Nero the Assassin (2025) s01e07 Episode Script

1
[crickets chirping]
[sombre music playing]
[music intensifies]
[footsteps approach]
[music fades]
What are you doing?
Goodbye.
I have to leave.
You see, I'm not the daughter of a duke.
Well, I did suspect.
But that's fine.
We don't have to mention it.
I have to go. There's more to it.
It's too dangerous for you all here.
But what are you talking about?
Why is that?
[Perla sighs]
I'm the last descendant of the Devil.
[sinister music playing]
What?
But there's no way you are
You're not devil-like. You're not, Perla.
- Why say that?
- Because they all want to kill me.
And so will the archbishop when he knows.
No, but the archbishop fights the Devil,
but he's educated.
He's saved women from the stake.
And he had hundreds
of witchcraft trials overturned.
Your story just can't be true.
Come with me.
We'll see the archbishop.
He'll clear it up.
No.
[melancholy music playing]
Take my word for it. No one will hurt you.
I make the decisions and everyone obeys.
Archbishop included.
And I can promise that if he tries
to hurt you, I'll have him locked up.
Child of the Devil or not.
[music fades]
[footsteps approach]
Here.
Give me your hand.
[sinister music playing]
[Perla inhales sharply]
[music intensifies]
[archbishop] Well
No, young lady.
[Perla gasps]
You are not
the last descendant of the Devil.
Whoever is really coming after you,
they got it all wrong.
[prince] See?
You see, it's like I said.
You are condemned to remain
as lady-in-waiting to our future princess.
[suspenseful music playing]
- Thank you, my lord.
- It is my duty, Your Majesty.
[prince] Come, Perla.
[music builds]
[music fades]
[man 1] Hurry up, hurry up!
[man 2] This way. This way. Follow me!
[villagers clamouring]
[suspenseful music playing]
What's happened?
Brother Penance and his army are coming.
The prince is going to give them
the keys to the city.
We have to leave.
Come on, hurry.
[music builds]
[sinister whispering]
[music ends abruptly]
[Rochemort] He's the closest likeness
we could find.
Leave.
I should be the one surrendering
to Brother Penance.
I should give up my life for my people.
Not him.
Your Majesty, in war as in chess,
the king is not sacrificed.
And this plan allows us
to get rid of Brother Penance
and save Ségur with one life only.
Think of what a battle would cost us.
[chancellor] Dear.
Very, very dear.
If I may be so bold, Your Majesty,
I think you should marry
as early as tomorrow,
before the penitents arrive.
[sombre music playing]
And I thought you were against this union?
That's right.
But I changed my mind.
Today, it guarantees us
the help of the army of Lamartine,
and I think that's a good thing.
In case our plan doesn't quite go
as we expect it to.
[prince] Mmm.
Very well.
[Rochemort] Your Majesty.
You won't congratulate me?
- [chuckles]
- [door opens]
It's a little soon.
[footsteps approach]
[sinister music playing]
And she's still here?
She's told the archbishop everything.
You were all wrong about it.
She's no child of the Devil.
So there.
[suspenseful music playing]
[witch] Of the three of us,
you're the only who can enter the citadel.
[otherworldly whispering]
You find a quiet place there,
out of sight, and put it down this way up.
Is that all?
For you, it is.
When you've placed it correctly,
I'll sense it. Then it's down to us.
Is that the way you got Toussaint
into the palace?
[witch] Mm-hmm.
I'll die the same way?
Not if you do exactly as I say.
[suspenseful music continues]
Don't fuck it up.
I only have to place a stone inside.
I think I can do that.
But you, you must get Perla out.
See you on the other side.
[music continues]
[music ends]
[eerie music playing]
[Horace] Father.
Horace.
So sorry to come here and trouble you.
You're not troubling me, Horace.
I was expecting you.
Follow me.
[music fades]
[sighs]
[groans softly]
[Néro] Is it not healing?
