03x14 - Into the Wild

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Sleepy Hollow...

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

You love me?

You never said that before.

I didn't have to.

Crane: Lieutenant, that symbol it is a thing of evil.

You saved me.

I'm yours.

(whispering): I need your help, Crane.

Come on, Mills.

You got this.

(groans)

Quick and nimble, quick and nimble.

(people chattering)

(whoops)

(laughing): Nice.

You picked up some moves.

Yeah, that's the thing about being trapped in a timeless dimension filled with sheer rock walls.

You find your inner Spider-Man real fast.

(grunts)

Sorry, I didn't mean to bring back bad memories.

I just thought coming here might be a good way to blow off steam.

No sweat.

No more withdrawal symptoms from the symbol?

I'm getting a handle on it.

Crane has been helping me through some behavior modification techniques, or as he insists on calling it, "A diet of the mind."

Franklin?

No, A Beautiful Mind.

I never should have gotten him the Netflix subscription.

(laughs)

At least it didn't slow you down any.

You're in kickass shape.

We'll see.

Reynolds has scheduled an FBI survival training exercise this weekend.

Are you sure you're up for that?

I mean, are you sure you're up for a weekend with Daniel Reynolds?

Yeah, Danny and I are good.

He told you he loves you.

Loved.

Past tense.

Okay.

Whatever we were, he's my boss now.

It's all about timing.

Hmm.

You, of all people, should know that.

Hmm?

Didn't Joe just buy you a trailer?

Did it come with a white picket fence?

(scoffs) I mean, he means well, but sometimes he can just be such a... guy, you know?

(laughs)

Man: Hey, hold on, it looks like you're having some trouble.

Let me help you with that.

Thanks, I'm good.

No, no, no, it's okay.

This can be a little challenging, so...

Oh!

It's got to be strong.

Mm.

Go ahead.

(grunting)

(panting)

It can be challenging.

Pandora: My love, I have excellent tidings.

I have recovered another fragment of the Box.

The Beacon's siren call will now be heard in the depths of every corner of this world.

Creatures of darkness will awaken... and come to give their spirits to you.

You have done well.

I am down to the dregs of the energy we collected.

I hunger for more.

They will come.

Soon you will be restored to your full glory...

...and then you can restore my Box.

Do not mar this moment with your selfish needs.

All will be made whole...

...in time.

Of course, my love.

Now that's some Willy Wonka setup you got here.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Though it is not chocolaty treats we endeavor to find here, but answers.

Just... please.

Careful with this one.

This caused the Great Fire of Chicago.

And...

Krakatoa.

You getting anywhere?

Unfortunately, no.

As far as I can tell, this is unlike any material known to man.

And my investigation has been somewhat curtailed by our limited resources, which is why I have sought the help of an outside expert, Professor Cranston of Rochester.

He specializes in arcane materials.

He's agreed to meet us in his laboratory tomorrow.

I'm hoping he could shed some light on some of our other artifacts...

Rochester?

I have the FBI training exercise; it's gonna take all weekend.

Of course.

Well, I can reschedule.

No, you should go.

Are you certain?

I would not want to derail any of the progress we made.

You've done enough, Crane, and besides, the exercise will help get my mind off of things, dive into something work-related.

I would get Jenny to go with you, but she's with Joe... following up on a Sumerian artifact that just hit the black market.

As well they should.

Anything Sumerian these days is surely related to Pandora and the Hidden One, and their plans.

Plans about which we still know precious little.

Which is why we need to get to the bottom of what that is, and the thing about these symbols of evil is they tend to just be the tip of the iceberg.

Very well, I shall to Rochester alone.

You know what, I knew Colonel Rochester.

Peevish sort.

(chuckles)

It seems a surprise they'd name a city after him.

He hardly deserves that honor.

You haven't seen Rochester.

My sources can't find any more details on that mystery artifact.

Just that it's getting a lot of attention and it's going on the block tomorrow night.

Who's the seller?

Anonymous.

Most likely a relic hunter who stumbled on something that's out of his league and he wants to unload it.

These auctions are set up on the fly.

Fast, in-and-out, no questions asked.

Oh.

