The Sandman (2022) s02e09 Episode Script

There.
Oh, thank you, Lord.
But who am I?
You are the Corinthian.
The Corinthian.
But I'm not the first Corinthian, am I?
You are the second.
What happened to the first?
He was a disappointment to me.
You will not be.
My lord, how can you be sure?
You're Lucienne. I remember you.
- You have beautiful eyes, Lucienne.
- Boss!
And you're Matthew.
Sir.
Did I say something wrong?
Yes. Everything.
The new Corinthian
is nothing like his predecessor.
Then why does he remember us?
Because he has a fragment
of the first Corinthian in his essence.
I saved a part of him.
Then he couldn't have been all bad.
He was my finest creation.
But sometimes dreams turn bad.
Then why bring this one back?
To do what I cannot.
Since I cannot leave
the Dreaming without endangering it,
you will find Daniel Hall
in the waking world and bring him here.
I appreciate your confidence
in me, Lord, but--
You will not be alone.
I hope you're not expecting me
to babysit him.
- I am not.
- Oh. Lucienne?
- No. Thank you.
- No.
Then who?
Absolutely fucking not.
I am not teaming up
with a serial killer.
I'm a serial killer?
You are not.
This is an entirely different
Corinthian.
So he doesn't murder people
and eat their eyeballs?
Do I do that?
The Corinthian was never intended
to be a reassuring dream.
Then you'll understand
why I am not reassured.
But he is powerful.
And fearless.
Resourceful.
Sounds like you won't be
needing me then.
He is also, essentially, a newborn.
He needs someone to shepherd him.
Someone to learn from.
You think I'm a good influence?
Perhaps this will reassure you.
It is an Eagle Stone.
One of 12 I invested
with my power long ago.
If he should threaten you
Which I won't.
this stone will give you
the power to uncreate him.
Look, Odin is the one
that put Loki in prison.
Why not let Odin find him?
Because Odin believes
Loki is still in prison.
And I would rather not disabuse him
of that notion.
Why?
You're not the one that freed Loki.
Are you?
That is not germane
to your investigation.
It is not my investigation anymore.
You've got the Corinthian on the case.
So I will be waking up
from this nightmare. Thank you.
You know, I think
you and I got off on the wrong foot.
And I think you're still on it.
And I'll be getting off here.
Do not follow me.
You know, if I don't do
what Lord Morpheus tells me to do,
then I'm no different
from the first Corinthian, am I?
You don't trust me. I get it.
I mean, I wouldn't trust me either.
In fact, if I were you,
I wouldn't let me out of your sight.
How do I know you won't kill me?
You could take my word for it,
or, since we're just getting
to know one another,
you can put this on.
The second I say or do anything you
don't like, you can just uncreate me.
You're not going away, are you?
Not until we find Daniel.
That's the reason
why he brought me back.
So I could find Daniel.
And to protect you.
And your family.
My family?
Dream didn't tell you anything
about me, did he?
No, not really.
I'm just assuming you have a husband?
Boyfriend?
Girlfriend?
Give me that.
Go sit over there.
Yes, ma'am.
I'm sorry you had
to see that photo, Miss Hall.
Just know that
whoever did this to your son
will get everything he deserves.
Forgive me,
but how do you know this is Daniel?
We found one of his shoes.
The one in the photo.
And where was it taken?
Where did you find him?
A campsite in the area.
Near the care home?
I don't know of a campsite there.
Where is it?
I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say.
It's an ongoing investigation.
Surely you can tell the boy's mother.
That won't be necessary.
Thank you, Detective. You can go.
Okay.
You too, Mrs. Shore.
Ma'am.
I'll find my way back to the house.
My condolences, ma'am.
I'm sorry, but there's
something off about this.
He's wrong about the campsite.
We'll be okay, Mrs. Shore.
Of course. You call if you need me.
I just need to be alone right now.
Okay.
I'll see you at the house?
Sir?
May I help?
Just looking for a book to read.
Since I am trapped here
and there's nothing else to do now.