[witch] No.
This one's not.
So, you're gonna kick the bucket?
[witch] Mmm.
Yes.
That is why we must act quickly.
Néro, I must talk to Perla.
Without her,
magic will be extinguished forever.
[eerie music crescendos and fades]
[door closes]
[music fades]
The archbishop told us everything.
We know that she is the last descendant.
You did the right thing
by sending her to us in Ségur.
Do sit down.
Fortunately, it was you
that God put in her path.
We will need your testimony.
Father,
you must listen to me.
The archbishop will come
to thank you personally.
Without you,
the entire world would be ruined.
[pouring]
You don't have to kill Perla, you see.
She isn't dangerous.
She is innocent.
We were lied to.
Magic magic isn't evil.
Sit down now.
You make a very serious claim, Horace.
You do realise that, yes?
Listen, Father,
I have seen magic save
the life of a human.
And I saw it draw water
straight out of the land.
The Devil can take many forms
to corrupt our souls, Horace.
And I have also seen
the Church use sorcery.
The man sent
by the Holy See to murder her.
I saw his true nature.
He was a witch, you see.
Horace, I'm sorry.
You should never have seen that.
You knew of it?
[Barrin] Mmm.
You mean
You knew that the Church has been
lying to us for centuries,
and yet you chose
to keep spreading those untruths?
We're here to spread the word of Christ.
- But that isn't the word of Christ!
- Hmm.
You're not his messengers. You're a devil.
- [Horace groans]
- [sombre music playing]
And what should
our church fathers have done?
Just let the witches replace
our archbishops?
Abandon the Mass
for their primitive rituals?
[Horace groaning]
Guards!
[Horace] Oh!
[indistinct chatter]
[otherworldly whispering]
[music fades]
[gasps softly]
He's been discovered.
[Néro] What?
It's over. Horace no longer has the stone.
Do you still have my necklace?
[Joséphine] Nicolas, do you l love me?
[impatiently] Of course I do.
- [chuckles]
- [groans] Look.
I already told you.
[sombre music playing]
W what's the matter?
Is it the p penitents?
The penitents, the archbishop,
my daughter's wedding.
I feel like I'm on the back foot
and I hate that.
Y you
Y you're not saying something.
Ever since your meeting
with B Brother Penance.
[sighs] Listen.
It it's your plan, isn't it?
Y you have doubts?
[music fades]
Is my brother in
uh d danger?
[knocking]
[Rochemort] Enter.
Lord Consul, you're requested
in the guardroom
by a certain Néro.
[Joséphine] Wh who is that?
[suspenseful music playing]
No one.
[sighs]
Why why not tell me?
Because I love you, that's why.
[intriguing music playing]
[Néro] Good day, my lord.
Still not dead?
[Néro] No.
Aren't you pleased to see me?
- Have you searched him?
- [guard] Yes, Lord Consul.
Once more.
[guard] Yes.
- All fine.
- Thank you.
What do you want?
To say, "Hi".
I could have seen the archbishop today
and shown him what you gave me.
[Rochemort chuckles]
I'm listening.
I want my daughter.
Your daughter's doing fine.
Why are you worried?
The archbishop told her
that she isn't the child they seek.
You think that's true?
What would he lie for?
He's searching everywhere
for his descendant of the Devil
like it's the Grail.
I know she's in danger.
Bring her here, right away.
[chuckles] I'm afraid
it's not that simple.
I can't do as I please here.
And your daughter doesn't
really consider me a friend of hers.
You find a solution.
She won't listen to me, but I can find
a way for you to speak to her.
[sombre music playing]
But how do I know
that after that you'll go away?
Come near, I'll tell you. Come.
Do you know why
I'm no threat to you, my lord?
I love you too much.
Although you betrayed me.
- [intriguing music playing]
- [serpentine rattling]
[Rochemort chuckles]
Oh!
