his own volition, John.
- Just let him go.
- He has embraced our cause.
And so can you.
- We live pure
and wholesome lives.
Think about it.
We can be together.
And you can be with
your son again.
And we can be a new family.
And you can be happy.
Don't you want to
be happy, John?
- Are you fucking mad?
You're all mad.
- Very well.
High priestess.
Prepare thy knife.
[music intensifies]
[blade swishes]
[John groans]
[body thuds]
[wind howls]
[footsteps tapping]
[eerie music]
- The Plague story
has run its course.
It's time to move on.
- But people are still
talking about it.
- Gossip and
hearsay
aren't news.
Leave that to the
crackpots on social media.
I want a thousand words on the
government's outsourcing bill
by the end of the day.
- What about Verney?
- It's tragic.
Of course it is.
But a secret society?
Killer Plague doctors?
I mean, really?
Whatever next?
Lizard people in Downing Street?
I don't think so.
Well, go on then.
The clock's ticking.
Tick tock, tick tock.
Tick tock.
[eerie music continues]
[upbeat music]
[singer vocalising]
[eerie music]
[logo chimes]
[eerie music]
[eerie music continues]
[heavy breathing]
[heavy breathing]
[eerie music continues]
[heavy breathing]
[blades swishing]
- We'll see you next week.
[heavy breathing]
Oh!
- Repent or die.
- You what?
- Repent or die.
Oh!
[squeals]
[flesh squelches]
[grunts]
[body thuds]
[heavy breathing]
[whimpering]
[blows landing]
[whimpering]
[gasping]
[eerie music continues]
[breathing heavily]
[suspenseful music]
[suspenseful music continues]
[ambient city noises]
[dog barks]
[indistinct chatter]
[brooding music]
- Fuck this.
I'm going home.
- You can't.
It's too early.
- She's right, you know.
It ain't safe.
Not with him out there.
[breathing heavily]
- Plague?
- Yeah, fucking Plague.
Who else?
- You scared the shit out of me!
- Where do you
think you're going?
- Nowhere.
- Wrong. You're coming with me.
You two get back on that corner,
or I'll tell Jake you've
been leaving early again.
Good girl.
[footsteps tapping]
[upbeat music]
- I...I don't like this.
- Listen, you'll be fine.
Be nice.
Be good and have fun.
Come on.
[upbeat music continue]
[knocking on window]
Are you looking for a good time?
- Are you two taking the piss?
Do you know who
you're fucking with?
Huh?
- Looks to me like one little
torture boy and his skank.
- If I see you
around here again.
I'll open you up.
- Fuck are you gonna do, huh?
- Yeah?
- Jake is gonna hear about this.
- Jake can suck my...
[blades swish]
[intense music]
[heavy breathing]
- Sarah.
[heavy breathing]
- Shit.
[Sarah whimpering]
[gate rattling]
[tense music]
- You wanna fuck with us?
- Oh, God. No!
[flesh squelching]
[Sarah screams]
[body thuds]
[blade slices]
[screams]
Aah!
[screaming]
[screams]
[heavy breathing]
[indistinct growling]
[Sarah whimpering]
- Another night,
another horrific crime scene.
Three bodies believed to be the
latest victims of Doctor Plague
were discovered just a few
hundred metres from here
in the early hours
of this morning.
The police insist the
murders are gang related,
dismissing claims
of a serial killer.
However, sources closest
to the investigation
suggest that unusual
staging of the bodies
moved and deliberately placed
points to something more
than a typical gang dispute.
- Detective Verni,
there is a body over here,
and these two bodies are from,
uh, from rival gangs.
- Have you seen the bodies?
- No, sir.
- Well, let's have a look, eh?
Oh, Jesus.
[camera snapping]
- Jesus.
- All in one piece
this time, eh?
- Makes a change.
- If you ask me,
The doctor's doing
us all a favour.
Certainly clearing up the
rubbish, that's for sure.
- Wait, are we sure this is not
just some gang rivalry thing?
- What do you reckon?
Torture boys, grave
diggers, Bloods,
Torture boys over there.
Grave diggers here.
This is the ninth one
they've lost so far.
- Where the fuck a sucker?
[phone rings]
- Hang on a minute.
[tense music]
Yep. Well, I'm at work, ain't I?
Yes. Have you tried his mobile?
All right, uh, look,
I can't deal with it now.
Just. I'll...
I'll get on it later.
Yeah.
No cameras again, right?
- No.
[tense music continues]
You really want to hit the
ground running, detective?
- Yes, sir.
- You get yourself back
to the station, right?
Get on the phone and check out
every camera that you can find.
Ours, plus the
private ones as well.
You never know, we
might get lucky.
All I know at the moment
is three months in,
we've got 25 dead and six
people are still missing.
Probably abducted.
Get on it.
Yes, sir...that's what
I don't understand is..
Is why is he killing some
of them and not the rest?
- That's what we're trying
to find out, isn't it?
- Yes, sir.
- Sam.
- Yes, sir?
- Don't call me sir.
- No, sir.
[car tires screech]
- You best find out who
this no face is soon.
Otherwise, we're going to
start taking our own actions,
if you know what I mean?
And you don't want that?
Yeah, alright, whatever, jog on.
[tense music continues]
[car doors slam]
[engine revving]
[gentle music]
- Detective.
- You alright?
- Hmm.
[indistinct] wasn't
alone last night.
He was with our friend Sarah.
- Sarah?
