The Sandman (2022) s02e05 Episode Script

1
[foreboding music rises]
[somber, bleak music playing]
[electricity crackles]
[breeze blowing gently]
[Dream] Lucienne.
- Back so soon?
- [Dream] Yes.
How did things go in my absence?
All goes well, my lord.
And your quest?
Are you nearer to finding…
your brother?
I have no desire to find my brother.
However,
it occurs to me that certain forces
might be acting counter
to our interests in this matter.
Perhaps you should make inquiries.
I would know who.
And I will know why.
I will look into the matter
immediately.
Anything else?
Only that…
And it's not my place to say this, I…
only met your brother a few times, but…
I liked him enormously.
I also respected him.
I think it might be good
for you to speak with him.
About what?
Why he left.
[somber music playing]
[Dream sighs]
I think he tried to tell me once.
But I did not listen.
Nor did I hear.
[indistinct chatter]
Sir.
Sir.
You look well, brother.
- As do you.
- Mm.
Although I must confess, I am curious--
As to why I called you here?
Come.
Myself, I find I spend
an ever-increasing amount of time
in this mortal realm.
It speaks to me.
- [Dream] And what does it say, I wonder?
- [Destruction] I'll show you.
[music fades]
[Dream] This is
what you wanted to show me?
That they are cutting up apes?
Do they think that they can impale
her soul on their blades?
Cut deep enough to extract her dreams?
Reason is a flawed tool, my brother.
That is why I called you here.
Because one member of the Royal Society
has prismed the rays of the sun
into beams of discrete color.
Ah, but Mr. Newton,
who ordered the rainbow,
has much else to say
on the subject of optics.
Are not light
and gross bodies interconvertible?
I fail to understand you.
[takes a deep breath]
I have seen this before.
After a while, certain ideas,
they… they become inevitable.
Such as?
[darkly intriguing music playing]
That which the Greeks called atomos.
The atom, that… that which is
uncuttable, they will find a way to cut.
That is how they will destroy
each other and themselves.
Yes.
But why tell me?
It does not affect my realm
and does little to yours
that will not change once more.
And as you say,
you have been here before.
Many times and in many worlds.
And for how much longer?
As long as they need us.
Are not light
and gross bodies interconvertible?
Alas, they are.
And from that comes
the release of energies
that will melt the flesh from
their bones and topple their cities
and blot out the sun.
And then follows my time, brother.
The age of fire and flame.
[Dream] If he loved humanity…
then why abandon them?
[Lucienne sighs heavily] To…
To avoid being the one responsible…
for their destruction.
And having to carry the shame of that.
There is no shame
in fulfilling one's duties.
There is if,
in doing that,
you destroy the ones you love.
[melancholy strings playing]
I must return to the waking world.
[bell tolling]
[indistinct chatter]
Thank you.
[crow caws]
[somber music fades]
You must be Alvin's friend.
Alvin?
My late nephew.
Here.
The book you asked for.
Thank you.
You missed the open coffin
at his folks' place.
I have to say,
they made Alvin look pretty good
after the morticians
were through with him.
They cut his hair
and put him in a suit and everything.
Why would they do that?
Because this isn't for him.
This is for them.
These are church people.
They are grieving. Do you understand?
They believe this was God's judgment
on Alvin for who he was.
I assure you it was not.
[sniffles]
[voice breaking]
I loved my nephew very much.
[sighs]
But he was never very happy here.
Was…
[hesitates] …Wanda happy?
She was entirely herself.
At all times.
Well, how many of us can say that?
Well, the service
is about to start, so…
Um…
Maybe you should stand in the back.
[somber instrumental music rises]
[bell tolling in distance]
[footsteps approaching]
[mournful music fades]
[Death] It's not right.
Putting that name on her headstone.
I must ask a favor of you.
Dream, I can't.
But it is my fault that she is dead.
That all of them are dead.
I can't bring them back
once they're gone.
You know that.
I'm glad that you came.
Someone had to fix this gravestone.
[wind whistles]
That's nice of you.
[sighs] I had to do something
to try and make things right.
[Death inhales sharply]
It's too late when they're dead,
little brother.
Better to focus
on the ones who are still with us.
