Nero the Assassin (2025) s01e08 Episode Script

1
[eerie music playing]
[laboured breathing]
[wistful music playing]
[Perla] On my grave,
I would like it to say that I lived
in a land where it no longer rained.
On my grave,
I would like it to say
that the tyrants had won,
but that we were still standing.
We've been stuck
in the slums of Ségur for ten days.
The penitents search for us.
Our strength is waning.
There are too few of us.
[groaning]
[Perla] How long can we hold out for?
No one knows.
[man shouts]
[faint whispering]
On my grave, I would like it to say
that to ignite hope,
I went down the darkest paths.
[rumbling]
[panicked screaming]
A hundred thousand ducats
as payment
for capturing the Devil's spawn.
A hundred thousand ducats
for the evil prince and princess.
[concerned whispering]
[penitent] Come on, move!
Come on, move!
[Horace struggling]
[Penance] This drought is
our punishment from God.
The Devil has corrupted Ségur.
And God expects us to overcome him.
God wants us to do penance now!
Penance! Penance!
And do you want to please God?
Yes! Yes!
Yes!
Give us the Devil's spawn now!
Hand over the unholy princess and prince!
[spits]
[heavy breathing]
Do you believe in our Almighty God,
maker of Heaven and Earth?
And do you submit to his rage?
Yes.
[Penance] Louder.
- Yes!
- Do you reject Satan?
[crowd gasps]
His works?
And all his empty promises?
The Church is lying!
The Devil doesn't exist!
Nor does the spawn of the Devil!
They're lying to you!
The Devil doesn't exis
[crowd exclaims]
[sighs]
[quiet sobbing]
It's her!
Come with me! Don't let her escape!
She's here! Go, go, go!
This way!
This way!
This way!
There she is!
[panting]
- I told you not to go.
- I told you I'd go anyway.
Did he suffer?
He was shouting
that the Church lied to us all.
And there's no devil spawn
or a devil to begin with.
But if I'm not from the Devil,
what did the one-eyed woman want?
Forget her.
All that rubbish died with her.
Morning.
- She said I could save the world.
- Forget her, okay?
She was crazy. You don't
save the world by killing children.
[men coughing]
There is nothing more to be done.
The penitents will succeed.
There are too few of us. We must leave.
We don't have to.
The people are with us.
Nobody wants the penitents
or believes their nonsense.
They have fear,
but if the prince shows himself,
they will take up arms
and fight alongside us.
The slums are ready to ignite.
They just need someone to light the flame.
The prince is in no fit state.
Even if he were, it'd be a massacre.
We'd all die, and he'd be first.
Starving peasants can't take on
an army of madmen.
So, we'll run away like a bunch of cowards
and let them pillage
and torture and do nothing?
I'm a soldier, not a coward.
I'd need an army of you, Thibault.
There's not even 50 of you.
We will organise our escape to Lamartine.
So, you let the devil spawn escape.
[Penance] The slums are vast.
- [archbishop scoffs]
- I need more men.
And the people refuse to give her away.
They're hiding her.
So, it's their fault
that you're not able to capture a child?
I gave you the power
to enforce holy justice
and you can't even manage
to get yourself respected
by a handful of slum dwellers?
So, what use are you
if you're not able to inspire fear?
God is ashamed of you!
I'm his most faithful servant.
But unearthing this devil spawn
won't help us win the holy war.
What do you know?
I know there's no devil coming.
He's an invention of your predecessors.
So, if the Devil doesn't exist,
how can she be his offspring?
[softly] Ah.
Now, you're using your brain. Hurrah!
[sarcastic] Haven't you come far?
But that's not what I dragged you
out of the sewers for.
So don't you dare challenge my orders.
Sorry, meus pater.
[Lothar] He's useless to us now.
We're not going to lug this traitor
all the way to Lamartine.
[clears throat]
Lothar wants to kill your father.
[Lothar] He won't get away with this.
[Rochemort] Hortense, do something.
You will pay for all your crimes.
For Tancrède and for all the others.
Hortense, my dear, help me.
Tell your little soldier
to put down his weapon.
You'd allow them to kill me?
What would've happened to me
in your plan with Penance?
You're my only child.
I'd have made sure you were spared.
