03x09 - And the Fatal Separation

[bunniefuu]

Opportunity. It never just happens.

Opportunity must be dragged into submission by unflinching determination.

That is what I've done with everything in my life, from my businesses to my unique collections.

Truly, there is nothing you cannot get if you are determined enough.

So if your offer provides me with a suitable opportunity, I have no doubt I can obtain what you desire.

(chuckles)

The lost city of Shangri-La.

(theme music playing)

(men shouting indistinctly)

Ah!

(grunting)

Ah!

(yelling continues)

(grunts)

(gasps)

Ah!

The fighter battles with passion of the heart.

Ah!

But a true warrior battles with wisdom of the soul.

Ah!

(pants) In Oklahoma, that's all we got is soul.

(grunts)

(shouts)

(groans) The Death Touch.

One more ounce of pressure and Monkey King's life is through.

Well done.

Your training is complete.

Master, please, I can't be done.

I've not even been here two months.

Time is not the measure of man, Jacob.

Only what he achieves.

Monkey king earned the staff of Shangri-La.

Your destiny lies elsewhere.

The Library was right to send you here to complete training, but I have taught you all that I can.

Come on, there's gotta be something else you can teach me.

Well, there are magical techniques...

No.

No magic.

And I respect that decision, but it means from now on, your lessons must be ones you teach yourself.

That is your practice.

For Monkey King, I practice something else.

Making banana smoothies.

Jenkins!

What is this place? What's with all the candles?

The Chamber of Memories, sir.

Couldn't just call it the Candle Room?

Well, with the rooms of the Library being moved as they were, I only rediscovered it today.

Each candle is linked to the soul of a person connected to the Library.

If the flame burns, they are still alive.

If not, they are a memory, and the Chamber gives us very good news today, sir.

Carlene's candle.

Still burning.

So, she's alive.

Yes, sir.

I knew it.

It is good to have one's hopes affirmed.

Indeed.

Oh, wow.

This room's gonna get a lot darker when my candle goes out, eh, Jenkins?

Uh, actually, sir, that's Colonel Baird's candle.

Oh. Which one is mine?

That one.

What?!

That one?

What? Oh, no. no, no, no, sir, not that one.

That's Mr. Jones'.

Actually... that one.

Oh.

Doesn't seem to have very far to go.

Well, every candle must go out sometime.

Stone: "A thousand candles can be lit from one, but that candle's life is not shortened.

Happiness never deceases by being shared."

That quote is easy. Gautama Buddha.

Gah.

My turn.

"Every man has a plan until he is struck."

Sun Tsu? No. Confucius?

Mike Tyson.

(laughs)

To wisdom, in all its forms.

And to the power of the soul.

(darts whoosh)

(all grunt)

(dart whooshes)

Sifu!

Save my staff!

Sifu?

The staff is more important than me.

Step away from the staff.

(all grunt)

Sorry, but that is exactly what I've come for.

Not if I have anything to do with it.

Then we are happy to oblige.

All of us.

Son of...

(yells in native language)

(all grunting)

No!

(panting)

Man: Seize him!

(grunts)

And Shangri-La is mine.

On.

Off.

Off.

Are you okay?

Sure.

No. I don't know.

When I got out of surgery, I was so grateful that I still had my gift, but it's not the same.

Right, you said.

It's... bigger.

It's a lot bigger.

And it does different things.

It affects people.

I don't know how to control it.

It's scary.

When we first met, you weren't in control of the gift you had.

You thought you'd never get a handle on it.

But you did.

Yeah, but that's the thing.

I'm afraid to try it. What if I hurt somebody?

Look, I've been working with Stone and Ezekiel, trying to get everyone where they need to be, but you're the one I can't help.

I don't understand magic like you do.

I can't imagine what it's like having a gift like yours.

Still, I've seen the future you, and you're amazing.

And I know you'll eventually get there.

The Library chose you. Not for your gift, but for your ability to know when to use it and when not to.

And when the time comes, I know you'll do the right thing.