I don't know if you've noticed,
but Delirium's sigil's gone dark.
I know. She has closed her realm.
Does that surprise you?
You were using her.
Has Desire told the entire family?
They were concerned about her.
As am I. As you should be.
I am.
But what am I to do?
Go to her realm and talk to her.
Just show up.
Be her big brother.
I'm not having her go
the same way Destruction did.
[intense string music rises]
[energy thrumming]
Will you come with me?
- She'll think I put you up to it.
- You did.
Thought you wanted
to make things right.
I do.
Look at the mess I've made of it.
Be patient with her.
She doesn't see things the way you do.
That doesn't make her wrong.
That sort of wisdom is
why you should be coming with me.
I'm meeting someone.
Go.
Go.
[thrumming fades]
[gentle, ethereal music playing]
[Death] You all right?
It's weird.
Growing up, I hated this place.
And I can't believe I'm saying this,
but Kansas is
beautiful.
[chuckles]
[Death]
Sorry about what they did to you.
Hair and your clothes.
It was never about
the hair or the clothes.
It was about…
who and how I chose to be.
And no one can ever change that.
But I will miss my body.
We had a lot of fun together.
And I learned so much.
[sighs]
I'm ready for whatever's next now.
[Death] Then take my hand.
[takes a deep breath] Okay.
[poignant, wistful music building]
[serene music fades]
- [wings fluttering]
- [electricity crackling]
[train rattling on tracks]
[wings fluttering]
[unsettling music rises]
[distorted announcement plays on PA]
- ["Say It" by Madeux playing]
- [ravers grunting]
When you want it rough ♪
[seductive industrial music playing]
I love the way you say it ♪
Say it ♪
[chains rattling]
I love the way you… ♪
- [gasps]
- [moaning]
Say it for me ♪
Say it for me ♪
Say it for me ♪
[chains rattle]
Say it for me ♪
Say it for me ♪
I love the way you say it ♪
For the hundredth time ♪
With your body on mine ♪
I need your spark
In the heat of tonight ♪
[seductive song ends]
[locomotive bell dinging]
[train rattling on tracks]
[tense music playing]
[woman on PA]
Now arriving at our final stop.
[brakes squeak]
[rattling subsides]
[birds singing]
[bright, entrancing music playing]
[birds calling]
[door alert chimes]
[Dream scoffs]
Sister!
[ethereal, shifting melody swirling]
[ethereal music subsides]
You have a remarkable sundial.
[Delirium] It's stopped.
I don't like it at all.
It's stopped, and it won't go anymore.
[voice breaking] And I hate it.
And I hate you!
Well, perhaps you should.
I deserve it.
Go away.
If that is what you wish,
then… I will go away.
But first, if I may…
I would speak with you.
[Delirium sniffles]
I've come here to tell you that I am…
sorry.
I lied to you.
And I broke your trust.
And I recognize that.
[ethereal music resumes]
And if you or any of our siblings
had done the same to me,
then I would never have forgiven you.
So I will not ask forgiveness.
But I will ask…
if you're amenable…
that we resume our journey together.
Dream…
do you like me?
[scoffs]
Well, you never fail to surprise me,
which is no small feat.
And it distresses me
to see you troubled.
So…
I suppose I must.
Well, I think I like you too.
[imitating Dream]
When you're not being scary.
[in regular voice] Let's go find
Destruction properly this time.
Without hurting anyone else.
Mortal or otherwise.
So we're not going
to find Etain of the Second Look?
[Dream] No.
This is a family matter,
and we shall take it to the family.
Are you going to call a meeting?
- Certainly not.
- Well, then who?
Because Desire said no,
and Despair said,
"No, I will not help you."
Our elder brother.
Destiny won't tell us anything.
True. But…
what he does not say is often
more revealing than what he does.
[steadily building
ominous tune playing]
[dark, fateful melody fades]
There.
It's finished.
[sniffles, clears throat]
- Are you ready for this, Barnabas?
- As I'll ever be.
I call this
Basilisk and Cockatrice: A Moral Poem.
Oh, for God's sake.
I dreamed I saw a basilisk
A what?
It's a mythical reptile
with a deadly gaze.
If you say so.