That's a lot of heavy hitters on the invite list.

Look, $10,000 minimum reserve.

Though I guess that's not a problem for you anymore, unless you spent it all buying another trailer for someone.

Wow, you are not letting that go any time soon, are you?

Not in this lifetime.

Okay.

Okay, you want to know why I bought you that trailer?

Because I could.

Well, that explains everything.

No, no, no, I'm serious, listen, I mean, like, most of the time, we are in your world.

It's like... black market auctions, supernatural artifacts... okay, so... I thought that it was kind of great that, like, just this one time, I could be the one steering the boat.

Or... steering the ship, or... the trailer... whatever... okay?

Mm, Joe...

I love that you want to step up.

And I know that you want to do the right thing.

So, I guess... we just both need to remember that what's important... is that you never... ever... touch my stuff.

Should have seen that coming.

Reynolds: All right, everyone, I'm guessing it's been awhile since your last refresher course in survival training.

I know I haven't done a course since Quantico.

So, this weekend may be challenging.

That's why we're working in teams.

Work with your teammates.

Cover their backs, and they'll cover yours.

Hello, agents, My name is Robbie Malone and I'll be one of the wilderness guides.

Now, the rules are simple.

Each team will be given a map showing a designated waypoint.

You'll have 48 hours to get there.

You'll be provided with basic equipment, but no cell phones.

Any questions?

If you grab your packs, you'll find your group assignments.

Mm-hmm.

Looks like we're teammates.

Yeah.

Along with Ramirez.

Where is he?

Mount Sinai Hospital.

Appendicitis.

Called in this morning.

Are we getting a sub?

Yeah, me.

That good with everyone?

Absolutely.

Good, let's get going.

No, this isn't gonna be awkward at all.

Sophie: I got to say, I've never been an outdoors-y type.

Closest I ever got to camping was watching Friday the 13th movies.

(laughs)

Yeah, I didn't spend much time in the wild either.

Until I had to.

You mind if I ask you something?

Hmm?

When you were trapped in that other dimension, did you ever think you weren't gonna get out of there?

I had moments... but I knew Crane was out there looking for me.

I held onto that.

And he told me that you helped him a lot while I was gone.

So I appreciate that.

I mean, I don't know if I "helped" very much.

Mostly I just asked a lot of questions about monsters and made a face like, uh...

Yeah?

No, it was more like...

(stammering)

Something like that.

(laughing ): Whatever.

No, it was. It was like that.

You have adjusted to this craziness better than most.

Maybe it's because I always wanted to believe that this other world was out there.

When I was a kid, my parents disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and I never got a good explanation for what happened.

So when I found out that magic and mystical dimensions were actually real, it gave me hope that someday, I may actually get some answers.

My first run-in with the supernatural, I was a kid, too.

It messed me and my family up for a long time.

The supernatural... took a lot away from me.

So I guess I got used to looking at it that way, and then here you are... seeing the upside.

Robbie: So... when you can't see the sun, you can always remember that moss grows on the north side of trees, and...

Who'd put a well way out here?

Look at this.

The Dutch... they settled this area back in the 1600s, and judging from the looks of this thing, it could be that old.

The cover's freshly broken.

Almost as if it was busted from the inside out.

Whatever the case, this thing is a hazard.

I have to report it to the rangers.

All right, come on, we better catch up.

(screeching)

Reynolds: Robbie, come on.

(growling)

This seems familiar.

We're in the woods.

Everything looks familiar.

Yeah, this looks familiar, like the same, like we have walked in a circle, haven't we?

We may have gone in a circle-like direction.

You think you could do better, Davy Crockett?

(laughing): I can't do worse.

So... it's tough news about Ramirez.

He'll be okay. It's a routine procedure.

I'm glad it worked out this way, though.

Not that Ramirez got sick, but...

I'm glad you're on my team.

I've been, uh... sorting through some stuff lately, and a part of that process involves me clearing the air with people that I care about, and I owe you some answers, so... it's good that we'll have some time together.

I'm glad you're working things out, but I didn't plan on this.

Your group needed a third and I was available.

That's it.

I got it from here.

(classical music plays)

Thank you.