[rattling continues]
Néro, remove this fucking thing, now!
[sinister music playing]
Once I have Perla.
[music intensifies and stops]
Néro!
Perla de Vances.
[chuckles]
Duchess of Vances.
"Your Highness, Your Highness,
should we take a stroll in the gardens?"
[firm] "You may leave now."
"Off with his head."
[eerie music playing]
What?
Your father survived.
Want to see him?
[whispering] Perla!
[music fades]
What do you want?
You have to get out of here.
Join me outside. You're not safe here.
And I can't come in.
- But the archbishop said
- I know that.
That you're not devil spawn,
but he's lying.
Right, because you don't lie?
Because I'm your father.
I'm a crap father.
The worst one ever.
But I swear I'll take care of you now.
- And Hortense and the prince?
- I know, I know. I'm sorry.
We have to get out of here.
Where's your necklace?
- How did you manage to get it off?
- [tense music playing]
- F Forget about it, okay?
- How did you do it?
I I didn't do anything. It it fell off.
You're lying.
It's the One-Eyed Woman, isn't it?
You sold me to her
in exchange for the necklace.
No. Not at all.
And that's why Rochemort interfered.
You're all in on it.
- That's not true. I swear.
- It is!
[hushed shout] Perla! Perla! Perla! Perla!
[sighs]
[suspenseful music playing]
[bells chiming]
[door slams]
[sombre music playing]
We have all been duped.
This union is branded
with the seal of the Devil.
[congregation gasping]
The crown is corrupted too.
[congregation whispering]
[archbishop] This young girl,
the lady-in-waiting
of our future princess-to-be,
is not who she claims to be.
Admit it, viper.
You are not the Duchess of Vances.
- My lord, I can guarantee that
- Stop with your lies, madam!
For we have a witness.
[spluttering, groaning]
[concerned whispering]
[intense music playing]
Do you recognise this girl?
Answer me, will you?
[groans]
Is she not the daughter of Néro,
an assassin in the pay
of the Consul of Lamartine?
Because yes
Oh, yes, he confessed the whole thing.
So
Do you admit your lie
or should I continue?
But that is not all!
Repeat what you told me, monk.
Repeat all the things
that you have told me.
[breathing heavily]
This child doesn't
only tell us falsehoods,
not only a criminal.
She's the last descendant of the Devil.
[gasping]
[archbishop] She'll bring about
his coming to Earth
and that will be the Apocalypse.
But when we came yesterday,
you told me that all of that was false
and Perla is not
the descendant of the Devil.
[music fades]
My God, my prince.
Sorry to say, but we had
no such conversation, you and I.
What? But you're a liar!
Your Majesty,
you don't know what you're saying.
But I do know what I'm saying!
You're lying to me! It's you!
Now, our prince is not himself anymore.
The Evil One has enslaved his soul.
And by tomorrow,
if I don't act right away,
it will possess him to the core. Guards!
Arrest him.
Seize the prince!
He Hey!
[archbishop] Apprehend these wretches
who let the evil spawn
inside our walls!
Th Th Y You did this to my b brother!
Monster!
You betrayed me!
Y you will pay!
[sinister ecclesial music builds]
[music fades]
[heavy breathing]
[guard 1] We put even priests
in jail now. Isn't that crazy?
Well, the country has been
going to shit for a long time.
I think I'll go to the New World.
[guard 2] What's that?
[guard 1] I don't know.
Some weird stone.
It was in the priest's satchel.
- [guard 2] I mean
- [spluttering]
[guard 2] The prince has the Devil in him,
and we've lunatics left, right and centre.
[guard 1] It's a real shitter.
[guard 2] You know
when all this started? Hey?
[laboured breathing]
[guard 2] It started when Denis's cow
gave birth to a calf with two heads.
Fuck. That's right.
[panting]
- What the hell are the guards doing?
- [Horace] Please
Could you turn the stone over?