Thank you.

(whirring)

Stone?

Shangri-La is under att*ck.

Jenkins: For centuries, the location of Shangri-La has been a deeply-held secret within the magic community.

I'm telling you, the guy swooped in with an army.

This Asian gentlemen with a group of thugs...

Not thugs, ninjas.

Ninjas... black PJs, blow darts, the whole nine yards.

That's why we gotta get back there, call up everybody we know, clear it out ASAP.

I think I may know him.

Did he look like this?

Stone: That's him.

Sterling Lam.

Sterling Lam.

Chinese billionaire, collector of antiquities.

He and I have crossed paths before... in Cambodia over the Shield of Angora, and I b*at him, but it came at a cost.

(winces)

So Lam is serious.

That's why we have to go back.

Okay, but we go back smart.

It gets complicated when mentors are involved.

Because you trust and care about them, you make rash decisions.

I'm not being rash. He's my sifu.

I owe him.

You don't understand...

Actually, I do.

Back at NATO I had an incredible mentor who meant the world to me, but... anyway.

The point is, if we go back, we have to know what we're getting ourselves into.

Well, we know he's a well-funded ninja-commanding badass.

What about Shangri-La. Is it on a ley line?

No. Doesn't need to be, though.

Even before the Monkey King repaired it, it was always a source... powerful source of white magic.

It's only thanks to the kings staff and magical tail that he has been able to hold power for so long.

Repaired? What happened?

All right, it may have been partially destroyed when I was going after the Spear of Destiny.

But it wasn't my fault.

Okay.

Can you get us in there using a magic door?

Mm, I can get you near the city, but not inside the walls.

The city itself is such a powerful source of magic, should it fall into the wrong hands...

Magic could be turned to the dark side.

Yes, and then the balance of good and evil on the Earth... boop.

Which would give Lam even more bad magic on his side.

And further empower Apep.

Which means multiple levels of suckage.

But none of that has happened yet.

Now, according to legend, he who wields the Staff of Shangri-La at sundown becomes its rightful ruler.

Correct.

So, we go back there, we don't have to take on Lam directly, we just have to get the staff from him by sunset.

How do we do that and not go head-to-head?

He knows you. He's seen me now, and if the organization is as sharp as you say it is, they probably know Baird, too.

What do you say we take a page out of "The Odyssey"?

(gasps)

(laughs)

Strangers at the gate.

Land pirates, they say, with something to sell.

Shield of Angkor.

Impossible.

They claim to have stolen it from a Librarian.

Bring them in.

The Shield of Angkor. King Jayavarman used it to push his enemies to the sea.

Yet somehow it has come into the possession of...

Amy Adamantite and Mr. Zet.

Odd. I thought I knew everyone in our line of work.

Yet I've never heard of you.

You say you took it from a Librarian?

Long story, one we can tell after we discuss some business.

Or I can k*ll you and take the shield right now.

She shield is protected by the Seven Curses of Khmer.

Unless I give you the revocation chant, whoever touches it loses their memories, hearing, hair...

I know all about the Seven Curses.

Well played.

Let's discuss business over tea.

Flynn: I'd say we're clear.

Ha! Nice plan.

It's a Trojan horse. It works every time.

Yay, "Odyssey."

This way.

Land pirates. In other words, mercenaries.

We're not big on titles.

I don't suppose you ever crossed paths with Black-Eyed Pierre?

The scourge of southern antiquities?

We b*at him to the Helm of Troy.

What about Mad Carlos Gabaldon?

The Raider of the Rainforest?

He b*at us to the Scepter of Machu Picchu, but then got arrested.

(chuckles)

How about Ezekiel Jones?

He's a Librarian.

A great thief. Foolishly went to work for the other side.

I never saw the man, but I did hear his voice at a party boasting about a conquest in that arrogant accent of his.

I will never forget it.

He was also the last man to touch the shield before we got to it.

You k*lled Ezekiel Jones?

How?

We choked him.

Excellent.

I have a history with Librarians.

