03x12 - Sins of the Father

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Sleepy Hollow...

The beacon is too slow, too weak.

It wakes the creatures, but they do not come.

I don't want to have a latte with my deadbeat dad.

Grabbing a cup of coffee with the guy wouldn't be the end of the world.

The Nevins case. Shouldn't this be wrapped up by now?

I just need a little more time.

How much more time do you need?

Hey, Randall.

Last time I saw you, you left my ass handcuffed to a bathtub.

You know why I fell in love with you back when we were new agents in training?

You never said that before.

I know your transition home is a trying one.

Abbie: I didn't eat or sleep for a year.

Do not worry. I haven't completely lost it.

Not yet anyway.

(slow footsteps approaching)

You mourn the loss of your power?

I once sensed every element that binds this world, felt them as one breathes air.

But I gave unto you that which you deserve.

My strength grows each day.

Perhaps a small token of my affection... is warranted.

(grunts)

My love, I received but only a fraction of my power.

Now you know exactly how I feel.

Summoning one pitiful creature at a time to feed my hunger.

Existing on drops of rain rather than a flood.

You wish to be my equal?

Then as I suffer... so shall you.

(panting)

Hands where I can see 'em!

(coughing)

Atticus Nevins.

FBI's most wanted.

Looks like your running days are over.

(police radio chirps)

This is Hammond. I got him.

Meet me back at the road.

Tell dispatch we'll need transpo and escort.

Copy that, calling it in.

How did you find me?

Security footage caught you near a storage facility in Elmsford.

Don't feel bad.

Everyone's luck runs out sooner or later.

(growling)

What was that?

Stay put.

(growling)

(yelling): No! No!

(singing along with recording): ♪ O sole mio... ♪

(singing in Italian)

(Italian opera song continues)

(resumes singing)

(humming)

(song ends)

Salud.

(door opening)

Buona sera, Signorina.

Buona sera.

Okay.

You know I'm loving the five-star treatment, but... you got to stop spoiling me, Crane.

(laughs)

When patriot prisoners of w*r were freed after the British retreated from Philadelphia, they dined for weeks in order to revive their broken spirits.

You know, I fended for myself ten months in those catacombs.

I don't need to be pampered, Crane.

You, Lieutenant, are a woman of infinite pride and unparalleled resourcefulness.

But... after the deprivation you endured... this is the very least I could do.

Mm, and a reminder.

We are to attend the cinema this evening with Miss Jenny and Master Joe.

Top of the billing at the Music Hall is E.T., which apparently concerns a diminutive being stranded far from home.

Perhaps a different suggestion...

No. Crane, E.T.'s a classic. You should see it.

Truth is I came home to pick up a few things.

I booked some time at the range.

Gotten a little rusty since I've been away, so, keep it warm for me.

Yes, of course I can.

Are you maintaining a journal?

Yeah, it's supposed to help me "define and sort through my trauma," but seeing as how every day I was down there was the same as the one before, it makes for a pretty boring read.

And... to answer the question that you are thinking, but not asking directly...

I'm fine.

And thanks to you, I'm taking it all meal by splendid meal.

Signore Crane.

Tenente.

(door closes)

Sure you don't want me to come in with you?

I'm sure.

You can do this, Jen.

You need to.

(indistinct chatter)

Hey.

Thanks for meeting me.

Hope I didn't bring you too far out of your way.

I was surprised you took my call.

You kind of caught me off guard.

You're the spitting image of your mother, you know?

Same hair, eyes.

This is a mistake.

Jennifer, Jennifer, wait.

Look, you don't owe me anything, but for what it's worth, I'm just here to listen to whatever you need to say.

I have hated you for as long as I can remember.

I've had epic conversations with you in my mind, just telling you all the many, many reasons I think you're a terrible person.

Asking you why you abandoned us, how you could just walk away from your family.

(scoffs)

But now that you're sitting here right in front of me, I don't know what to say to you.

I'd say you're closing in on it.

Why did you leave us?

Because of Mom?

No.

No, it was me.

When her illness kicked in...

I didn't know how to handle it.

And being a fool, I drank.

In the end, I joined the Navy because we needed medical benefits.

I also needed to sober up.

So, they shipped me overseas, long-term deployments.

I stayed for three consecutive tours.

And when I got out six years later, life had moved on.

Yeah, Mom was dead.

Abbie and me were in foster care.

And I've lived with the shame and regret for decades.

But I'm not here looking for absolution or forgiveness.

Then what do you want?

To tell you... there wasn't anything you did, or your sister, or your mother.