- Sarah Stringer.
We haven't seen her since
she left with him last night.
- You sure about that?
- Mm. 100%.
- Alright.
You take care of yourself,
you alright?
- Hhm.
[gentle music continues]
[car engine starts]
[eerie music]
- What is up, Plague Nation?
So today we are going to
be talking about our
killer's weapon of choice.
And, you know, the cops,
they are useless.
Because let's be honest here,
Dr Plague, he is making history.
[sirens wailing]
- Still nothing?
- I'm afraid not.
The only time she does say
anything is when she's dreaming.
And even then,
it's just screams.
- I'm not surprised with
what she's been through.
- Indeed.
- Did she ever use the
charcoals and paper that
I bought him last time.
- No, there's been nothing.
- If she can't
talk, she can draw.
[footsteps tapping]
[machine beeping]
- Mary?
You have a visitor.
- Good to see you, Mary.
Listen to me.
I need your help.
The man that hurt you,
attacked you,
he's killed again.
You're the only person
that's ever seen him.
[machine beeping]
[sighs]
If there's anything you
can tell me about the
night you were attacked.
I need your help.
We can't let this
happen to someone else.
If there's anything you
can remember about the
night you were attacked,
anything at all.
Did you hear his voice?
What did he sound like?
Anything at all.
You just told Dr Cole,
and she'll call me,
anytime of the night or day.
Alright?
[machine beeping continues]
[sighs]
Alright.
[indistinct]
What did she say?
She said something.
Mary.
What was it, Mary?
What was it?
- Repent. Repent
or die.
[choking]
- Mary, let him go!
[grunting]
- Repent or die.
Repent or die.
- [Dr] Let him go!
Repent or die.
[panting]
[machine beeping]
- I'm so sorry, Detective.
- If that girl says anything.
Anything at all.
I'm your first call.
[door creaks]
- Sam?
Yeah, tell me something good.
- You were right.
The torture boy's victim
wasn't alone last night.
There was another girl.
- Carry on checking the cameras
on the surrounding area.
Yeah. Widen that
search to about a mile.
We've got to find out how he's
getting in and out alright?
Well, I don't know, do I?
He's not a fucking ghost, is he?
Huh? Just find him.
[phones ringing]
[tense music]
[indistinct chatter]
[handbrake clicking]
[police radio chatters]
- Listen, you said she was in.
This is in.
- It's not that, it's, uh...
- Well, what then?
What, are you worried
about the Plague?
Don't worry about that,
we've got that covered.
Shit!
[chair clatters]
[tense music continues]
- Is it that obvious?
- Yes.
You might as well have a
massive siren on your head.
- Get in the car.
I'm taking you home.
- Nah, I'm alright.
- I'm not asking you.
- Dad, you can't make
me come with you.
- This yours?
- That...That's not mine.
- I don't see anyone else here.
You know, I could take you in
for less than that, don't you?
- You wouldn't do that.
- No, I wouldn't.
'Cos I'm taking you home.
[gravel crunching]
[eerie music]
I don't want you
seeing them any more.
- They're my mates, dad.
- No they're not.
Guys like that don't have mates.
- Whatever.
- Did they tell you what
happened last night?
Mm? What plague did
to two of their mob?
- Yes.
Of course, everyone knows.
But don't worry,
we're taking care of it.
- What's that supposed to mean?
What's that supposed to mean?
You're taking care of it.
Hang on a minute,
I ain't finished with you.
Mum's got dinner ready,
and I'm starving.
[eerie music continues]
- Hello mate, you alright?
- Alright?
- Hi.
He's late.
- Yeah, I know, I'm sorry.
I found him down by Smiths.
- God, really?
- Yeah.
- That's where all the
smackheads hang out.
What's he doing down there?
- Oh, he just had a
bag of grass, you know.
- All kids do it.
- Just a bag of grass?
- Oh, my...
This is getting out of hand.
You've got to do
something about this.
- Yeah, I am.
- You are?
- Yeah, I'm talking to him.
- Well, that's clearly
not enough, is it?
He needs a proper dad.
- Oh, come on, we're not
going there again, are we?
I'd still be here if
it weren't for you.
You were the one who
asked me to come out.
- No, no, no, no, no, no.
- It was! It was though!
- You cannot blame this on me.
- If you'd managed to
keep it in your pants
- I'd still be here, wouldn't I.
- Then maybe I wouldn't
have had to kick you out.
[phone ringing]
- I told you, it's
just the once.
Just the once, that's all.
- Oh, yeah. Once.
- Yeah, once!
- One time.
- That's the truth.
- Expect me to believe that?
- I got to take this.
- Oh, God.
Here we go again.
You can't even talk to the
mother of your only child
about your son's life.
- I'll get rid of them,
hang on a minute.
- No, do you know what, John?
Take your precious call.
Just do me a favour and
take an interest in his life
before it's too late.
Go on.
- This better be important.
[eerie music]
[siren wailing]
[heavy breathing]
[eerie music continues]
[eerie music continues]
[girls laughing]
[tense music]
[heavy breathing]
[music intensifies]
No!
[suspenseful music]
- Repent.
[heavy breathing]
Or die.
[girls screaming]
- Woohoo!
[Dr Plague groans]
[combatants grunting]
[suspenseful music continues]
- You're under arrest.
- It's a prank, bro.
[grunts]
It's a prank, bro!
It's for YouTube.
- Yeah, well, the
joke's on you, innit.