I heard that Mr. Jones was the most clever.

Seriously? I just... I mean, I'd never heard that.

Doesn't your partner talk?

No.

Uh, he was struck by lightning as a child and his fillings fused his jaw shut.

Shall we discuss price?

(whispers) I have to admit, Shangri-La looks better than I remember.

Right, receiving chamber's on the first floor.

Throne room and the staff are on the top floor. There's only two guards.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, if just one of those guards sets off an alarm, we'll have to take on 10 times as many.

True, still, most throne rooms are built with a secret exit to ward off coups and assassinations and the like.

Right, like the queen's room in Buckingham Palace.

Or the exit in the floor at Versailles.

So we're looking for a secret door.

Guys, I've been living here for over a month.

Secret door is this way.

There.

The Staff of Shangri-La.

It's probably booby trapped.

Yeah, but I got a plan.

You take the staff, I place this one.

Okay, okay. Good thinking.

So, on my count.

Yeah.

Three, two...

(darts whoosh)

Ah!

Argh!

Not again.

(growling)

Well done, Your Highness.

My head feels like it was stomped on by The Colossus of Rhodes.

Yeah, well, Valerian sleeping dr*gs will do that to you.

You know, it would've been nice if you'd mentioned that your sifu had joined forces with Lam.

He didn't. I mean, that's not the king I know.

Lam did something, changed him.

Well, clearly knew we were coming.

Why would they just knock us out?

Because we're Librarians, a prize that can only yield bigger prizes.

Only thing bigger than us would be, um...

Guardian.

Exactly.

Where's Eve?

She was gone when I woke up.

We gotta get outta here.

That's what I'm working on.

Luckily, they put us in a room with marble urns, baking soda, and tin foil.

Right, so we're going to bake our way out?

(chuckles)

So we have a deal?

Works for us.

Lam: Excellent.

I will have my men collect your gold and...

Excuse me.

Jaw fused shut?

I'm sorry, but when he said he'd heard your voice, electroplating was the first thing I could think of.

(arguing indistinctly)

Ezekiel?

Hang on, something's going on.

Yeah, Baird's been caught. Look.

(chatter)

That's not good.

Neither is that.

What do we do?

Save our Guardian.

(shouts indistinctly)

(knocking) Guard, guard!

Guard, help! Help!

(Stone coughing)

He needs help. He's choking! Choking!

Needs water, please.

He's not worth anything to anybody dead.

Thank you. Thank you.

(guards speaking native language)

Perfect.

What's this water gonna do?

Well, marble mixed with baking soda gives you sodium carbonate.

Sodium carbonate mixed with leftover calcium hydroxide gives you lye, and lye mixed with aluminum gives you sodium and sodium mixed with water gives you a little something I like to call a coulomb expl*si*n.

(expl*si*n)

(yelling)

(coughing)

Remind me to never let you into the Annex kitchen.

Guys are knocked out cold.

This one's not.

(speaks foreign language)

(groans)

Eve.

It's just a bunch of cages.

Yeah, cages full of magical items.

Stone: Hercules' club, magic carpet, Crystal of Athar? This guy collects everything.

Everything and everyone.

Eve!

Flynn!

This is the last place you should be.

Don't worry Charlene we're going to get you out in no time.

Yeah, boys...

This is a 1793 Bowman lock.

Yeah, boys...

Eighteen iron slides, 470 million possible permutations.

This is a piece of cake.

Yeah, Flynn.

Charlene, I've been looking for you for eight months.

You think an old British lock is gonna keep me from... ow!

You got yourself out, I see.

I am so glad that you are okay.

Of course I'm okay. I'm always okay.

I did not need you to rescue me.

Well, what are you doing here?

Hiding.

I didn't want you seeking.

You're hiding here, why?

It was the last place that Apep would look for me.

Shangri-La?

No, in Lam's possessions.

If Apep couldn't find me, I doubt he'd think that Lam could.

In this cage... you've been in this cage since Peru?

Yeah. It's not the Four Seasons, but it's three hots and a cot and the company's not so bad.