Encrypted burner phone.

Allows for anonymous bidding.

Folks in this crowd don't always like to advertise their interests.

Plus, they love the cloak-and-dagger of it all.

Jenny Mills.

I'd heard you were no longer in acquisitions.

I still dabble.

Joe, this is Hans Christinger, a dealer out of...

I'm between places at the moment.

Joe Corbin.

Corbin?

As in August's son?

Following in the family business, are we?

Yeah, something like that.

So what have you heard about the product?

Sumerian fragment.

Early Dynastic period.

It has some... intriguing characteristics.

(crowd murmuring)

Oh, my God.

That's part of Pandora's box.

That thing still has residual energy.

Joe, the Box is the source of Pandora's power.

I've seen what she can do with it, up close and personal.

If she somehow manages to collect the pieces and put it back together...

She and the Hidden One are gonna be back in business.

(sighs)

(twig snaps)

(distant screech)

(screeching)

(screaming)

(screaming continues)

(screeching)

(screeching continues)

(screams)

(gasping)

Holy hell, what was that thing?

Okay, okay.

Robbie, stay with me.

Here, just apply pressure.

Yeah.

What happened?

Uh...

Coyote. We chased it off.

Coyotes?

Out here?

Yeah.

What are you doing?

The guides carry satphones in case of an emergency.

Damn it, it's broken.

He must have landed on it.

How's he doing?

We got to get him to help.

Okay, Foster, you stay here with him.

Mills, you come with me. We got to build something to get him out of here.

Sir.

(whispering): All right.

Sophie: I've got the bleeding under control.

He's stable for now.

(softly): His feet.

All right, let's lift him up gently.

Okay.

Let us take the first shift.

You figure out where we're going, lead the way.

You sure?

Yeah.

You're the one been practicing with the compass, right?

Yeah.

(sighs)

I found some images on Robbie's camera.

It looks like they stumbled across something, something that had been hidden away.

Those markings?

They're Dutch.

About 400 years old. It's a warning.

That word there...

Verslinder, means "one who devours."

As in our bite-happy friend, okay, so... we have a 400-year-old Dutch monster on the loose, but no way to warn anyone or call for help.

(sighs)

Great.

I thought this was gonna be tough.

There's something out there.

We need to tell him what's going on.

We can't tell him.

Every time I let somebody into this world, their lives are ruined.

Truth is dangerous.

No.

We handle this without him.

(sighs)

Danny!

Can you come over?!

What are you doing?

You and Reynolds get him out of here.

I'm going after this thing.

By yourself?

Mm-hmm.

Hey, I'm tired.

Can we switch?

Yeah, we can all take a break.

Uh... no, I'm actually... I'm good.

Okay, you take a breather.

Catch up when you can.

Will do.

Be careful.

Yeah.

(panting)

(groans)

(sighs)

Lieutenant, please.

(gasping)

(heart b*ating)

(heartbeat increasing)

(screeching)

(grunting)

(screeching continues)

(gasping)

(screeching continues)

(gasping)

(screeching continues)

(screaming)

(panting)

I'm making that face again, aren't I?

Abbie: Good news is we've knocked that thing back twice now, so it should lay low for a while.

Bad news is it can regenerate.

Which means it may be impossible to k*ll.

That explains why it was sealed up in that well.

There was no other way to get rid of the thing.

Mm-hmm.

Wait, that explains something else, too.

I took a closer look at those photos and found another phrase: "There is no end."

Look...

I know you said the supernatural has taken a lot from you, but you gotta remember the supernatural has given you a lot of good, too.

It led you to Crane.

Hey... It's gonna be dark soon.

We need to find a place to make camp.

I saw an abandoned cabin over the ridge.

Not much, but... it can provide us with some shelter.

All right, let's get going.

Thanks.

Yeah.

I'm gonna go gather some wood and make a fire, all right?

(sighs)

He's getting worse.

I never seen an animal bite get infected this quickly.

How far do you think it is to help?

Five, six miles, as the crow flies.

I could cover that a lot quicker going solo.

Let's wait till morning.

I'm not sure he has that long.

And if you get lost out there, then what?