I dreamed I saw a basilisk
That basked upon a rocky shore
I looked upon the basilisk
With eyes of stone, I looked no more
Oh. At least it wasn't long.
I dreamed I saw a cockatrice
Chewing on a piece of bone
I gazed upon the cockatrice
One cannot gaze with eyes of stone
[Barnabas] Doggerel.
Excuse me?
Rubbishy doggerel.
Really?
Really. And not even good doggerel,
which is usually funny.
Well, you'd know, eh? "Doggerel."
[chuckles]
And now that we know you are
neither a poet nor a comedian,
is there any other creativity
for which I should brace myself?
Just the usual.
I'll finish painting,
you will lay in the sun,
scratch yourself, romp about…
- Eat, sleep.
- Don't be jealous.
And maybe you'll gaze up at me adoringly
from time to time, my faithful hound.
In your dreams.
I don't dream.
You wouldn't do to give too much away,
especially not now.
I don't see
what you're so worried about.
[suspenseful strings playing]
That's because
you've never met my family.
[tense music subsides]
Yes, you two arrive here now.
Welcome to you both.
I take it you know why we're here.
Indeed.
[haunting vocals playing]
Will you help us?
- Certainly.
- [Delirium] You will?
I thought you wouldn't.
[Destiny] My advice is this.
Forget this foolishness and go home.
I knew it.
When our brother told us he was leaving,
he advised us to leave him be.
Until now, you have been content
to respect his wishes.
Do likewise in the time to come.
I made a promise to our sister.
A false promise.
Which I now intend to keep.
[Destiny takes a deep breath]
Will you tell us where to find him?
If I answer, a new pathway
will appear in my garden.
It is safer for you not to ask.
Will you tell us
where to find him, brother?
[ominous tones play]
[rhythmic, foreboding music rises]
I may only tell you what Ishtar
told you when you visited her.
If you wish to find our brother,
you will need an oracle.
There is no oracle
that tells of our family.
There is one.
You have let yourself forget.
There is, after all,
an oracle who is of the family.
My son.
What does your book say about him?
Ask me no more questions.
Leave this place.
Return to your realm. I beg of you.
You have known all this time.
The Fates' prophecy, Nada, Destruction.
Dream…
They were all leading to my child.
That is entirely up to you.
You were there.
His wedding.
He had a premonition.
[son] Eurydice.
[quietly] He asked for my help.
[ominous music swirling]
[son] Eurydice!
[gasps]
Eurydice! [sobs]
[Dream] Orpheus!
[gasps]
Father?
You're here.
You… You came.
I would not miss my son's wedding day.
Father, I had a very strange dream.
A nightmare.
About Eurydice.
Am I a hedge wizard, that I should
decipher your dreams for you?
Of course not. Forgive me.
Dreams are composed of many things.
Images, hopes,
fears, memories…
of the past,
and of the future.
So I was dreaming about the future?
Something that hasn't happened yet?
Dreams are subject to interpretation.
But this is your realm, Father.
And I am your son.
Why won't you tell me what you know?
[gentle music playing]
Because you are my son.
[companion] Orpheus, come.
Mustn't be late to your own wedding.
[companion] We found him!
Are you all right?
Yes, of course.
Your family was taking
very good care of me.
- [Orpheus sighs]
- [Death] Aw, isn't this nice?
I love weddings.
Especially family weddings.
Thank you, Teleute.
[excited chatter]
[Dream] I was not certain
you would come, my sister.
It's not just me.
It's all of us.
[majestic instrumental music swells]
[Orpheus] Thank you for coming,
Aunt Aponoia.
I wish you well, Orpheus.
After all,
most marriages end in misery.
But isn't love wonderful?
I wish you both
everything your hearts desire.
Thank you, Epithumia.
I was nearly married once.
But that was a very long time ago.
And it was probably my fault.
But good luck. [chuckles]
So, you're marrying my favorite nephew,
eh, lassie?
Go you both well, my children.
- Thank you, Olethros.
- Thank you.
[bell tolls, echoes]
Uncle? [clears throat]
Will you not wish us well?
I am Destiny. I do not wish.
I know.
What must happen will happen.
That is the way of it.
[serene flute music playing]
The priestess awaits, children.
Your wedding begins.