Uh, shut the fuck up.
If If you don't want to draw
a curse upon yourself,
don't leave the stone like that.
- [laughing]
- Turn it over, you wretch.
Shut the fuck up.
[Horace] Please.
Right, I'll go and get them.
- [tense music playing]
- [coughs]
Turn it over, please.
[music fades]
Perla's not on board.
- She's still inside. Are you okay?
- [yelps]
- [witch groaning]
- [gasps]
[sombre music playing]
[Horace] Please, please.
[distortion]
[exhales]
Horace has done it.
He's put the stone in place.
It could be a trap.
So what? We're in there.
- Dig, and take off your clothes.
- [music fades]
[sighs]
[witch groans]
You will walk to the citadel,
through Limbo.
It's where the dead are.
Make sure not to stop.
Why would I?
Some will want to speak.
Or want to slow you down.
[whimsical music playing]
[Néro] Mmm.
Go on. Swallow.
[shudders]
[coughs]
Yah!
[bowl clatters]
[sombre music playing]
[digging]
- [prince] I've known him since I was born.
- [music fades]
He's the one who raised me.
I never would've thought him capable
of such perfidy.
[Rochemort] I admit, he's clever.
[chuckles]
Why are you so calm?
We just have to wait, that's all.
[Hortense] Wait for what?
The death of the archbishop.
[distant clamouring]
[Rochemort] It shouldn't be long now.
[clamouring intensifies]
The penitents.
You're waiting for them?
But why?
[Hortense] Because he betrayed us.
He gave away our trap. Ah, but, no
It was his trap to Brother Penance.
To ensure his victory
and the recovery of his mines.
What else should I do, Your Majesty?
It's your fault. You left me no other way.
You're already the archbishop's puppet.
We can't both be pulling the strings.
[scoffs]
[raucous cheering]
[tense music playing]
[wind whistles]
Good sir, I am the Prince of Ségur.
And I've come
to hand myself over as a prisoner
as guarantee to your life.
Here are the keys to the city.
The archbishop and the nobles wait
to welcome you to the city
and pledge their allegiance to you.
[boy gasps]
[cheering]
[cheering subsides]
You are very brave.
Congratulations.
Much braver than your prince.
[sinister music playing]
Let's go then.
[war drums beating]
[suspenseful music playing]
What's the fuck's he doing?
Where's all his army?
I told him it was a trap.
He's going to get himself killed.
[softly] My lord,
the archers are in place.
As soon as you kneel,
they will shoot Brother Penance.
Very well.
[suspenseful music playing]
[music fades]
[nobles muttering]
Bless me, meus pater.
Is he stupid?
Or you're the stupid one.
The archbishop has played you.
The penitents will give him power.
- [arrows whistling]
- [battle cries]
[yelps]
[action music playing]
[screams]
[shrieks]
[screams]
[archbishop] No.
[music fades]
Don't you worry, my dear Joséphine.
You have always been my favourite sibling.
[wind whistling]
[eerie music playing]
[grunting]
[panting]
[snatching for breath]
[exhales]
[puffs]
[otherworldly whispering]
[ethereal choral vocalisations]
[whispering continues]
[music builds]
[music fades]
[archbishop] Sit down.
[gently] Come.
[forcefully] Sit.
You will become
the face of Ségur.
Your presence will reassure
our neighbours here.
We just need some more time, that's all.
B B W why's that?
[chuckles]
To prepare for holy conflict.
God's order must reign
over the whole world.
And all must submit.
- We have to pay penance.
- [archbishop] Mmm.
[archbishop chuckles]
Don't be afraid, Joséphine.
Brother Penance is a good Christian.
I raised him
with love and respect for God.
He has rid us of these Philistine nobles.
[chuckles]
Mmm!
[laughing]
[ethereal choral vocalisations]
[grunting]
[chains rattling]
[eerie music playing]
[panting]
[inhales deeply]
[woman] Néro.