Then that's on me.

This group, this entire outing, is my responsibility.

I'm not losing anyone, not on my watch.

Hey, you're not the only one that cares about...

You don't get it. I'm in charge.

Okay.

That means if someone gets hurt, I get help.

If someone's in trouble, I save them.

And if they go missing, I will find them.

I don't give up on people.

Danny, when I went away, it was never about giving up, and it was never about you.

That's just it, isn't it?

It's never about anyone else.

There's no room for supporting players on the Abbie Mills' show.

Well, if you felt that way, why'd you ask me back?

Maybe I didn't want to.

What does that mean?

Let's just say I can't explain everything to you, just like you can't explain everything to me.

I want to be honest with you.

Really.

You know, sometimes we lie to people so much, we forget that we're also lying to ourselves.

I'm going to get help.

You take care of Robbie.

Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome.

We will begin the auction now.

Minimum bid to start at $10,000.

Please, enter your bids now.

And let us begin.

$20,000.

These people even know what this thing is?

Probably not, but it's active.

A lot of what they see is long dead.

People will pay a lot of money for real magic.

Announcer: $30,000.

$100,000.

(crowd murmuring)

$200,000.

(whispering): Hans.

Okay.

(crowd gasping)

Announcer: The bid is one million.

(crowd chattering)

Told you.

I want to steer the boat.

Announcer: Going once... going twice... sold.

Ladies and gentlemen, please return to...

I'm going to go close out.

You keep an eye on our prize.

You bet.

(crowd chattering)

(sighs)

W-w-wait, don't...

Come on.

Let's get this thing out of here.

I felt your call.

(whispering): Despoiled by mortal hands.

Not for long.

Come on, buddy.

Hang in there.

Sophie: Hey...

I think you should see this.

I was looking for stuff we might be able to use.

Pulled away some of the flooring upstairs, and found this.

"Journal of Christopher Dampier."

He was an English trapper.

Worked mostly in the northern territories, until he came down to this area around 1650.

He describes coming with his brother to a village not far from here.

"Thomas and I arrived at Rondout, a Dutch trading post on the banks of the Hudson. The villagers have recently endured a terrible calamity, an att*ck by a devilish creature. A creature they call... the Verslinder."

"The beast felled nearly two score before the Dutch were able to capture it. The townsfolk paid us handsomely to dispose of the monstrosity. Our plan was to toss the creature into the bowels of the earth..."

(whinnies)

(screeching)

(screaming)

"After the accident, we managed to complete the mission and seal up the beast. But on the return trip, Thomas deteriorated quickly. And despite my utmost ministrations, my brother expired. Then a most disturbing event occurred. Like a twisted, demonic Lazarus... Thomas rose again."

(screeching)

"Thomas rose again"?

"There is no end."

That's what it said on the stones.

What if that wasn't about the monster?

What if that was about the victims?

Robbie?

(growling)

(screeching)

(growling)

I mean, he hasn't fully transformed yet.

It's the only reason why we were able to subdue him.

So, he'll get stronger, which means we're running out of time.

There's got to be a way to reverse this process.

Not according to Dampier's journal.

The villagers ended up burning all the bodies.

No one infected survived.

I'm not giving up on him.

Okay.

Then what's the plan?

In the Archives, there's a book.

It describes a creature genus: Morphic monsters.

They are... beings that transform their victims via physical infection.

Like vampires.

Typically, the way to cure the victim is to k*ll the original.

Eliminate the source of infection.

We destroy the Verslinder, we save Robbie.

Mm.

Right.

So, all we have to do is figure out how to k*ll an immortal slime creature with a bad case of worms.

I wish we had some antibiotic cream.

Antibiotics?

What, you think we can defeat this thing with some penicillin?

Something like that.

Oh, okay.

Except we are miles from the nearest drugstore.

In fact, we are miles from anything.

We have no weapons, no reinforcements, and no way of calling for help.

In other words... should be right up my alley.

You should have let me win.

I have a very motivated buyer lined up for that piece, and you know how I hate to disappoint my clients.

Hans, you don't know what this is.

It's dangerous.

I'll take the risk.

All right, how much are you getting for it, man?