There's quite a few things
that need doing, actually.
Such as?
There's an ongoing dispute between the
Knight of Clouds and the Body Politic
which requires arbitration,
an inventory of the skerries
to be conducted,
and a complete inspection
of the territories
from the shores of the Sea of Night
to the Lake of Dawn.
For a start.
I know this is frustrating for you.
Not being able to leave?
Not being in control.
But the only thing that matters
is that you're home and you're safe.
I'm not safe here.
I'm in hiding.
The path that I am on leads
to my death.
It's only a matter of time.
You say that as if
you don't have a choice in the matter.
I don't.
You do.
The same choice the rest of us,
who are not of the Endless,
have to make every minute of every day.
And what is that?
The time you have left may be limited,
but you do get to choose
how you spend it.
I have a number of dream ledgers
that could benefit from your attention,
as well as compacts and treaties
that require your review and signature.
Later, perhaps.
Where are you going?
To settle an ongoing dispute between
the Knight of Clouds
and the Body Politic.
For a start.
Cluracan!
Clur
Cluracan!
Hello, sister.
I was afraid you'd be asleep.
Asleep? It's teatime.
We mustn't keep the queen waiting.
Afterward, will you remove this glamour
and give me back my face?
Darling, Faerie, which is a place,
but I also like to think an attitude,
is governed by rules of etiquette.
By custom.
And it is customary
for those in the queen's court
to wear glamour at all times.
You have never seen me without mine.
Is that true?
Not even when we were children?
I was never a child.
Now, shall we join the queen for tea?
By which I hope she means cocktails.
You think Auberon's
captain of the guard will be there?
Who, Menton? Are you interested?
I've had him. He's wonderful.
No, but I need him to send troops
to the Dreaming when the time comes.
What is it with you and the Dream King?
Did something happen?
- No.
- Did it?
No.
Well, he did give you this necklace
that Titania's been coveting.
If you were smart,
you would give it to her.
I can't.
It's not just a necklace. It's a boon.
It looks pretty,
but I wouldn't call it a boon.
No. If I hold the stone and call to
Lord Morpheus, it will bring him to me.
And he will grant me a boon.
You'd better cash it in
before the Kindly Ones get hold of him.
Now, shall we go find Menton,
and put our glamour to good use?
Hello, Mrs. Shore.
You've been following me.
Only because I was
responsible for Daniel last night.
And I still feel responsible for him.
Hm.
Shall we go somewhere and talk?
Privately.
I won't cause any trouble.
So why not put away the gun?
Because I'm not holding a gun.
Who are you?
Are you religious, Mrs. Shore?
Do you believe in God?
- Of course.
- How aboutgods?
The plurality of powers and dominions.
What's this to do with Daniel?
It's all to do with Daniel.
Do you know
what drives people to religion?
The desire to know
how it's all going to end.
And your tragedy, Mrs. Shore, is that,
for all your care and goodwill,
you never knew
what any of this was about.
It was you who took the child,
wasn't it?
Yes.
Why? Tell me.
You owe me that much, at least.
Because I am Loki.
God of fire and wit.
And hate.
And I will be under obligation
to no one.
You see, well, um,
there was this doggy.
He's a very clever doggy.
He says things like
um
"I would feel infinitely
more comfortable
if you would agree to treat gravity as
a law rather than a suggested option."
That is very sensible advice.
Heis very sensible.
He's a lot like you, actually.
Only hairier, but smart.
Now he's gone.
I don't know where to find him.
So I want another quest.
Last time, you told us where to go, and
you were right, so I thought I'd ask.
Except I got very angry
with you last time I saw you.
I was hoping you'd have forgotten
all about it by now. Like I have.
I bear no grudges.
I see things as they are.
How, then, can I bear a grudge?
You really are a lot nicer
than I ever remember you being.
But you must understand me, sister.
Events do not occur apart and singly.
And anything worth the hunt
has a cost.
See, if the doggy were here,
he could explain what you just said
in a way that I could understand it.
Where do you think he's gone?
My sister, you have come to me
for advice, and I shall give you advice.