(growling)

Oh, stow it, Phil.

I'll send somebody for you soon enough.

Charlene, if you were in trouble, why didn't you call me? I could've helped you.

Because Apep is watching you.

You found me, could Apep be far behind?

But we can stop him.

No, Flynn, you can't. Apep is not Prospero, he's not Dulaque, he's an Egyptian god.

And if he gets a hold of me, he can enter the Library and release... pure evil.

Okay, well, then we will hide you someplace else.

I'm sure Jenkins knows somebody in Atlantis.

I'm heading to the Library. It's my only option.

What does that mean?

I have to sever my connection with the Library.

Now that Judson is gone, Jenkins is the only one who can perform the ritual.

No, no, you can't do that. You're the original Guardian.

Your connection to the Library's the key to your immortality.

Wait, so you're gonna die to save the Library?

I've had a great run, boys, but the world is at stake.

It's time for me to say good-bye to the Library and to this dimension forever.

No, no.

Those two men just loaded Baird onto that train.

Where do you think they're taking her?

My money's on the underground markets of Chengguan.

There you can buy anything or anyone.

All aboard?

You are not leaving this dimension.

I have no choice.

All right, to be continued.

For right now, what about Shangri-La?

Lam's about to take it over and we're not gonna let that happen.

Lam can take it over, but only if he has the staff.

He does. And the Monkey King.

And Eve.

Lam has Colonel Baird?

This is what we're saying.

We have to retrieve the staff, save the city and Eve.

And do it all before sunset.

Seriously?

This is how you run things when I'm away?

You can help us. We're Librarians, but you're still a Guardian.

So, what do you say? One more mission?

One more adventure? One more trip around the thing?

For the last time, I am a US citizen with contacts in the US m*llitary and with NATO.

All right.

Let's drop the act.

Your white socks say American.

Your haircut says paramilitary.

I don't know who you're working for, but you're about to be placed under arrest for w*r crimes, per the NATO charter, by Counter Terror Chief General Cynthia Rockwell.

Take it away, General.

Release her.

Uh, what's... going on?

(gasps)

These guys work for you?

Ten-hut!

Yes, ma'am.

Now, that's my soldier.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Good to see you, Colonel.

Good to see you, too, but what's going on?

I... I don't understand.

I needed a chat with my protégé, and your current job made you difficult to reach.

So you had me kidnapped?

I made a mutually beneficial deal with a key player in the private sector.

You gave Sterling Lam the map to Shangri-La.

Not me personally. My agency.

DOSA.

You work for DOSA?

Work for? No, no, no, no.

I'm running it.

That's why it's imperative that I talk to you about the sleeper agent in your Library.

Not possible.

If someone were spying on us, I would know about it.

Eve, you misunderstand me.

That sleeper agent... is you.

I apologize for keeping you in the dark. I had no choice, if you were going to be an effective asset.

I'm not an asset.

Mm, not a knowing one.

That's what made you so good.

You really think it was a coincidence that you and Flynn Carsen wound up in the same German town hunting for the same WMD at the exact same time?

(gasps)

We planted the Intel about that artifact.

We knew he'd come so we sent you in.

No.

I authorized your transfer from NATO counter-intelligence, get us access to the Library.

Now that you have, it's time for your wakeup call.

Wake up to do what?

To give us the Library... the government, DOSA.

I can't do that.

Your job is to protect the United States from t*rror1st organizations.

The Library is not a t*rror1st organization.

It possesses weapons of mass destruction.

Those are artifacts.

Weapons that are a clear and present danger to the United States and our allies.

You don't understand.

I understand that airplanes have vanished.

That whole towns have been hit by mass hysteria.

Innocent people have lost their lives.

All with these Librarians that happen to be in the center of it all.

Yes, they protect the people.

From these artifacts?

It's why the Library exists.

So magical items stay in the hands of the people who comprehend them.

You mean a failed academic, a cowboy, a janitor, and a crook?

(sighs) Clearly you don't understand these people or what they do.