You're nicked.
- It's a prank,
bro, for YouTube.
- It's fucking plastic!
- What?
- You bastard!
- Get back! I'm a policeman.
- Get out!
- It's a fucking prank!
I'm gonna do you, man, for
battery and wrongful arrest,
you fascist fuck!
- Last night, the investigation
took another shocking turn.
Newly surfaced footage
appears to show Detective
Inspector John Verney
in a violent altercation
with a popular YouTuber.
The clip has intensified
criticism of the police,
fuelling concerns that law
enforcement is losing its grip.
Protests have erupted
across the city,
driven by fears that authorities
can no longer contain
the escalating violence.
Some see Verney's
actions of those of a man pushed
to his limits,
while others believe they
exposed deeper issues
within the police service.
Chief Inspector Parker is
expected to make a
statement later tonight,
but it's not just
answers the public want,
it's decisive leadership.
- It's gone viral.
Basically, everybody's seen you
beat the crap out of that kid.
[tense music]
- Oh, Bollocks.
[phone ringing]
- Detective Jones.
Yes, sir. He's here.
He's here with me now, sir.
Okay, sir.
Guv wants a chat.
- Come on then.
- On your own.
He was dressed as Doctor Plague.
I mean, you can buy the
costume online now.
- [Parker] Well,
why is that, John?
- Well, they're cashing in,
aren't they.
- Cashing in because
the public have bought into
this ridiculous idea
that there is this Jack the
Ripper like maniac on the loose.
- Yeah, and they'd be right.
- Based on what?
A few grainy images of
someone wearing a mask?
The theories of a
few internet wackos?
- No, no, no, that
footage is real,
we had it authenticated,
you know that.
- All the killings so
far are on gang members
or those affiliated
with them in some way.
This is a gang matter.
- No, no, no, no,
gangs don't abduct.
Right. I mean, where are
you going to take them?
All I know is that we've
got 6 or 7 people
connected with these murders
that are still missing.
- It's all circumstantial.
Not everything's a
conspiracy, John.
- I know that,
I'm not saying it is.
I just want to
find them before...
Before it's too late.
- Look, I'll be honest with you.
Just got off the
phone with the super,
and she has suggested
it'd be a good idea
to get a fresh pair of
eyes on all of this.
- So what? I'm being stood down?
- No. Not yet.
We agreed you can work
till the end of this month,
but if sufficient progress
isn't made by then,
we're going to bring in someone
else to lead the task force.
- Oh, this is ridiculous.
- I hear you saw Mary Woodall.
I hear she gave you the jump.
[phone ringing]
- Who told you that?
- I've got to get this.
The gangs.
The solution to everything
is with the gangs.
Concentrate on the gangs.
Never mind the boogeyman.
Hello?
[tense music]
[door creaks]
[door opens]
[gentle music]
Oh!
[sighs]
Yeah.
[computer ringing]
Hey. Hey, mate.
- Hello.
- You alright?
- Yeah, I'm alright.
- Good. Um.
Look, how do you fancy going
cinema tomorrow night?
You know?
Uh, I can meet you after work.
You can choose the movie.
- Yeah. Yeah, sure,
that sounds good.
Great. Um, shall we say 6:00?
How's that sound?
- 6:00 is good.
- Good, alright,
I'll see you there.
And, uh, mate, uh, choose
something we both like, eh?
- Yeah.
- All right. Good.
- See you later.
- Cheers, dad.
[phone beeps]
[sighs]
[gentle music continues]
[keys clacking]
- [on computer] As a specialised
physician in 17th century...
[voice on computer
speaks indistinctly]
[voice on computer
speaks indistinctly]
[tense music]
[sirens wailing]
- Hello?
What's going on?
- Sam?
I wanted to talk to
you off the record.
- Yeah, sure, boss,
but shouldn't we be
heading on over to the
junkyard crime scene?
We can talk in the car.
- Are you familiar with
the Whitechapel murders?
- Jack the Ripper?
- Yeah.
- Yeah, I mean,
everyone's heard of him, right?
- Yeah, you know, I've
been doing some reading.
The similarities are obvious
when you look at it, right?
The choice of victims,
the location, the
ferocity of the attacks,
even the messaging
that's left behind.
- Okay, so why the
secrecy, though?
Why are we on a roof?
- Well, they say
Jack was never caught
because he had
friends in high places.
Like he was connected
to aristocracy, like
a secret society.
They say that he even had
his claws into the Met.
- Wait, so, you think
our killer's got an
accomplice on the job?
- No.
Plague only attacks
where there's no camera
coverage, right?
So he's really lucky, or...
he's got someone on the inside.
- Okay, so what now?
- He's got to leave
a trail somewhere.
And when he does, we jump on it.
You get yourself over
to the murder scene,
and when you're done there,
right, you check every piece of
CCTV footage that we've got.
Every single frame.
You find anything,
you come to me.
No one else.
Understood?
Someone's got to know who he is.
[tense music continues]
- Wait, are you not coming
over to the crime scene?
- I've got something
I need to do.
So you're a professor
of medieval history
and religious symbolism, right?
- Professor emeritus.
- I was wondering
if you could help me...
identify this.
[eerie music]
Do you recognise it?
- Yeah, that, uh...
looks like some kind of flame.
- Well, it's a piece of
evidence, an ongoing
inquiry at the moment.
- Fire is one of
the base elements.
But fire can also be
a symbol of cleansing,
of purging and renewal.