I think it's important you both hear that from me.

I'd like to see Abbie.

(g*nshots)

(g*nshots)

(g*nshots)

(sighs)

Maybe lay off the coffee.

Might be giving you the jitters.

I don't drink the stuff anymore.

Maybe start up again.

I'm gonna chalk this up to us both having A type personalities.

Seemed like a better option than take-out food and paperwork. You?

I needed to clear my head, that's all.

Maybe I should have checked to see if you had time booked before I showed up.

It's fine, Danny.

So our talk the other day...

I said some things I wasn't expecting to admit.

You said 'em.

And, honestly, I meant them.

Not to make things awkward, but to get things back on track for us.

You know, having each other's backs again, trusting each other.

Things happened, the Nevins case, but that doesn't mean we have to throw away everything we worked so hard to build.

It's too important.

You're too important.

Maybe next time we have a chat like this, it's not in the FBI g*n range at 8:00 at night.

There's a pancake house around the corner, if you want to be a diva about it.

Another time. Woman with a g*n.

(laughs)

I heard that.

(phone buzzes)

(sighs)

(phone buzzes)

(coughing) Please don't sh**t.

Nevins?!

Mills, thank God you got my message.

Hands behind your head!

The a reason I...

Now!

(coughing)

Up against the tree.

I don't know if you're stupid or crazy, but I'm bringing you in.

(handcuffs jangling)

Hand.

(grunts)

(coughing)

What in the hell happened to you?

Another run-in with Pandora?

Worse.

You saw what did this?

It came after me, too.

It's inhuman.

It's unstoppable.

I know this creature, Mills.

If you want to stop it, you need my help.

This is cozy.

It's a monster-proof cell.

Should be plenty to hold a worm like you.

I don't know what att*cked you, but it's too bad it didn't finish the job.

We didn't end things on good terms, did we?

Oh, what, you mean when you almost put a b*llet in my head?

Jenny: Or when you helped Pandora raise an evil god that almost k*lled us all?

Yeah, I guess we're not quite over it.

Hey, I'm the one who was sh*t, who was arrested, who lived on the streets like an animal.

Whatever you went through, I don't think it was enough.

Are you sure about that, son?

Take a look.

My God.

It's pretty, isn't it?

(coughing)

Pandora wanted her pound of flesh, but she wanted it literally.

(grunting)

Did you know a man can live without a spleen?

Pandora promised him riches and glory in exchange for obtaining the Eye of Providence for her.

When he failed to do so, she terminated his services.

How the mighty fall.

Joe: All right, so why'd you come to us, huh?

Big fish like you, I mean, you must have a lot of people you can go to for help.

Oh, yeah. One little arrest, all my associates turn their backs on me, huh?

So I see your angle.

You help us catch the monster...

And we help you get out of town.

I need some assurances.

Safe passage out of the country.

Passport, money that can't be traced.

Thanks but... we'll find the creature ourselves.

No, you won't.

Not without my help.

This isn't one of Pandora's utility players.

You won't believe where it comes from.

People are dying out there.

We need him to talk.

This calls to mind an interrogation tactic of Washington's.

Now, if used properly, it could encourage him to loosen his tongue.

(coughing)

(door opens)

Here's the deal: depending on the value of the information that you give us, we will consider getting you across the Canadian border.

No guarantees, no assurances.

And as a gesture of good faith, in accordance with the proper treatment of prisoners and with the proviso you cooperate, you shall be fed.

Abbie: But if you mess with us, we will gift wrap you to the FBI.

(chewing, crunching sounds)

Ugh.

Uh...

Abbie: You said that you had information about this creature.

'91. Iraq.

End of Gulf w*r One.

Pulling back from Al Busayyah, rumor starts to float around about a cave, just north of the Saudi border.

They say it's full of millions of dollars of Iraqi gold.

And being a true privateer, you decided to retrieve it.

Some men in the platoon and I, we ran a little undercover, off-the-record mission...

This w*r might prove interesting after all, gentlemen.

Man: Webb, Chalsen, check for trip wires!

Roger that, Sergeant!

...including someone you knew.

If you're done ruining the moment, Sergeant Corbin.

That's right. Saint August Corbin, Marine sergeant, moral babysitter.

It's your party, Atticus.

I just came along to make sure no one gets k*lled.

Webb: Sergeant!

You called it, Sergeant Nevins.

The damn mother lode.

Well, there's no perimeter defenses, no booby traps?

This is all way too easy.

Nevins: Just like the whole operation.