Come.
[priestess] We call upon Hymenaios,
lord of marriage,
to watch over
these two people in their lives,
which will henceforth be lived as one,
heart to heart, body to body,
until the sundering of death.
You may embrace one another.
[lively festive music rings out]
[excited chatter]
[inhales sharply]
Why aren't you dancing?
Because I do not dance.
Not even with your wife?
At your son's wedding?
Are you rubbish on the dance floor?
[chuckles]
Have our siblings left?
They had things to do.
But you remained?
I also have things to do, brother.
[bright, animated music continues]
[overlapping conversations]
Will you dance with me?
I confess,
I am my father's son, in that regard.
[scoffs] Did I not marry a dancer?
No, you did not.
And if you see me dance,
you may not wish to remain married.
- Now you have to dance with me.
- No, not in public, for both our sakes.
As a matter of fact, there happens
to be a nice, secluded glade out back,
with a full moon shining.
You are allowed
to just hold me and sway.
I can think of far better things
we could do
in a glade, in the moonlight.
[Eurydice laughing]
[Orpheus] Where to?
[snake hisses]
[Orpheus] Wait, wait. Wait for me.
[Eurydice continues laughing] Come!
[both laugh]
- [serpent bites]
- [Eurydice gasps]
[harrowing music swells]
[Eurydice breathing shakily]
Eurydice.
Eurydice.
[sobbing] Eurydice.
- [Eurydice shuddering]
- Help!
Someone, please!
Please.
[Death] Orpheus…
[Orpheus] Aunt Teleute, it's Eurydice.
I know.
Will you stay with her?
Please, I… I'm going to get some help.
- Help!
- Eurydice.
[calming music playing]
[weakly] Teleute?
[softly] Sorry, love.
It's time.
[calming music fades]
[somber music playing]
[Dream's wife]
I apologize for the delay.
We may begin.
Without Orpheus?
[wife] He isn't coming.
Where is he?
He's not ready.
I will find him.
[tense music rises]
[waves crashing]
You should go to the funeral.
And say goodbye.
I can't.
You attend the funeral,
you bid the dead farewell, you grieve,
and then you continue with your life.
How?
[somber music continues]
There will be times when
the fact of her absence overwhelms you.
And you will weep.
But this will happen less and less,
I promise.
She is dead.
You are alive.
So live.
She is still alive.
In the underworld.
No.
She was taken too soon.
That is not for you to say.
Will you not go to King Hades
and Queen Persephone and plead my case?
They will listen to you.
And when they demand your life
in exchange for hers?
I will gladly give it.
But I will not.
I will not trade my son's life away.
If I'm your son,
then you will do this for me.
[Orpheus scoffs]
I've lived my whole life.
I've asked you for nothing.
Will you do this for me?
No.
- But Father--
- [sternly] No more.
[Orpheus scoffs]
If you will not do this for me,
then I am no longer your son.
[dark, dramatic strings playing]
[dramatic music swells]
Suicide, eh?
You certain that's your wisest course?
If Eurydice and I can't be together
in this world,
then we can be together
in the underworld.
[chuckles]
That is the stupidest thing
that I have heard in centuries.
- You don't understand.
- And you are a romantic fool.
You're more in love
with the idea of the girl,
with the idea of love,
than the girl herself.
- Take that back.
- [Destruction] Calm down.
You're just like your father.
I take it you've spoken
to him about this?
Yes. He refused to help me.
Well, I'm sure he had his reasons.
He does care for you, Orpheus.
He has a strange way of showing it.
Aye.
Well, that's his way.
He's set in his ways.
What can I do?
I do not want to live without her.
Well…
death is hardly my province.
Have you spoken to your aunt about it?
Teleute?
Can she help me?
She can do whatever she wants,
but there'll be conditions.
But then, there always are.
How do I find her?
I mean… usually she just…
turns up.
You could go to her house.
Will you send me?
Please, Uncle.
[sighs]
[suspenseful strings rise]
Stand back.
[cracks knuckles, grunts]
[low rumbling]
[cliffside creaks and strains]
[energy thrumming]
She's right through there.
Will she see me, though?
Of course she'll see you.
[ominous music playing]
Sooner or later, she sees everyone.