Yeah, sorry, I don't believe a word.
Wait! I know how to kill
Brother Penance and the archbishop.
A secret passage
that links up to the prince's chambers.
[Lothar] This weasel would say anything
to save his rotten hide.
Ask him then.
I took the path with the prince.
But even if we sneak in assassins,
the archbishop
and Penance are well guarded.
We'll have to get their men
out of the citadel.
How though?
An uprising in the slums.
So, I will be your flame, Thibault.
If the Princess of Ségur shows herself
in full armour then what you say is true.
They will fight by our side.
The archbishop will send his troops,
leaving it clear for our assassins.
No way. You'll just get yourself killed.
It's our only chance to get rid
of Penance and the archbishop.
You're not married.
You're not their princess.
So tell me why the city's militants
are looking for me all over?
Your Highness, I recognise you
as the Princess of Ségur.
And I would be proud to die by your side.
[rousing music playing]
Are you insane?
You want to fight?
I want to, yes. For them.
[sighs] These are strangers to you.
- They'd lose hope if I went.
- The best gift you could give them.
Because hope is dangerous.
It just makes you desperate.
- You don't have to stay, Néro.
- Hmm.
- You've already helped.
- No, but
- Go with Perla to Lamartine.
- You want to be buried here?
[sighs] Like you are bothered?
When did you start caring?
Perla won't go if you don't.
I'll speak to her.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Thank you.
So, you'll stay here?
- They hired me to kill them.
- How much money?
None.
You're going with her, of course.
They have no hope of getting out of this.
It's suicide.
- Talk to her.
- She's aware of that.
But it's not suicide, it's sacrifice.
You wouldn't understand.
Get Perla far away from here.
And look after her.
[Perla speaking softly]
[melancholy music playing]
[Rochemort] This way. Near the cemetery.
Where? Point it out to me.
I can't do that.
I'll remember it when I see it.
[Néro] Let's go check.
To be sure it's there.
If this passage isn't made up,
we'll put the plan into action.
Zineb and I will deal
with Penance and the archbishop.
You'll stay with the princess.
So we can all die a hero.
[Perla] My dad and Zineb
will take the secret passage.
And meanwhile,
Hortense will stir the revolt.
And I will, and Lothar,
and all the soldiers.
[Néro] Not you, Perla.
How do you think you'll stop me?
With chains?
Anyway, it's not your decision.
I decide if I want to fight.
I have a mission for you.
You'll come with Zineb and I,
and we'll kill these two bastards.
You can sneak in anywhere, we can't.
We'll scout it tomorrow.
I dreamt of this moment.
But it's not how I imagined it.
It's dangerous to dream.
It frustrates you.
I don't believe your hero story.
I just haven't worked out
why you're doing it yet.
My maid told me
you might be able to get me some root.
You're fine though.
Even if you weren't,
I prefer you to suffer.
I know.
I'm glad you're staying.
What are you doing?
I don't know.
I said, "I'm glad you're staying"
not "stick your tongue in my mouth".
"I'm glad you're staying" is, uh
Well, it means that a bit, right?
Not at all.
Mm, sorry.
It was stupid.
I'm scared, Néro.
You won't die, Hortense.
I was wrong. The plan's good.
I saw the slum dwellers.
They'll follow you.
Maybe because you're foolish
or because you're infuriating,
or you're a beautiful woman.
But one thing's for sure, you have a gift.
That look in your eyes
You make us want to be better.
- Your father
- Mmm?
Do you trust him?
Mmm generally, no.
He's not telling the truth.
What?
It's too good to be true,
this secret passage of his.
Why didn't he mention it before?
- Do you think it's a trap?
- I don't know.
I have a bad feeling though.
I'll come with you tomorrow.
Where are you off to?
I'm on guard duty.
- [laboured breathing]
- [Néro] You need sleep, Perla.
Do you think that he'll be okay?
I'd like to say he will, but I don't know.
But you and me, we'll live.
And so will Hortense.
And we'll kill those two bastards.
[sinister music playing]
Someone from the slums gave us this map.
God has just answered us.
What are they doing here?
We're not taking them with us, are we?
They're being hunted all over.
What do you want? To get captured?
They're coming too.
[intrepid music playing]
[penitent] I'll check over there!