But do you?

Of course, they're my...

Yes, I trust them.

These Librarians, they've never lied to you about anything?

(scoffs) Never.

Flynn Carsen always told you the truth?

No secrets?

These artifacts, they have never used any of them?

No, no.

Okay, maybe sometimes, but always for good.

And are you sure they've never used any magic on you?

Absolutely not.

But if they did, how would you know?

When Agents go undercover, there's a percentage of them that end up identifying with the groups they're trying to infiltrate.

It's a form of Stockholm Syndrome.

It can even happen when magic isn't involved.

General, that's not this. That's... they're not the enemy. We're not the enemy.

I know you're not.

You took a b*llet for me.

I'll never forget that, let alone repay it.

That's why I would never lie to you.

But you used me.

I had to get someone into that Library.

The best officer I've ever had.

You're free to go at the next stop.

I just needed to get you here one-on-one to find out if they've used any magic on you.

And, more importantly, remind you of who you are and that you swore an oath to the United States of America.

Now, you gonna hold up to your oath?

Or throw your lot in with the people you just admitted you can't trust?

All right, in order for Lam to take possession of Shangri-La, he has to bring the staff to the city's magical nexus.

Charlene: AKA the throne room.

All right, we've got to try and figure out a way to get up there now that Lam knows that we know the secret entrance.

Do you guys always do a recap before you go on a job?

No wonder your missions take so long.

Flynn, remember when you had to trap that basilisk in Cyrene?

Yes, wait. That move? Almost got everybody k*lled.

All right, guys, I don't think getting everybody k*lled is the right tactic to get the king back.

There's a big difference between the way Flynn tried it then and now.

What's that?

We didn't have Charlene as our Guardian.

Damn right.

(chatter)

They switch out every 10 minutes exactly, like clockwork.

Which gives us nine minutes and 40 seconds till the other one comes back.

I'm ready if you are.

(speaking foreign language)

(mouthing)

Zero, eight, three.

It's a hexadecimal approximation of pi.

It's a hexadecimal approximation of pi.

(mouths)

(speaks foreign language)

Look, lady, I don't speak Chinese.

(speaks foreign language)

Ah!

(passengers gasping)

Colonel.

Ezekiel, what are you doing here?

Rescuing you. Are you all right?

I am now. Let's get out of here.

We're running out of daylight.

Two of them, three of us.

(scoffs) Easy peasy, lemon squeasy.

"Never fear moving forward slowly; fear only to stand still."

Who said that? Oh! Ah!

He did.

(growls)

Ooh, red's definitely not his color.

I think Lam put him under some kind of a spell.

Both: The m*rder Harp.

Stone: What's the m*rder Harp?

Something Lam just recently acquired for his collection.

Constructed from the bones from a m*rder*d girl and strung with her hair.

It corrupts the soul of all who listen to it.

Tops Jenkins' "Most-Wanted" list.

Stone, give him the "pfft"!

You guys get the staff from Lam.

I got this.

(growling)

Sifu, please, you don't want to do this.

(screeches)

All right, maybe you do.

(growling)

When the sun leaves the throne room of Shangri-La, whoever holds the staff will rule the city.

So, where is it?

(stammers)

It's right here.

And so is the man who will k*ll you!

Uh... he's got a few more guys that I thought he would.

Yeah. "We're Librarians. You're a Guardian."

How could I be so gullible?

Well, what do you suggest, tactical retreat?

Uh... stall them. I'll be right back.

Stall them?

Uh... rah!

(growling)

Sifu, it's me!

It's Jacob Stone, okay? Snap out of it!

(screeching)

You defeated me once, Librarian, but now you'll watch as I possess all of Shangri-La.

Well, that sounds pretty neat until you realize what you're giving up.

I give up nothing. Ha! Ha! Ha!

(laughs) I wouldn't be so sure, Lam.

You take Shangri-La and you tip the balance between good and evil.

And I'm not talking about second-rate evil... people texting in movies.