It's a force of truth.
A light in the darkness.
- More darkness than
light, recently.
Without fire we'd be dead,
inside and out.
Where'd you say you got this?
- I didn't.
- Hmm. I have an idea.
[intense music]
- What is up, Plague Nation?
It's your boy Eric,
with big news...
No, huge news about
tomorrow's show.
Live, 8 p.m.
I'm going to be joined
by Jake Tortelli,
a man whose friends,
family, associates
have all been brutally
and viciously killed
by none other than
Doctor Plague.
Jake wants to go on the record
raw, unfiltered, with a personal
message to the killer himself.
So that's right, Plague,
if you're watching,
and I know you are,
you do not want to miss this.
[gentle music]
[door closes]
- I've seen it.
- It's had half a
million views already.
I'd give my left nut for
that sort of coverage.
- It's not journalism,
it's clickbait.
Nothing more than
self-promotion and narcissism.
- Call it what you want.
This little twerp keeps
getting the jump on us,
and I'm not having it.
[phone beeps]
[gentle music continues]
See, we've got ourselves a
modern day Jack the Ripper.
He's out there cutting
up kids with impunity.
But what?
No one knows his identity?
I don't buy it.
- So what are you suggesting?
Some kind of conspiracy?
- You're damn right I am.
Well, we're living in an age
of fake news and cover-ups.
That's not us.
We're in the truth business,
or at least we were
the last time I looked.
See, good old-fashioned
print journalism
can still make a difference.
We can make a difference.
- I'm not saying you're wrong.
- I'm not wrong.
- But if you are
and it's a big if.
What then?
We're going to look like fools
if we're on the wrong
side of this story.
- Well, let me worry about that.
You, uh, know who the lead
investigator is, don't you?
- Yes.
A dinosaur who still
thinks he's in the Sweeney.
- Yeah, well, John Verne is
one of their best detectives.
So if the victims
aren't important...
[gentle music continues]
The killer must be.
- So what do you want me to do?
- Well, you and Vernie
have history, don't you?
Go and flutter your eyelashes,
whisper sweet nothings.
Do I really need
to spell it out?
- You want me to whore myself?
- I think you'll find
it's called being sex
positive these days.
[laughs]
Just get me a quote.
Something, anything I can
put on the front page.
Go on then.
The clock's ticking.
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.
[door closes]
[sinister music]
- Right.
And, um.
Upload. [phone beeps] Oh, sorry.
It seems that your symbol
belonged to a secret
society called the
brethren of the flame.
The brethren believed
that the pandemic was
divine wrath and judgment
upon a sinful society.
Among their number
was a faction who'd go out
disguised as plague doctors
to kill those they deemed
corrupt and criminal.
And who refused to repent.
- Plague doctors?
What about?
A revival?
- Is it safe to assume
that your visit is
somehow connected with the
killings that are
happening in East London?
- Does it say anything about
the brethren abducting people?
- No.
I'm afraid not.
- Could you look
into that for me?
- I'm very, very busy.
- Now, if you can give
me any sort of help,
we could save lives.
- I don't think I
can refuse, can I?
- I'd appreciate if you
could keep our conversation
just under wraps.
You know, I don't want anything
getting out and provoking him.
- Yes, of course.
- Yeah, uh, look,
here's my card.
Call me if you think
of anything, okay?
I'll see myself out.
- Right.
[sinister music continues]
- Hello, John,
it's Francesca.
Yeah, I know it's
been a long time.
Too long.
I was thinking maybe
we can get together.
- I ran through the
other disappearances,
and in all instances,
there's no sign of Plague
or where he takes them.
It's like they just disappear.
- We know all this, right?
- But I think I found something.
You see, there's this theory
that during his killing spree,
the Ripper would use the
city's old utility
tunnels to evade capture.
That theory later gave
birth to those boogeyman-like
tales you hear today.
He's still down there, lurking,
waiting one day to reemerge.
Now, this map here dates
back to late 19th century,
when those tunnels
were still in use.
I've managed to match
all the crime scenes
of all the Plague murders
and disappearances
with all the CCTV blind spots.
- And what about this stuff?
The green? What's that mean?
- Those are all the old
utility tunnel openings.
And they were used to transport
the sick and dying out of London
during the bubonic plague.
- By plague doctors.
- But I think this is
how Plague is escaping
and where he's taking
those he abducts.
- Shit.
- Should we go tell the guv?
- No. Just keep it between
ourselves for a while.
I think we need something
a little bit more concrete
before we take this
to the old man.
- Let's go find something then.
- Yeah.
Hello?
When?
You're joking.
Alright, I'm on my way.
Everything okay?
- You carry on doing that.
I've got to go
over to St Mary's.
[tense music]
[sirens wailing]
- I'm sorry, detective.
- So what happened?
- She cut off her own
tongue and bled to death.
She must have had a psychotic
episode during the night.
There was nothing we could do.
[suspenseful music]
[door creaks]
She was dead when we found her.
- What do you mean?
She cut her own tongue off.
How?
- We found some
scissors in her room.
[John sighs]
- How did she get hold
of a pair of scissors?
- It's unfortunate,
but sometimes the patients
hide things from us.
Things that can
cause them danger.
[suspenseful music continues]
Goodbye, detective.
[phone rings]
- Hello mate, what's up?
[tense music]
Uh, no, no, no, no, no.
Um, I just didn't think
it mattered, that's all.
Uh, yeah. No.