[foreboding music fades]
["Don't Let Me Lose This Dream" playing]
Wait a minute, baby ♪
[rollicking soul music playing]
Don't let me lose this dream ♪
Baby, baby hold on ♪
Don't let me lose my dream, no ♪
Baby, baby be strong ♪
You say that ♪
You believe that what I say is true ♪
Hey, hey, hey… ♪
- [song distorts]
- [clattering]
- [Death] Looking for something?
- I'm… I'm so sorry.
If I'd known I was gonna have company,
I would've tidied up.
[chuckles] This place is so strange.
Well, to… to my eyes.
- I'm impressed you found it.
- Uncle Olethros showed me the way.
[Death] Did he?
Orpheus…
I am sorry about Eurydice.
Well, then give her back to me. Please.
She doesn't belong to me anymore.
She's in the underworld.
That's where you people go,
to Hades' realm.
Then send me to her.
- Please, just so I can bring her back.
- That isn't going to happen.
Why not?
You don't go
to the underworld without dying first.
Heroes and gods
go to the underworld all the time.
Heracles chained Cerberus.
Heracles was full of shit.
He got dead drunk for a week,
then told everyone
he'd been to the land of the dead.
Uncle Olethros said you can do it.
He said you can do anything you want.
Your uncle Olethros has a big mouth,
you know that?
So you can do it, then?
Yeah.
[tense music playing]
You could go to the underworld.
You could even come back.
But you could never die.
I would have to agree
to never take you.
You would… make me immortal.
It may sound like a gift…
I'd risk anything for her.
Orpheus.
Look me in the eyes.
[sighs]
Is this what you really want?
You got it.
[gentle breeze blows]
[sighs] I…
I thank you, Teleute.
[somber music playing]
Yeah.
I hope it works out for you.
Wait, but don't you know?
I thought you could
foretell the future.
I don't need to know the future.
I am the future.
For everything and everyone.
Except you now.
[sinister, foreboding music rises]
[door creaks]
[Orpheus] So that's…
[Death] The underworld.
Good luck.
[ominous music peaks, fades]
[steady footsteps echoing]
[wind whistling]
[tense music rises]
[Orpheus breathing shakily]
[unsettling vocals swirling]
[thunder cracks]
[thunder booms]
[thunder crashes]
[woman] Orpheus!
[woman 2] Son of Oneiros and Calliope…
You are not of the dead.
Do you know the penalty
for trespassing?
[Orpheus] No, kind ladies.
Kind ladies?
We are the goddesses of vengeance.
Of punishment.
Of torment.
- [woman 2] The Dirae.
- The Erinyes.
The Eumenides.
To me, you are the Kindly Ones,
for you serve King Hades
and Queen Persephone…
with whom I seek an audience.
[Hades, echoing] Well, well, well…
Orpheus.
The balladeer.
King Hades.
Queen Persephone.
I greet you.
Have you a song for us,
little mortal man?
A song?
Uh, yes.
Yes, I do.
[thunder rumbles]
[rumbling fades]
[in Greek]
I sing you a song of love ♪
About my fair Eurydice ♪
- Who last night in the world above ♪
- [strumming gently]
Took my hand and married me ♪
- Eternal love we both professed ♪
- [tender strings join in]
We danced until she fell upon ♪
A serpent lying in its nest ♪
And all at once my love was gone ♪
I know our mortal lives are brief ♪
- And that I should be grateful ♪
- [choir harmonizing]
To the gods
in spite of all my grief ♪
But love has brought me here to you ♪
To ask what no sane man would dare ♪
And beg you to her soul restore ♪
So she may leave and we may share ♪
A lifetime or an hour more ♪
[powerful melody fades]
[in English]
You are disrupting my realm.
[Persephone] You have made
the Furies weep.
They will never forgive you for that.
Well, then give me my wife,
Your Majesties.
And I will leave this place.
Why would we do that, son of Oneiros?
Perhaps out of love?
You are young.
And you know nothing about love.
Just give me the chance.
And I will prove to you both
that my love for Eurydice
is stronger than even death itself.
Very well.
Your wife may leave with you.
Thank you, Lord Hades.
[Hades] There are conditions.
Rules.