Good. Yes, please.
If you look for your dog,
you shall find it.
Oh, great. Thank you, Destiny.
But if you find your dog,
you shall find other things also.
The choice is yours.
Do you understand?
Do you think I should take Dream?
Last time I went on a quest,
I took Dream.
Do you think I should ask him?
He's been very sad since Orpheus.
Or I could go to him,
at least try to cheer him up and
distract him from the Kindly Ones.
The choice is yours, as I said.
- I would suggest you let him
- Your aid cannot hurt him
- cope with his problems on his own.
- and it may conceivably help.
How did you do that?
Could you teach me how to do that?
I'd love to be able to say
more than one thing at once.
Ah. It's you.
I rather hoped that you would come.
Are you well, sir?
I am as I always am.
Well, I know that's not true.
Lucienne told me about Daniel
and about
your self-imposed confinement here.
Did she?
It wasn't gossip.
It was concern.
The skies of the Dreaming
are gray and mournful.
Even here, in me.
What little sun we do get
is stretched and tired.
Ever since your son's death.
I have no wish to discuss my son.
No.
No. For centuries, you
You wouldn't speak of Orpheus.
Or Queen Nada.
Or the Prodigal.
Nor do I wish to now.
No, that hasn't changed.
But everything else about you has.
You went to Hell for Nada.
You went into the waking world
for your brother.
You went and made peace with your son.
I killed my son.
You sacrificed your life,
or at very least your freedom,
for your son.
There is no greater expression of love.
Prior to now,
you've always been
governed by your duties.
You could have stayed the course.
You could have carried on as you were.
But
you changed.
And when one of the Endless changes
well,
that changes everything.
Look at these ears you've got.
I like you. I like you.
Oh yeah.
So what you got?
- Offerings.
- Ah.
Here, hold this.
Uh
Cigarettes?
For Loki, god of fire.
And from what I remember
about Norse mythology,
Odin enjoys a drink.
Oh. Hold on. Lord Morpheus said
don't go to Odin.
Trust me, if we want to find Loki,
we'll need Odin.
- All-Father, god of the Aesir.
- Hey, what are you doing?
- We summon you
- Hey.
- with this modest offering.
- Stop what you are doing.
- Hey.
- Hey.
What did you do that for?
Because Dream told us not to.
You're nothing like
the first Corinthian.
You're a moral fucking compass.
Well, the last Corinthian
got himself uncreated.
And if we don't find Loki,
Dream is gonna get uncreated.
Then summon Loki, not Odin. Here.
- I could do a location spell.
- Yeah.
But Loki's a fire god.
They're impossible to pin down.
But they do leave ashes in their wake.
Those who've been tricked by Loki,
hurt by Loki, kidnapped, lied to,
and burnt by Loki, lead us to him.
Light the way.
See, this is why we need to find Odin.
There you go. See? We don't need Odin.
We got you.
Come on. Before it burns out.
I'm sorry about your boy.
The three sent me.
The three ladies. The Kindly Ones.
They came to see you last night.
They can't bring your boy back.
But they can punish
them that's responsible.
Come on. I'll take you to 'em.
Is that
Is it Daniel?
Itwas.
What have you done?
In Ancient Greece,
the goddess Demeter
placed the infant prince Demophon
on the fire to burn away his humanity
and make him a god.
Daniel's a proper
little Dream Lord now.
And every bit as powerful as Morpheus,
if not more so.
So you were never going to kill him?
Well, if the fire bit hadn't worked,
he'd be dead, wouldn't he?
You could have told me.
That I was gonna burn the baby?
Would you have let me?
We'll never know because
you lied to me and then you drugged me.
Darling, don't be angry with me.
You had a nap. Daniel's fine.
And thanks to my performance
as DS Pinkerton,
Daniel's mum thinks
Dream killed Daniel.
Won't be long now
before she returns the favor
and I will be free.
I'll leave you to it, then.
Puck, don't go.
Let's talk about this.
Let's have a drink.
He'll be back.