Look. You're right.
I should have told you, Jake.
I'm sorry.
What?
Um, I don't know.
I don't know, I don't have it.
[tense music continues]
Um.
My dad, my dad.
My dad...
He took it,
he found it, and he took it.
Look, I'm sorry, Jake.
I promise I'll make it
up to you, I promise.
Jake?
Shit!
[tense music]
[gentle music]
- Sorry I'm late.
- No, it's fine.
- You remembered?
- Of course.
- Cheers.
- Is everything all right?
- Off the record...
Not really.
Our only living witness to a
Plague attack has just died.
- What happened?
- Gross negligence,
if you ask me.
[phone rings]
Sorry. All right.
I'm all yours.
[gentle music continues]
- What's the position of
the Chief Inspector on this?
- He thinks it's
all gang related.
- Really?
From what you've
described of the murders,
it's so obviously
ideologically driven.
What's his big
brain take on that?
- He thinks all of
missing are related to the
murder or something.
He thinks they're all suspects.
[Francesca laughs]
- Well, you know what
I'm going to say.
[John scoffs]
- Well, you should,
he's an idiot.
You should have
that job or better.
Not that paper pushing
path of least resistance.
- I've got too many
black marks against me.
- Really?
I find that hard to believe.
[traffic rumbling]
[phone ringing]
- Yeah.
I'm on my way.
[phone beeps]
- Any other breakthroughs?
Off the record.
- Off the record?
Yeah, I think we might have.
We think that Plague is
using this old system of
utility tunnels to, uh,
to escape from the
scene of the crime.
- Have you taken
that to the chief?
- No.
I'm already skating on thin ice.
When I go to the old man,
I've got to take more
than just a hunch.
- I heard about the divorce.
- Yeah, well, it happens.
- Was there anything
to do with us?
- No.
Well, maybe.
- Did your wife find out?
- She found out I
was seeing someone.
She didn't know it was you.
- Sorry.
[gentle music continues]
- What about you?
You, uh, disappeared
quickly, didn't you?
Didn't even say goodbye.
- Yeah. Why do you think?
I was just sick of all the lies.
- Do you want to
get out of here?
Come on.
[eerie music]
[heavy breathing]
[eerie music continues]
- Don't be caking
that shit on me.
I don't want to look
like a fucking satsuma.
- I know what I'm doing.
- She did makeup in college,
you know.
She's got certificates
and everything.
- And who the fuck asked you?
- I was just saying.
- Yeah, well, don't.
You can fuck off.
- I ain't even
finished your hair yet.
- Yeah, well. You're
done. Fuck off.
- Fuck this.
I'll be in the hot tub.
- Fucking mouth on that.
- Mate.
The chat's blowing up for real.
Listen to this.
- Is this going
fucking viral or what?
- You're trending, man.
- What's the difference?
- Well, trending is like when...
- Oh, well, do you know what?
I don't give a shit.
Just fucking... Just carry
on doing what you're doing.
And what do you
think of my shirt?
- Yeah. It's fine.
- Fine? Fucking fine?
- Jake.
- It looks great,
you look great.
- You sure?
- Sure.
- Hey.
We're good to go.
- Alright, fuck it,
come on, let's do this.
[tense music continues]
[hot tub bubbling]
[water splashing]
[eerie music]
[Tilly sniffs]
[eerie music continues]
[gravel crunching]
[heavy breathing]
[intense music]
[heavy breathing]
- We're going live
in three, two, one.
- What is up, Plague Nation?
This is it.
As promised, the big one.
Tonight I'm here
with a special guest.
A man who has
experienced unspeakable horrors
and bloodshed
in recent weeks.
It's my main man, Jake Tortelli.
What are you saying, Jake?
- Listen, I'm not going to lie,
it's been dark, dark times.
- Yeah, because of, uh,
Dr Plague, right?
Because of what he's done?
People he's killed,
I mean, your people.
- [Jake] They had their whole
lives in front of them.
It's tragic.
[eerie music]
[heavy breathing]
[door creaks]
[eerie music continues]
[door creaks]
[heavy breathing]
- Let's say that, uh, Dr Plague
is watching this right now.
Have you got a message for him?
- Yeah, yeah, I do.
Listen, you fucking psychotic...
- Sorry I'm late. I, uh...
- Stop, we're filming.
- Oh. Sorry.
- Listen, you fucking clown.
You think that you can
come here in my manor,
take my people,
my fucking family?
You're wrong.
Because this is what's
going to happen.
I'm coming for you, you hear me?
And I'm gonna fuck you up bad.
And this ain't no idle threat.
That's a gold-plated
promise from me to you.
I'm gonna fuck you up.
I want Plague dead.
I want his head on a spike.
I want to piss on his corpse,
I wanna...
[flesh squelches]
[screaming]
- Fuck!
[tense music]
[heavy breathing]
- You motherfucker!
I'm gonna kill you!
[blow thuds]
- Shit!
They're everywhere.
Listen, fellas.
It's him you want.
I'm a nobody, I'm a nothing.
- It's him!
It's Plague!
- Please.
[blow thuds]
[flesh squelching]
[eerie music]
- Repent or die.
- Last night, a horrific
home invasion left
multiple people dead,
with parts of the attack
streamed live on the internet.
The shocking footage
has since gone viral.
Doctor plague is no longer
just a local nightmare.
His crimes are now global news.
With no arrests, no suspects
and no clear end in sight,
the city remains
on a knife edge.