Load 'em up, boys!

(snarling)

(g*nshots)

Ambush! Fall back!

(shrieking)

What the hell was that?

August saved my life that day.

So after the w*r, August is obsessed with trying to figure out what we had seen.

It was his first contact with the supernatural, and it never left him.

Imagine my shock when the same damn creature shows up in Sleepy Hollow.

That's a good story. This helps us find the creature how?

You take me to August's files.

I guarantee you'll get what you need.

You mean these files?

Joe: Yeah, we've gone through those already.

There's nothing that matches the creature you described.

Mother, may I?

Yeah.

(clicking)

(sighs)

Now, what you all don't know is what a paranoid bastard ol' Sheriff Corbin was.

He had major... (thump, click) ...trust issues.

You want to know everything he knew about that-that-that thing?

Try August Corbin's case file number one.

All right. Come on.

Well, according to the sheriff's research, the creature is an ancient Mesopotamian ghallu, more commonly known as a demonic ghoul.

They're used as guardians of sacred temples and crypts.

Ruthless predators, said to hunt without mercy.

Ah, here. The creature's only weakness is something known as an Aurum Scarabaeus Sacer.

A Golden Scarab.

"Whomsoever possesses the scarab shall become master to the ghoul, which will perform its every bidding."

Joe: Okay.

So we find the scarab thing, we stop the monster.

Man: I don't feel so good stealing from our old boss.

This is Nevins we're talking about.

Mr. Loyalty is dead.

Hey. Randall Martin's stock is rising.

If he's gonna take over Nevins' operation, we have got to get into his good books.

Let's go.

The place has been cleaned out.

By who? Randall?

(sighs) Someone else got here first.

Vin...

(screaming)

No one knows anything about a golden artifact that controls a goul.

Hey, is this a bad time?

Reynolds is running a briefing in a few minutes, and I can't find the damn statewide warrant list.

I saw Dad.

Yesterday.

I wasn't completely sure I wanted to tell you.

It's not exactly the right time.

It's never really the right time.

Abbie, you're different than before you disappeared.

You're dealing with it every day.

Don't think I can't see that.

I know when you're hurting.

I don't want anything to cause you more pain.

That's not your call, sis.

I know.

Which is why I'm here right now.

He wants to see you.

What'd you tell him?

Told him I'd talk to you.

You did.

I appreciate it.

(sighs)

What did it feel like, seeing him?

It wasn't easy.

Gary Wallis and Vincent Rota.

Found in a storage unit in Elmsford.

Similar M.O. to the first k*lling in Pocantico Hills.

Evidence of rage. Overkill.

Ritualistic evisceration.

Wallis and Rota were known associates of Atticus Nevins, who's still at large.

The storage unit was rented by a shell company controlled by Nevins.

Which means this could be a rival moving in on his old operation.

We're working to figure out what kind of m*rder w*apon was responsible for these wounds.

Forensics is sorting... (voice fades)

(indistinct whispering)

Beautiful.

Sophie (quietly): Hey.

Hey.

You okay?

Migraine coming on.

Oh.

A k*ll this violent is a big statement.

Is it just me or is all of this way too close to Nevins?

Creature goes after Nevins, then takes out two of his own guys.

There's definitely something we're missing.

I'm gonna grab some old files.

Buy me some time.

Yeah, I got your back.

♪

Mmm. He's getting under your skin, isn't he?

Two more men have d*ed.

If am to labor at finding answers, I refuse to be taunted by his blatant apathy.

Still, despite my very best efforts, I'm no closer to finding scarab nor Ghoul.

Yeah. I dug this up.

Customs Enforcement list.

Hundreds of missing ancient artifacts, including...

The golden scarab.

Mm-hmm. Main suspect in the case: Randall Martin.

Former employee of Nevins, making a play to take over his whole operation.

Whoever has the scarab controls the Ghoul.

And if Mr. Martin wishes to be taken seriously as heir to Atticus Nevins' empire, having a vicious monster as a pit bull is a decent start.

Jenny (over radio): Okay, I got your back.

Go find where Randall's hidden the creature.

Copy that, Jenny.

(footsteps nearby)

(grunting)

(weak, gasping breaths)

(panting)

Okay. I'm impressed.

(panting)

♪

Looks ghoul-sized to me.

(sighs) All right, we need to be sure.

Okay, careful.

Yeah.

(g*n clicks)

Randall: As much as I'd like to see your reaction, you don't want to open that crate.

g*ns on the ground, both of you on your knees.

Right now!

Okay.