- Move it!
- [screaming]
Get out of the way!
What's going on?
The cemetery's full of penitents.
We can't go further. There's a traitor.
What? I've spent ten days
chained up in this shit-hole.
[penitent] We need the girl. Find her.
[Néro] Let's go.
- [boy] Captain.
- Yes?
This is from Néro. He told me
to give it to you after he'd left.
- We have to leave.
- [Perla] What about the prince?
- Lothar and the others?
- I'll warn them. Run.
I'm coming with you.
- [Perla] So am I.
- No. No.
- I will.
- Go to Lamartine. It's the only way.
No.
- I can't abandon them.
- Hortense!
It's over here. You want to save Ségur?
Go back to Lamartine, mount an army.
You're no use dead.
He did it.
- What?
- This was his idea.
[Hortense scoffs]
You really are pathetic.
Is it because I love him?
Tancrède and now this?
- Kill him. He deserves it.
- [Rochemort] Your plan was suicide.
He couldn't persuade you,
so he's blown it open.
Why did he make sure you came along?
What excuse did he find
for you to come along with us?
Huh?
Tell me you didn't.
Tell me you didn't do that.
I gave them warning to escape.
- You double-crossed us?
- You'd die, what do you expect?
- That you kill the tyrants!
- Shh! The world's full of tyrants.
A couple more makes no difference.
This is really who you are?
And that's how you die a hero?
I only love you and Perla.
Perla?
Perla! Go back to Lamartine!
[Rochemort] Hortense
He's right. There's nothing more
to be done here.
Let's go back and take power in Lamartine.
We'll come back
to save Ségur with an army.
Come on.
Come.
Perla!
Perla!
Perla!
[desperately] Perla!
Penance! Penance!
Perla? Perla!
Penance! Penance! Penance!
[women screaming]
Perla!
[drums beating]
[yelling]
Penance! Penance!
Penance! Penance!
[suspenseful music playing]
[chanting continues]
Hey!
[Néro] Let go! Let go!
Come here!
[fast-paced music playing]
Back, now.
[swords clashing]
[music ends]
So the penance is seeing
your fucked-up face.
On your feet.
Kill me.
My faith always protects me.
[spluttering]
True faith will always thwart you.
Give to God.
For you. From my daughter.
[yelling]
Flee!
Where is she?
There!
[people screaming]
[screaming continues]
[gasps]
Yeah, we got him!
[melancholy music playing]
[heartbeat]
Only you can save us.
[heartbeat throbs]
[unintelligible shout]
[Néro] Perla!
Perla!
Perla!
Perla!
No, no!
[sobbing]
[wind whistling]
[thunder rumbles]
[thunder cracks]
[rain pattering]
[slow sweeping music playing]
[chuckling]
[grunting]
[penitents laughing]
[Néro] Perla! Perla!
[melancholy music continues]
[thunder rumbles]
What's this?
Meus pater
God has heard us.
The drought is over. God has pardoned us.
Our repentance has been heard.
Can't you comprehend?
The child was sacrificed.
The ritual has taken place.
It's not God. It's her.
It's her who made it rain.
The child has nothing to do with it.
- My word, my repentance saved us.
- Be silent, you fool!
You're an idiot!
How dare you answer back to me?
I'm the one you should thank!
You are nothing in the eyes of God.
Do you hear? Just a leper.
A leper who is always giving to God.
And you?
What do you give to God
to deserve his pardon?
[screams]
[thud]
[Perla] The penitents won.
My loved ones are probably dead already.
But for a brief moment,
the orphan I was would have known
the happiness of having a family.
On my grave, I would like it to say,
"Her name was Perla."
"Daughter of an assassin and a whore."
[high-pitched ringing]
[Perla] "And she was the last witch."
[jaunty medieval music playing]
[music turns sombre]
[moody orchestral music playing]
[medieval theme music returns]
[music builds rhythmically]
[music distorts]
[otherworldly whispering]
[sinister music playing]
[rhythm builds]
[otherworldly whispering]
[medieval theme music returns]
[music slows]
[sinister trill]
[sombre music playing]
[ecclesial vocalisations]
[medieval theme music returns]
[sombre music returns]
[ecclesial vocalisations]
[wistful music playing]
[music ends]