[sombre music]
[phone chimes]
- John! Wake up.
It's Liam.
- Oh, man, my head
is banging as well.
You got any paracetamol?
- Your son!
It's on the news.
John.
[John groans]
- [Jan] ...is no longer
just a local nightmare.
His crimes are now global news.
- Is this for real?
- ... No suspects and
no clear end in sight,
The city remains
on a knife edge.
- [Reporter] Police officers
from East London
Serious Crime Unit...
- No.
No.
[sombre music]
- [Reporter]... Dr
Plague killings...
[tense music]
- Christ!
[tense music continues]
Liam!
Has anyone seen my boy?
My boy was here.
- No, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no, no.
He was meant to be with you!
Was meant to be with you.
- I know, I know.
I texted him.
- You lying bastard!
You lying fucking bastard!
He was meant to be with you!
He was meant to be with you!
[Alice sobs]
He was meant to be with you!
- No, no, no, he's not here.
He's not here.
It's alright.
It's alright, he's not here.
He's not here.
[sombre music]
Sir. Sir.
My son, Liam.
He was here tonight.
I think Doctor Plague has taken
him down into the tunnels.
- Plague Doctor?
What tunnels are
you talking about?
- The other day, I
went to see Mary.
She passed me this note.
I think she said
this is the symbol
that she saw the night
that she was attacked.
I had it checked
out by an expert.
He says it's the symbol of
some ancient religious cult
called the Brethren
of the Knife.
I think all of these attacks,
all of these Plague attacks,
they're connected to
this cult somehow.
And that's why Mary was killed.
Because she passed me the note.
She was warning me.
- Murdered by whom?
- Doctor Cole.
- Are you serious?
- No. Have a look on the note.
Look...Look what
Mary wrote, look.
She knew she was being
watched by the Brethren.
- What has this to
do with tunnels?
- Detective Jones.
He saw there was this
old utility tunnel system.
I think Plague has been using
it to organise his attacks
and to escape with his victims.
We were going to go down there,
but I got this call from Mary.
- And where's
Detective Jones now?
- I don't know.
I've got a couple
of missed calls.
I called him back,
he wasn't there.
But listen, we need
uniforms down here.
We need Trojan.
We need them now.
We can't muck about.
- I'm not calling
SO19 into tunnels
because you believe in a
medieval secret society.
I need evidence.
- You've got it in your hand.
- What this?
The scribblings of a
dubious woman whom we can't
even interview now
because she's dead.
- For fuck's sake,
my boy is missing.
Don't you understand?
- Ancient gods.
Religious zealots.
For God's sake, John,
listen to yourself.
Look around.
This is gang warfare.
[phone rings]
If you'd listen to
me in the first place
and not focused on
these fancy theories,
this may not have happened.
I'm sorry, John, but
I'm suspending you
until further notice.
- Oh, bollocks.
Hello.
- Hi, detective,
it's Professor Altman.
- Yeah, this ain't a good time.
- [Altman] I have more
information for you about the br
- What information?
- About the abductions.
- Go on.
- Any charges
against the brethren,
they would take their
enemies and torture
them, then sacrifice.
- Oh, Christ.
[tense music]
- Where are you going?
John!
[intense music]
[muffled talking]
[eerie music]
[heavy breathing]
[muffled talking]
[muffled groaning]
[clock ticking]
[eerie music]
- What have you done?
[blades swishing]
[indistinct dreamlike chatter]
- Dad, please!
Please help me, dad.
[indistinct dreamlike chatter]
[groaning]
- [John] Liam!
Liam!
[water dripping]
[John breathing heavily]
[tense music]
Liam!
Liam.
[eerie music]
[gate rattling]
[eerie music continues]
[gravel crunching]
[heavy breathing]
Brethren symbols.
[gravel crunching]
[eerie music continues]
[heavy breathing]
[blade swishing]
[blow thuds]
Sarah?
- Congratulations,
John, you did it.
She signed a full confession
admitting to murdering those
three gang members that night.
She claimed they were
abusive and pimping her out,
and that she used Plague
as a cover to kill them.
And after she went in those
tunnels to evade arrest.
According to her, this
Dr Plague is nothing more
than some symbolic figure
that these gang members
use to frighten each other
and settle old scores.
- Oh come on, what
are you talking about?
You don't believe her, do you?
- What's not to believe?
She's confessed to everything.
She has a motive.
This was never the work
of a masked murderer,
let alone these ancient,
resurrected cults.
You've been chasing a ghost.
- What about Sam?
He's one of our own.
Mary. The symbol.
The Brethren of the Flame.
Huh? What about my son,
who's still out there?
- All within the framework
of her confession.
- What, are you saying that
my son is part of this, huh?
I mean, just give me five
minutes with her, right?
Let me talk to her.
There's gotta be something
more to this than
gangs in some
fucked up cos-play.
- I'm sorry, John, I can't.
- Why can't you see this?
[tense music]
- There's no easy
way to say this.
I've been informed that
your disciplinary hearing
has been concluded.
You're going to be
dismissed from active duty.
- I'm fired?
- I'm sorry, John,
but let's be honest.
The writing's been on the
wall for some time now.
You know that.
Ignoring the signpost doesn't
change the destination.
Your union rep will
call you later.
[tense music continues]
[gentle music]
[knocking on door]
- Where have you been?
I've been worried about you.
[gentle music continues]
[John sighs]
I can see you've been busy.