You think Loki did this?
Only one way to find out.
How's that?
Ask the corpse.
I have a spell
that makes the dead speak.
It's okay. I got this one.
Oi! He said you weren't
like the first Corinthian.
The first Corinthian
killed people and ate their eyeballs.
This one's already dead.
You really are a nightmare.
And a visionary.
Hello, Mrs. Shore.
You've been following me.
You all right?
I know where Loki is.
This is as far as Mrs. Shore got.
Poor Ms. Shore.
Burned alive
and had her eyes eaten, all in one day.
She actually had a very happy life.
- How do you know that?
- The eyes.
It's all about the eyes.
- Take yours, for example--
- Yeah. I'll be keeping those, thanks.
We need to find out
what rooms they're in.
Yeah, I guess we'll have to get a room
and pretend we're married.
You should stake out the lobby.
Or the bar.
Buy you a drink?
I think it might be better
if we split up.
- Not better for me, though.
- For Daniel.
- Right.
- Cover twice as much ground that way.
Right.
Come on, you.
Right, you lot.
Get to your beds.
Shall I put the kettle on
before we start?
No, thank you.
Have a seat on the bed.
It's clean.
Dogs aren't allowed on that bed.
I'll need something personal of yours.
Ooh, that's lovely.
Uh, what are you doing?
It's a circle of protection.
Protection from what?
Ah. Anyone who'd try to hurt you.
Who would try to hurt me?
No one.
Once I'm done with this.
Is anyone sitting here?
- Or are you saving it for someone?
- I was, but
If he were coming
he'd have been here by now.
- Whiskey, please.
- Coming.
If he does come, I'll move.
Please don't.
I'm sure you're much better company.
Don't know about that.
She's being modest.
You two know each other?
Not very well.
We're newlyweds,
so there's still a lot to learn.
For example, I want kids.
And I'm not sure about kids.
What about you, do you have kids?
Well, I did.
Briefly.
But, uh now my ex has custody.
- And where are they?
- Upstairs.
We just split up.
Oh!
- I'm sorry.
- Oh, don't be.
It wasn't love,
if such a thing even exists.
Oh, love exists.
Spoken like a man in love.
Congratulations.
- We're just getting to know each other.
- Doesn't mean it isn't love.
I actually find it easier
to love someone you don't know.
That's just fancying somebody.
So it only counts
as love if it lasts forever.
It's forever that doesn't exist.
Love's the only reason we're here.
And you learnt all that
from eating eyeballs.
Do we know each other?
Are you joking?
I'm sorry, you must have known
the first Corinthian. I'm new.
I have some of his memories,
but not all of them, apparently.
Well, that's a shame.
You're a lucky woman.
Whoever you are.
Johanna Constantine.
I've heard of you.
The sorceress.
That's overstating it a bit.
No, it's not. She's incredible.
I suppose Dream sent you?
- Yeah.
- Mm.
So what, have you trapped me here
in a pentagram of margarita salt?
No.
So what's your next move?
To ask where Loki and Daniel are.
Room 4059.
- What, just like that?
- Oh, Loki deserves it.
- Now, if you'll excuse me.
- Where are you going?
Back to Faerie.
And if this doesn't work out,
come and find me.
You're a very lucky woman.
Hi.
You look busy. Are you busy?
I'll come back.
Sister.
To what do I owe
the pleasure of your visit?
I'm looking for my doggy.
Do you remember him?
I got him the day our brother left.
Will you help me find him?
You and me, we had such a nice time the
last time we went looking for someone.
Did we?
Didn't we?
I cannot leave the Dreaming
at this time.
I have responsibilities.
You use that word too much.
Do you think about what it means
in your head?
I use it to refer
to that area of existence
over which I have
a modicum of influence and control.
Namely,
the realm and action of dreaming.
It's much more than that.
The things we do make echoes.
Suppose, for instance, you and I
stopped on a street corner to admire
a bolt of lightning in the sky.
Well, for ages after that,
people and things would stop
on the very same corner and look up.
They wouldn't even know
what they were looking for.