[Néro] Callista?
- I can't stop here.
- [Callista] Please, wait.
Tell me about our daughter.
What's her name?
[soft music playing]
Perla.
[Callista] That's pretty.
Why was that the name you chose?
I wasn't me who chose it.
Who, then?
[Néro] Horace.
A monk.
But why a monk?
I'm sorry, Callista.
[wistful music playing]
Once you were dead, I
I couldn't carry on.
You abandoned her?
But you told me that you'd be there.
That's my plan now.
I need to go.
[Callista] Don't worry. I understand.
I don't blame you.
You did what you could, my love.
And you had to do it.
[sighs] I should never
have asked that of you.
Please rest with me awhile?
[music fades]
[prince] A plan to betray us,
but you didn't anticipate
that others might do the same?
Yes, as you can see,
Your Majesty, I got fucked over.
So, what now?
Now?
We'll all die. The three of us.
[chaotic thuds]
[clattering]
Qu Quick, help me out!
[sombre music playing]
P Poison.
W We must hide them.
[briskly] Thank you.
[strained] I'm not doing this for you.
I'm doing this for my brother.
Hang on. No!
- [man groans]
- [tense music playing]
[yells]
- [swords clashing]
- [prince grunting]
[whispers] I am so sorry.
- [blood drips]
- [prince wheezes]
[melancholy music playing]
She's dead?
[music fades]
[panting]
I have to get Perla.
You, get out of here.
[sombre music playing]
[Néro] Perla.
Shh.
It's alright.
You couldn't have done any more.
You're not to blame.
Perla
Perla doesn't need you.
She's never needed you.
Rest here awhile.
You are ever so tired.
[Néro] I would love to stay with you.
[bright ringing]
But I really can't.
[disembodied screaming]
- [sizzling]
- [Néro groaning]
[groans]
[tense music playing]
[exhales]
Hold that thought.
- One minute.
- [guard yells]
[intense rhythmic music playing]
[action music playing]
[yelps]
Néro! Here!
[guard splutters]
Not pleased to see me then?
- [thud]
- [key rattling]
[Néro] Are you alright?
Next time I tell you
you're in danger, listen to me.
Alright?
[lock clicks]
[melancholy music playing]
Let's go.
You're fucking kidding me?
- Look, I'm saving your hides.
- Saying sorry it might help.
Would you rather die here?
This is a war. We need you.
Let's go.
[grunting]
- Come on.
- [Horace grunts]
Don't worry about me.
Go ahead. I'll slow you down.
- [Horace groans]
- [Hortense] Néro, hurry!
Damn it, Néro. Get away!
Listen to me for once in your life.
Do as I say! Listen to me, please.
[tense music playing]
Come on.
[coughs]
[groans]
- [Lothar] How do you plan to get out?
- With help, from out there.
[suspenseful music playing]
[knocking]
Yeah? [groans]
[prince] To get out, we can use
the secret passage in my apartments.
And if Brother Penance
is in your apartments?
Why don't you let me die here then?
That is a good question, Your Majesty.
You have no chance of making it with me.
[groans]
I'm sorry, Perla.
About the archbishop, it's all my fault.
We must save him.
[tense music playing]
[music intensifies]
[music stops]
[groans]
[Penance] There!
[tense music playing]
Run.
Go.
Only you can save us.
[battle cries]
[yells]
[screams]
[yelps]
[laboured breathing]
[coughs and wheezes]
[music fades]
[serpentine rattling]
[suspenseful music playing]
Thank you, sir.
[intriguing music playing]
[music fades]
[soft music playing]
[witch] Only you can save us.
[jaunty medieval music playing]
[moody orchestral music playing]
[medieval theme music returns]
[otherworldly whispering]
[sinister music playing]
[medieval theme music returns]
[sombre music playing]
[ecclesial vocalisations]
[music continues]
[wistful music playing]
[music ends]