Have you
been searching the
tunnels?
- Yeah.
- And have you
found anything yet?
What are they?
- Well.
The Brethren symbols.
I found loads of
them down there.
You see, back in the day,
the Brethren,
they were involved in all sorts
of black magic and sorcery.
I think these are
like occult talismans
or they're warnings to
others to stay away.
Something like that.
- Well, maybe you should.
I mean, no, sorry, of course.
- Oh, I've gotta go.
- Please don't do this.
I don't want what happened
to Sam, happen to you too.
- If my son is down in those
tunnels, I'm going to find him.
Lock up when you leave.
[gentle music continues]
[door closes]
I need to talk to you about the
Brethren tunnel photographs.
- Wait.
What happened to your face?
- I...I was attacked.
- Attacked? By who?
- Yeah. It doesn't matter.
Look, have you looked at
those pictures that I sent you
with the symbols in the tunnels?
- Are you here in an
official capacity, detective?
- No, not exactly.
- Well, then, may I
ask what capacity you
are here in, exactly?
- I need your help.
- Right.
Look, um, John isn't it?
- Yeah.
- I have been asked
to distance myself
from this
investigation
of yours.
- What? Why?
- Well, they say that
my association with you
will damage the reputation
of the university.
- Who are they?
You were the one who told me
about the Brethren of the Flame
in the first place.
- I'm sorry.
I'd rather you didn't
turn up unannounced in future,
in fact, it's best if
you don't turn up at all.
- Now, listen to me, right.
When I first went
down in those tunnels,
I thought they were signposts,
I thought they were
warning signs telling
people to stay away.
But they're not.
They're telling you
which way to go.
But there's something
I'm missing, right?
Because I keep...
I keep going around in circles.
- John, please leave!
- Please leave? Leave?
Listen to me!
My son is down there, right?
My son is missing
and he's down there!
If you know anything, anything
at all about a signpost,
you're gonna tell me now.
Do you understand?
- There is something!
I couldn't figure it out
but the symbol,
the branches,
they're not random.
They face in a direction.
[gasping]
[door closes]
[sighs]
[breathing heavily]
[laughs]
- What were you expecting?
A monster?
- Why are you doing this?
You can let me go,
I won't tell anyone, I promise.
I am...
No monster.
When all is said and done, I'm
not that much different to you.
No one knows.
It wasn't that long ago
I was in your position,
a lost soul.
But I repented and
everything became so clear.
- Clear?
You're killing people.
People!
- No. Not people.
Vermin.
We are cleansing this city.
[tense music]
He gave drugs to
a 16-year-old girl
named Lucy.
She was bright.
She was funny
and she had dreams
of becoming a doctor.
Just imagine the difference
she could have made.
And Lucy
was not his first victim either.
Police failed those
girls and their families.
We
won't.
[gasping]
- Wait.
[flesh squelching]
[grunting]
[eerie music]
- You see?
The world just
became a safer place.
- Say he did do those things.
- He did.
- Alright, he did.
- If he did then I'm with
you 100 per cent, I promise.
But the police they're not,
they're not all like that.
My dad is trying to
make a difference.
- Oh, yes.
I know all about the
great John Verney.
Cheat!
Liar!
Thug!
And he has just been dismissed.
Why?
Because of the choices he made.
He seems to think the
rules don't apply to him.
Come on, Be honest.
When did he ever put
your needs or your mother's
ahead of his own?
[eerie music continues]
You have such potential,
Liam.
You just need...
[scoffs]
Direction.
[door creaks]
- Verney's off the case.
- I heard.
- Well, you know, why don't you?
- The official word is
internal restructuring.
I think we both
know that's crap.
- Oh, of course it's crap.
The moment he started to
get close to the truth,
bang! He's out.
What coincidence?
I don't think so.
I am telling you,
this is one big cover-up
and it stinks to high heaven.
- Jesus, you're is
starting to sound like those
tinfoil hat loonies.
You don't have a
shred of evidence.
- Wrong.
Voila.
- What's that?
- It's a symbol of
an ancient cult.
The Brotherhood of the Flame.
They're the ones
behind all this.
A mate of mine from my
old Fleet Street days
knows someone on the inside.
Someone who's had
enough of the bloodshed,
wants to go on the record.
- Eddie, I'm worried about you.
Maybe you should take a break.
Be with your family.
- You haven't met my family,
have you?
Now, we have a duty to our
readers to expose
criminality and corruption.
Hell, we have a duty to
every man, woman and
other of this country.
[suspenseful music]
That's the fact.
The Plague is the biggest
story of my career,
and I intend to
crack it wide open.
- That's Darius.
We've been watching
him for a while.
He's on his way to
that new club in town
where he'll sell his product.
MDMA, ketamine, whatever
else he's cooked up.
If we choose not to act,
he will spread his poison
and ruin more lives.
Or...
We can do something.
- Given the choice,
repent or die.
- No.
Some things there's
no coming back from.
You, Liam,
you do have a choice.
What will it be?
Good boy.
[eerie music]
- Oh, fuck.
Fuck!
That's fifty grand's worth
of gear, take a look.
- Do it! Go on.
Go! Go!
[gasping]
Congratulations.
You just made the
world a safer place.
[tense music]
- Hello?
[eerie music]
- Detective Verney.
You look like shit.
- You got it?
- I hear you've been
kicked off the job.
Must be like losing
a piece of your soul.
- You got it or not?
- I got it.
- Let's get it on then.