There are always rules.
There is a path
that leads to the world above.
Follow that path.
And do not deviate from it.
And Eurydice?
[Persephone] She will follow you
as your shadow.
You may not seek,
nor speak,
nor turn to look behind you until…
the sun shines upon you both.
Then, and only then,
will she be yours.
Now go, little man.
[doorway rumbles]
And do not look back.
[Orpheus inhales sharply]
[low, ominous music rises]
[foreboding music dies down]
[Orpheus] Eurydice?
[soft breeze blows]
[quietly] Orpheus.
My love.
[gasps]
[sinister murmurs echoing]
[Orpheus, echoing] No! Eurydice!
[sobbing] No!
No!
No!
Eurydice.
[mournful music playing]
And when I saw the light ahead of me…
I couldn't help myself.
Your father should have
gone there in your stead.
I've left him.
Mother.
No. This has been a long time coming.
I thought I could change him.
But…
he cannot change.
I thank you for your visit, Mother.
Orpheus, I did come
to see you for a reason.
The Sisters of the Frenzy,
the cult of Dionysus, they are coming.
You must leave this place.
I do not fear them.
Well, you must.
They run through forests
and fields at night,
rending the flesh of any animal
or man they come across.
- I've heard the same tales you have.
- These are not mere tales.
But that's why I'm here.
I want them to find me.
I must be with Eurydice.
- Orpheus, please listen to me.
- Teleute will no longer take me.
- We will go back to your father.
- He won't speak to us.
Don't you see?
The Sisters are my only hope.
No. No, no, no.
I will not let you do this.
Then you will only
increase my suffering.
You left Father
because he refused to help me.
And yet now you do the same.
[mother crying softly]
[sniffles]
I love you so.
- I love you.
- Goodbye, Mother.
[foreboding strings playing]
[Orpheus panting]
[branch snaps]
[indistinct, unsettling whispering]
[soft, haunting murmuring]
- [screams]
- [thwack]
[thunder booms]
- [women shrieking wildly]
- [flesh tearing]
[Orpheus cries out]
- [Furies exclaim]
- [grunting]
[bones snap]
[frenzied strings rise]
[unsettling murmuring]
[shrieking with joy]
[exclaims]
[water splashes below]
[chaotic strings fade]
[sorrowful music playing]
Hello, Orpheus.
[gasps]
I have come here to tell you
that I have visited
with certain priests on this island.
In their dreams.
And they will find you soon.
Care for you.
[gasps, coughs weakly]
I will not see you again.
But, Father…
Father?
Did you not say
that you were no longer my son?
Father, please.
Please, help me.
Help me to die.
Please.
The Endless are forbidden
to spill family blood.
You were unwise
to seek favors of my sister.
You have made your choice.
Just as your life is your own…
so too is your death.
Farewell, my son.
We shall not meet again.
[quietly] No. Please. Please kill me.
[sobs] Kill me.
[gasps] Father, come back.
Father!
Please kill me!
Please kill me.
[dramatic strings building]
[sobbing] Please. Please, kill me.
Father, please!
Kill me!
[echoing] Father!
[music fades]
What have you done?
What did you say to him?
Surely that is his affair, not yours.
[Delirium sighs]
Do you know why…
[tensely] …I stopped being Delight,
my brother?
I do.
You see,
there are things not in your book,
and paths outside this garden.
You would do well to remember that.
[ominous music playing]
Dream.
Are you all right?
[softly] Dream.
Your eyes are the same color.
I can do that if I have to.
Shall we go now?
Please, Dream.
I don't know how much longer
I can be like this.
It hurts very muchly.
Well, you needn't anymore
on my account.
[high-pitched ringing]
What did he tell you?
He told me what I must know
if we are to continue on our way.
[Destiny] I would remind you both…
those that seek Destruction
usually find it.
[Dream sighs]
Farewell, my brother.
Farewell, my brother.
[Delirium] Where are we going now?
[Dream] To seek an oracle
that will tell us where our brother is
in exchange for a boon.
What sort of a boon?
He will ask me to end his life.
Why? Who is he?
He is my son.
Dream.
Wait.
[ominous music swells]
[ethereal choir voices echoing]
[haunting music subsides]