Some people might see
a ghost of lightning.
Some people might even
get killed by it.
Do you see?
I'm trying.
Our existence deforms the universe.
That's responsibility.
- Do you mean defines?
- No, I do not.
People think I don't know things,
but I do.
I know more about us than any of us,
I just
I don't know where my doggy is.
I spoke to Destiny about it.
He said it couldn't hurt
to come and see you.
He also told me
not to come and see you too.
Well, he said it both.
There were two of them.
There were two Destinies?
By the time I left,
there were dozens of them.
Walking off in all different directions,
talking to themselves.
I got quite bored, and I came here.
- Dream, are you all right?
- Yes.
Why?
You look happy.
I suppose I am.
Do you see, if if there are
any number of Destinies, there could be
any number of outcomes.
I think I'm getting bored again.
My sister.
You've given me hope.
Now let me give you something.
Delirium.
This is Goldie.
Hello, Goldie.
Goldie, would you be so kind
as to accompany my sister on her quest
to find her canine companion?
I shall inform Cain and Abel
of your whereabouts.
Goldie, wait.
Wait for me.
Dream, are you sure
you don't want to come with me?
I am.
But I thank you for your visit.
It's all right.
Well
goodbye, Dream.
I hope I see you soon.
Perhaps you will.
There.
Done all I can for now.
Trivia of the Crossways
attend thee on thy journey, girl.
Wait. Could be a trap.
- You don't want me to get hurt?
- No.
- I don't want you gettingme hurt.
- I don't want that either.
Maybe I should go in first.
He can't do anything to me.
I don't think.
All right.
You distract him. I'll take the kid.
What?
We make a pretty good team, don't we?
Go.
- Corinthian.
- My lord.
You have done well
through all the trials
I created to test your loyalty.
You may return to the Dreaming
and receive your reward.
It's not him.
It's Loki.
He's a shape-shifter, don't be fooled.
If you believe me to be other than I am,
you are a fool.
It sounds like him.
If it is,
then I'm sure Lord Morpheus
wouldn't mind if I check on the baby.
By all means.
You were right! It's not him!
Corinthian, stop.
You dare?
- How do you know it's not him?
- The eyes.
It's all about the eyes.
Corinthian.
You're hurting me.
Holy shit.
See? Never doubt yourself.
How could you do this to yourself?
Oh, come on. Give me credit
for knowing which one of us I am.
If you kill me and eat my eyes,
I will haunt you.
Enough!
Odin, blood brother!
These servants of Dream stole me
from under the earth
to learn your secrets,
but I told them nothing.
It was Dream's servants
who summoned me, Loki.
With the worst mead I have ever tasted.
Sorry about that.
Can I kill him?
His prison beneath the world
is worse than death.
Did you know Thor's wife has
a birthmark on the inside of her thigh
in the shape of an anvil?
I did not.
How did you know that?
She let me lick it.
Tell the Dream King
that despite his freeing Loki,
there is no grudge between us.
Let him go to his grave in peace.
Hello?
Come in, sister.
Here, my posset.
We said we'd see you again.
Took her long enough to get here.
Are you the Furies?
Are we the Furies?
Such a nasty name.
It's one of the things
they call women to put us in our place.
Do we look furious to you?
We don't bother anyone.
We hate to be a bother.
Unless, of course, there is
a good reason to bother somebody.
The Dream King killed my son.
Is that reason enough?
I'm afraid not.
You see, we can only
avenge blood debts.
But itis a blood debt.
Your blood, not his.
Even if he had killed your son,
we could do nothing about it.
Had he killed his own son,
it would be different.
I see.
Daughter.
He did kill his own son.
So you'll kill him for me?
No.
But if you let us, we can guide you.
Direct you.
Transform you.
So you can drive
the Dream King to his death.
How would that be?
You ready, little guy?
Yeah, we're off to the Dreaming.
Promised his mum
I'd bring him back to her.
But Dream said
I know what Dream said.
But this isn't Daniel anymore.
This little guy is not even human.