- They made a real mess of you,
didn't they?
- Look, if you can't help me,
I've got somebody else who can.
- Ssh.
See?
New series in UK or Europe.
Totally clean.
I even oiled it for you.
Single mag, fully loaded.
[tense music]
I trust you.
And I know where to find you.
- Can I have it?
- You take this
and you're heading down a road
where there's no coming back.
- Just give me the gun.
[tense music continues]
- Well here we are.
[indistinct]
[blows hands]
- Jesus.
What are you trying to do?
Finish me off.
- Sorry, mate.
- So where is this
mysterious source?
Here. You better not
be yanking my chain.
- I'm not.
But you have to understand,
this is a delicate situation.
It's like the Freemasons.
You can't just walk away
when you've had enough.
Not without consequences.
This individual needs to
be certain you're
prepared to go all the way,
no matter what.
- I am.
- I had a funny feeling
you might say that.
- What do you mean?
[flesh squelching]
[grunting]
[body thuds]
This sinner
has been cleansed.
[water dripping]
- Look down here. Look.
- [Francesca] Yeah.
Why did you bring
me to the caves?
Do you think Liam's down here?
[breathing heavily]
Why are we here, John?
- Shit!
It's a dead end.
- John, stairs.
[eerie music]
Isn't that the brethren symbol?
What does it mean?
Let's follow the arrow.
- [John] Look at this.
[eerie music continues]
You all right?
Yeah. This way.
Alright?
Yeah, let's go.
Come on.
- These must be
the old catacombs.
My God, John, rats.
[rats squeaking]
- [John] Just follow them.
Just follow them, yeah?
- [Francesca] Where are we?
Is that a forest?
[tense music]
- Just watch your step.
Come on.
[heavy breathing]
[dramatic music]
- [Francesca] I think
we should go back.
- Come on.
- Watch yourself.
- I'm right behind.
[both panting]
- Come on.
Come on. This way.
[eerie music]
- [Francesca] It's not a flame.
It's a tree.
[eerie music]
- Where's my son?
- He is quite safe.
- I want to see him.
- Oh, you will see...
You will see everything.
- Where's my boy?
- Hello, John.
- Where is he? Where's my boy?
- All in good time.
- If you've hurt him,
I will kill you.
I swear to God, I will kill you.
- No, John,
you are not in any position
to threaten anyone just now.
- I want to see him.
- Very well.
Let us begin our reunion.
[eerie music continues]
Now.
Do you see?
- Repent or die.
It wasn't a threat, was it?
It was a choice.
You weren't killing them.
You were...
You were recruiting them.
You killed Mary, right?
- She was cleansed.
- You're sick.
- After that...
And a measured disclosure
of information.
It wasn't difficult to
have you discredit yourself
to your senior officers.
After all,
who would believe all of this?
But I was not the only
person that you encountered
the day that Mary died.
Or have you forgotten?
[eerie music continues]
After you came to visit me.
I had Francesca go
to keep an eye on you
while we took care of Mary.
- Just tell me, was it
before or after we met?
- Oh, John.
When our leadership realised
you couldn't be turned,
I was sent elsewhere.
That's why I left you.
- I just want to see my boy.
- We gave you so many chances,
but you would not give it up.
The only reason we
haven't killed you already
is that Francesca thought
that you might join us.
- I just want to see my boy.
I want to see my son.
You're all crazy.
- We are the cure for a
sick and diseased society.
- And you think you're the
ones to do that, do you?
- My grandfather and I?
Yes.
- Jack the Ripper.
- Well done.
Unfortunately,
my grandfather died
before he had a chance to
recruit to our cause.
And so it was left
to me eventually, to
take up his mantle.
He is buried
underneath this very tree.
See
how it has grown unlike
any other in the forest,
nurtured by the
blood of mine own.
Surviving
for decades.
A flame
that will never die.
[eerie music continues]
- Just bring me my boy.
- The brethren of the flame
have always been
and will always be
all of us.
Here
is our newest recruit.
- Jesus Christ.
No.
Jesus Christ.
[eerie music continues]
[Francesca laughs]
- Your son is here
on his own volition.
- Liam.
I don't know what
they've done to you.
Is it..?
This ain't you.
- I've repented
and I'm cleansed.
- Your son has repented.
- [All] And the gods
are well pleased.
- Just let him go, please.
Just let him go.
- Your son is here on
his own volition, John.
- Just let him go.
- He has embraced our cause.
And so can you.
- We live pure
and wholesome lives.
Think about it.
We can be together.
And you can be with
your son again.
And we can be a new family.
And you can be happy.
Don't you want to
be happy, John?
- Are you fucking mad?
You're all mad.
- Very well.
High priestess.
Prepare thy knife.
[music intensifies]
[blade swishes]
[John groans]
[body thuds]
[wind howls]
[footsteps tapping]
[eerie music]
- The Plague story
has run its course.
It's time to move on.
- But people are still
talking about it.
- Gossip and
hearsay
aren't news.
Leave that to the
crackpots on social media.
I want a thousand words on the
government's outsourcing bill
by the end of the day.
- What about Verney?
- It's tragic.
Of course it is.
But a secret society?
Killer Plague doctors?
I mean, really?
Whatever next?
Lizard people in Downing Street?
I don't think so.
Well, go on then.
The clock's ticking.
Tick tock, tick tock.
Tick tock.
[eerie music continues]
[upbeat music]
[singer vocalising]
[eerie music]