No, I'm talking full-on apocalyptic total annihilation.

You take Shangri-La and you give up your life.

That's a risk I'm willing to take.

Yeah. And what about your associates?

Are they willing to take that risk, too?

What do you mean?

Well, greed comes at a price.

Are you really gonna pay his?

Especially considering what he's about to do to you?

(snarling)

(screeching)

Sifu, don't make me do this.

Don't make me.

(screeches)

I don't know, Lam. Seems like you might be losing your leverage.

Just like you did in Siem Reap!

I've lost nothing.

And this time, I will damage more than your leg.

Ha! Ha! Ha! (screams)

It's not too late to give up, Lam.

You could still collect baseball cards or stamps.

You mean so you can take the staff for your collection?

That is what your Library is, after all... a collection.

Just like mine.

The Library is way more than a collection!

It stands to protect the world! (screams)

Really?

If that's so true, why are you here all alone?

Alone? Oh, I'm not alone.

Ahem.

Some of you possessions are not very happy with you.

Oh!

Get 'em, Phil.

(snarling)

No!

Ah-ah, not so fast, Lam.

You should've taken my offer when you had the chance.

(screams)

Flynn, the sun's about to set!

I can't.

I can't k*ll you.

Flynn: Stone, the staff!

All right, I know your soul is corrupted, but if anything can make it pure again, it is this staff, a symbol of all the goodness that you brought to this place.

You told me a warrior fights with the wisdom in his soul.

Okay? If you got any wisdom in there, fight for your soul!

Jacob?

Sifu?

(groans)

You okay?

A man who eats crackers in bed wakes up feeling crumby.

(laughs)

But Shangri-La is still mine.

It is?

Yes, Jacob, you could've k*lled me.

But instead you saved my soul with your own.

And there you have your reward.

What is it?

The will of the staff.

Magic? No magic. Take it off.

I cannot.

What does it do?

It is the gift of the inner soul.

With it, you may bring light where there is only darkness.

Okay, does that mean, Sifu?

You will know when it is time.

For now, go, Jacob.

With thanks from all of Shangri-La.

Everything looks beautiful.

Well, for the Guardian who helped save Shangri-La, everything had to be just right.

I meant to thank you for all the kindnesses you've shown me over the years.

I hope it's not too late.

For us, it's never too late.

In fact, if you'd like to reconsider...

I can't. I know you mean well, but...

Ah, Charlene, please, damn it. I don't mean well.

I love you.

Oh, my gosh. Jenkins had said that he pledged himself to someone who loved another.

I had no idea that person was...

Charlene.

The sun still rises and sets in your eyes.

Your soul is the only place I have ever found peace...

Oh, Galahad, please don't.

You are the bravest, boldest, most loyal knight I have ever known.

You would've made a fine Librarian.

But still my heart belongs to someone else.

And that is who I must return to now.

Yes. I understand.

It's just... well, it sucks.

(chuckles)

Before I go...

Jacob, Cassandra, Ezekiel, you all have such amazing gifts.

I'm sure the Library will be in good hands.

Guardian?

Guardian?

(whispers indistinctly)

Flynn...

Charlene, you were amazing today.

And we had an adventure.

And it was a great adventure.

And that doesn't have to stop.

You don't have to do this.

Yes, I do.

Sometimes we have to make sacrifices, as hard as that is for those around us.

But more than anyone, you understand the sacrifice I make.

Don't you?

Yes, I do.

I remember a young man who couldn't get out of his own way.

Sure, he could diagnose parajugular lymph nodes on sight, or recite ancient Aramaic or tell an old lady how many cats she has by the number of hairs on her shirt.

Three.

But he didn't understand life.

Oh, I have had the immense pleasure of watching that young man grow to be the finest Librarian that I have ever known.

I'm gonna miss you.

I'll see you again.

(sniffles)

Good-bye, Charlene.

Before I go...

Oh, yes, we know.

- Keep our receipts.

(mouths)

I'm ready.

Good-bye, Galahad.

Good-bye, my love.