He's a dream.
Heis Dream.
Or will be one day.
Daniel's well,
he's no longer with us.
What am I going to say to his mum?
Okay. We'll take him back to his mom.
Mum.
You'd disobey Dream?
Yeah, if you think that's what's right.
I think you should take him
back to the Dreaming.
Daniel.
The Corinthian is gonna take
very good care of you.
He's not at all like the last one.
Come with us.
It's safer for both of us if I don't.
Oh, you can hold on to it.
I could.
But then what's gonna
protect you from me?
People around me tend to get hurt.
I'm not people. You can't hurt me.
You know, maybe Dream put us together
for a reason.
Can I see you again?
I don't think that's a good idea.
Not even in your dreams?
No one gets hurt in dreams.
But then it would hurt to wake up.
Cluracan!
Come in, sister!
It was very mean of you
to leave me alone with Menton.
He has no interest
in sending troops to the Dreaming,
but he is, however,
an excellent gossip.
You'll never guess
who's back in Faerie after 300 years.
I don't have to.
Who do you think told Menton?
You're looking well, Lady Nuala.
Hello, Robin Goodfellow.
You'll have my brother
to thank for that.
Apparently, Lord Morpheus prefers
my sister without her glamour.
Yes, your brother was just telling me
about your servitude in the Dreaming.
How did you find
the late Lord Morpheus?
What do you mean by that?
I was just returned
from the mortal realm,
where a former associate
of mine has succeeded in
setting the Furies upon him.
What?
Well, the Dream King
brought it all upon himself, really.
Does Lord Morpheus know?
If he does not, he soon will.
- I must warn him.
- How?
My pendant.
Ah
Apologies, sister.
At tea, I may have told the queen
that it was a boon from Lord Shaper.
You don't know she stole the pendant.
She magicked it the moment you
told her it could summon Lord Morpheus.
You probably watched her do it.
I was off looking for Puck
at that point.
So you admit she stole it?
If you'd given her the necklace,
she wouldn't have to have stolen it.
See? Look, that's the key with royalty.
When you want something,
you don't ask, you offer.
Cluracan?
Your Royal Highness.
Nuala.
I was just about to call for you.
I believe you left this
in my sitting room.
It is yours, isn't it?
Looks like yours.
See?
It is, my lady.
Or it was.
I would very much like you to have it.
Thank you, Nuala.
In exchange for your permission
to return to the Dreaming at once.
Sister.
I don't understand.
The Puck has informed us
that the Kindly Ones
are about to descend upon the Dreaming.
I would go to Lord Morpheus
and warn him.
But there is no need to leave here.
According to Cluracan, the jewel
can bring the Dream King to us.
Isn't that right, Cluracan?
I would never pull
Lord Morpheus away--
Lord Shaper, we call you to us.
Will you come? It is most urgent.
You do me a disservice, Nuala.
It was I who summoned you, Dream.
Apologies, my lord.
I am no longer your lord.
No, sire.
But the Puck has returned to Faerie
and told us the Kindly Ones
are on their way to you.
I must leave here at once.
You can't. They will destroy you.
If I remain in the Dreaming,
no harm will occur.
But, my lord,
you are no longer in the Dreaming.
No.
I am not.
Events will fall as they must.
Cause and effect will jostle.
As the events take place,
the conflicting destinies
will cease to exist.
destinies will cease to exist.
cease to exist.
Very well.
Events will fall as they must.
Ah.
Good day to you.
I bid you welcome to Fiddler's Gree
Is that Lyta Hall?
Well, forgive me for not
recognizing you straight away.
It it's me, Gilbert.
We are not Lyta Hall anymore.
Do you know who we are,
Fiddler's Green?
Do you know what we can do?
I suspect I do know who you are,
kind ladies.
And I've heard what you can do.
And what you cannot do.
You are forbidden to enter
this realm when my master is present.
I would advise you to leave this place,
and to free Lyta Hall
from your influence.
We are here at the behest of Lyta Hall.
We are merely fulfilling our function.
And your master
is no longer here.