Yep.

You two just can't stop messing with my business.

Randall... what you're doing... it's not you.

My days in the minor league are over.

Nevins' operation is mine.

Anyone who tries to mess with that...

...is gonna feel my wrath.

Listen, Randall, you want Nevins' empire, just take it, okay?

Just don't use that.

Man, we know what's inside that crate.

We know you're using the scarab artifact to control it.

Scarab?

What the hell are you talking about?

No, no, no.

He's not controlling the Ghoul.

Look, Randall, we're all in danger, okay?

The only ones in danger are you two.

This is business.

Nothing person...

(grunting)

(growling)

(grunts)

(growling)

(hisses)

(bellows)

(grunting)

(snarling)

(shrieks)

(supernatural trilling)

(low growling)

(gasping)

(panting)

It targeted Randall.

That means somebody else is controlling the creature.

Nevins.

You said you searched him when he came in, and that he didn't have anything on him, especially not any kind of artifact.

Nothing on him.

The scarab isn't an artifact.

(phone rings)

Hi.

Abbie, Abbie, Randall is dead.

He's not controlling the Ghoul.

You need to search Nevins.

We did. He's clean.

No. No, Abbie, he's not clean.

You need to search him again.

Hang up the phone, Mills.

You have the scarab.

A good smuggler uses every possible advantage.

See, when Pandora did that little splenectomy, she inadvertently gave me (crackling, squishing) a little... (groans): oh, just a little spot for some contraband.

Come on.

Come on.

The cave in Iraq... you took more than just gold.

Oh, even back then I was always looking for something extra-special to sell.

I managed to sneak away from my unit and what do I find?

(gasps)

I had no idea the power I held in the palm of my hand.

(growls)

(panting)

And then I felt it, immediately.

I had complete control of the creature.

(chuckles)

One little thought entered my head.

(screaming)

Ambush! Fall back!

(expl*si*n)

What the hell was that?

(chitters)

Pandora and her man may have summoned the creature, but I can control him.

I just had to rescue this little sucker from one of my storage units.

That cave turned out to be the tip of a very lucrative iceberg.

Corbin identified dozens of crypts and tombs and every one of them had artifacts and creatures...

Which you're gonna use to buy your freedom.

I already have a buyer.

I just... needed access.

Bad plan, because you're going to jail.

No, I'm not.

Because... wait for it...

(growling)

(laughs)

Fido, would you mind, uh...?

Oh... one more trick to show you.

(shrieking)

It's been fun.

Okay, Fido... sic 'em, boy.

(growls)

We need more firepower.

Of course, it's on the other side of the room.

I'll draw it away. Go. Go.

Hey. Hey, hey!

(growls)

(phone ringing)

Uh, Abbie?

I need you to stop Nevins.

He took Corbin's files.

Crane, move!

(g*nshots)

(g*nshots)

Abbie!

You need to find Nevins; he'll be in the tunnels by now.

(g*nshots)

(growls)

I'm open to any ideas right now.

(g*nsh*t)

The scarab.

Target the scarab on his chest.

It may be his proverbial Achilles heel.

Go.

Lieutenant!

Jenny (in distance): He can't be far.

He was playing us the whole time; I should've seen it.

Later, okay?

Hey, let's split up.

We'll cover ground faster.

(loud growl)

Crane, I can't hit a target that small.

Go. Go, go.

Lieutenant! Lieutenant, you have this.

(growls)

(Crane grunts)

Come on.

Lieutenant!

Come on, come on...

sh**t it!

(growls)

Nice sh**ting, Mills.

It's just about practice.

(panting)

Agent Foster.

How's it going?

All right.

Can I ask you guys... are they all this ugly?

Uh... actually, usually they're worse.

This one's not too bad.

Toss your w*apon.

This is your girl, here.

You were family once.

"Family."

August Corbin hated me.

He was just a holier-than-thou son of a bitch.

He never gave in to temptation.

He never took a bribe.

You could literally choke on his saintliness.

Don't you move.

You know, I actually think my father meant a lot more to you than you're willing to admit.

And I know how that is, believe me.

I mean, I spent my whole life pretending like his opinion didn't matter to me.

And I have just been trying for so long to understand him.

And, you know what, man, I think I finally do.

You loved him, Atticus.

We both did.

And you know damn well what he'd say to you right now.

The hell with August Corbin.

And the hell with you.

(running footsteps departing)

(sniffs)

Hey.

Hey.

How are you?

Well, I fought a ghoul so... horrible. (chuckles)

(chuckles)

Come here.

(sighs)

Nevins got away with the one document Corbin's been trying to keep from everyone for 20 years.

Well, then we'll go get it back.

You and I are getting pretty good at tracking stuff down.

"Good"?

We're the best.

We're like Bonnie and Clyde.

Minus the crime spree.

You know how you said you would give anything for a few more minutes with your dad?

You're not the only one who felt that way.

But you made that happen for me.

Nobody's ever done anything like that for me before.

Well, you know, your dad took off on you when you were a kid.

Mine was partners with a thief.

So, uh, we got that in common.

(chuckles)

You know, I hated him for a long time.

Thought he was... being more of a father to everyone else than he was to me, but... knowing the company he had to keep, the... the secrets that he had to protect...

...I wish I could tell him just once that I think he was one hell of a guy.

I envy that.

♪ My sins from my youth ♪
♪ Don't remember my sins... ♪

I'd ask how you found me, but... you are a federal agent.

I should have called.

I'm just glad to see you.

Yeah, Jenny wasn't gonna tell me that she'd seen you.

But, you know, with her and I, it's hard to hide things for long, so...

I came here because I need to ask you something about Mom.

Right.

When she began to unravel, what were the first signs?

And how fast did it come on?

Well, I-I don't remember how it started.

It came in fits and starts.

She'd be fine one minute and then having hallucinations the next. It was like she was living in two different realities.

As it went along, she pushed me away, wouldn't let me in.

And that's when you left us.

Well, I started thinking maybe I was the problem, you know?

Maybe if I wasn't around, things would get better.

But, truthfully, I was just scared as hell.

So was Mom.

But she faced it all alone.

She d*ed alone.

Hell, maybe that's in the cards for all of us.

That's the way the Mills women kick off, crazy and alone.

No. That's not gonna happen to you.

You don't know that.

You have no idea who I am.

You don't know a lot about me either, Abbie.

The one thing I know about our family, your mother's side and mine, is that we're strong people.

Yeah, I've made mistakes.

Had the hell knocked out of me.

But I'm still standing.

And so are you.

You know what I remember?

Um... your voice.

Used to read stories to me, sing songs.

I loved that voice.

And I'm sorry you haven't heard it in a while.

Me, too.

But, Abbie, if you're going through something difficult right now, I want to help.

Yeah, I have people for that now.

Maybe one day.

(phone rings)

Are you avoiding my calls?

Because it's been a few days since we last spoke.

It's been a busy time.

Any problems I should know about, Daniel?

Such as?

I've heard that Agent Mills is not as stable as she once was, that she's changed.

Mills is a good agent.

She'll find her feet again.

Under your keen eye, Daniel, I have no doubt.

Oh, one other thing: I want you to downgrade the search for Atticus Nevins.

Minor resources only.

Why the hell would I do that?

Because I ordered you to.

Satisfied?

It's a start.

The funds have already been transferred to your account in Geneva, and there is a plane standing by, waiting to take you wherever you choose.

Oh, and I have a, uh, cash bonus for you.

You have something for me.

From the files of August Corbin.

It's the exact coordinates of the nine sacred sites.

Well, I can't tell you how much this means to us.

Well, I don't really care.

I just retired.

Yes, Mr. Nevins...

(g*nsh*t)

...you just did.

Bologna on whole wheat?

That is the Charlie Brown of sandwiches.

The bald boy with awful luck?

"Good grief."

(chuckles)

I take offense.

I'll make us a real sandwich.

And give me a hand.

I see your wheels turning.

Go on and ask.

You saw your father.

I did.

I'm still processing it.

By your tone, am I to assume this topic is to be shelved until later discussion?

Nailed it.

But I will talk about the fact that it has been hard lately, adjusting to being back, and I guess I want you to know that I am working on it.

You have endured an ordeal few can even imagine.

Except you.

You know exactly what it's like to look around and everything is exactly the same but completely different.

I'm trying really hard.

And you will succeed.

Just as you were by my side when I returned to Sleepy Hollow, so I shall be by yours.

♪

You know what I'm in the mood for?

A beer.

(sighs)

A pint of ale to raise one's spirits aloft.

And I believe Miss Jenny is tending bar at Mabie's Tavern this evening.

Okay, you go, grab us a table.

I need 20 minutes to finish some work.

And then I'll pay for the next round.

Very good.

No, I want hot wings.

Oh.

No poultry is safe in Sleepy Hollow this dark night.

(chuckles)

(door opens, closes)

♪ ♪

You saved me.

I'm yours.