I'll double it.

Tempting... but I have my reputation to consider.

Now hand it over.

I suppose I should thank you for recovering my property.

Return what is mine and I may spare your lives.

It's funny how you always end up wanting something from me.

Maybe you should take better care of your stuff.

(g*nshots)

(choking)

(door closes)

You know, certain roots and herbs have natural antibiotic properties.

They can be very effective in getting rid of parasites like worms.

You think that will be potent enough to k*ll the creature?

The way this thing propagates is like a... infectious disease.

And unlike the Dutch at the 1600s, we know how to fight something like that.

It's been a long time since I took survival training, but I am pretty sure that wasn't covered in the course.

Yeah.

In the Catacombs, I learned how to make my own medicine.

Ah.

Mm-hmm...

That means it's ready.

Now all we need is a delivery system.

Remarkable.

I'm so glad you brought this symbol to my attention, Mr. Crane.

This is an incredible discovery.

(muttering)

A-and where did you say you found this?

Oh, it's, uh... family heirloom.

Passed down through generations.

Well, it's unlike anything I've seen.

A form of bronze, though it dates back before the Bronze Age.

It's warm to the touch, almost as if it has its own power.

Power?

What sort of power?

Might be a function of its binary nature.

Oh, well, you do know it's two pieces?

Uh...

Some metals are known to pair, like poles of a magnet.

When joined together, they can create energy.

Never underestimate the power of a natural bond.

(chuckles)

(phone buzzing)

Ooh, um...

Excuse me.

Yes.

This tablet could hold the key to our mission as Witnesses.

(screeching)

(panting)

Mr. Crane?

Are you okay?

Uh...

My partner... she is in trouble.

Your partner?

Wh-Where is she?

(whispering): I have no idea.

Come on, Pandora can't be that far behind.

We can't outrun her.

She's psychically linked to that thing.

Got to find a way to shield it or...

(choking)

Jen!

Hey.

Let her go!

No longer will I tolerate anyone's meddling!

My power is my own, and no one will take it from me ever again.

(choking)

(grunts)

Here, take it, just let her...

(grunting)

(groans)

(panting)

(in deep voice): What's happening to me?

You are a creature of darkness.

(screams)

(snarling)

You have been hiding it from yourself, but you cannot hide it from the Box.

This is your true form.

No!

(screams)

(shouts)

(roaring)

(coughing)

Joe!

(grunts)

Joe...

Joe!

Joe.

(groans)

Hey, hey.

Go away.

No. Not a chance.

Look... both times it att*cked, it waited until its target was isolated.

Okay, so we split up.

You go north.

You encounter it, you call me.

All right.

Trust me, if I find it, you'll hear me.

(whispering): Quick and nimble.

Quick and nimble.

(sighs)

Quick and nimble...

(faintly): Quick and nimble.

(screeching)

(screeching)

(screeching)

(grunts)

Sophie!

He's heading your way!

(screeching)

I lost it!

(screeching)

(screeching continues)

(g*nsh*t)

Well...

The answer to this might be self-evident, but... how is your survival exercise?

We survived.

So, you could see me just by touching the symbol?

Not only that, I could feel your presence, as if I were in the very room with you.

And that's how you found us?

No, once I saw you in peril, I needed to determine a way to locate you.

Fortunately, I had taken several artifacts to the doctor's laboratory, including...

The Blavatsky Map.

Able to track demonic presence.

I simply followed it to the creature that bedeviled you.

Crane... if the symbol works with the tablet of Witnesses, and it was able to help you...

Then it may not be an implement of evil.

It may be a tool for our cause.

A very powerful tool.

The symbol is not evil.

Sophie: Hey...

Robbie's a lot better. No more worms.

Oh, good, I'm sure he'll be very grateful for your help.

Yeah.

I'll go get our gear.

Hey, um... you were right about something.

Um... supernatural brought a lot of good people into my life.

And I don't just mean Crane.

Thanks.

(sighs)

Lieutenant?

Are you all right?

It's the symbol, Crane.

This whole time I thought I was succumbing to darkness, and... it's not at all what we thought it was.

I know, it is confusing.

We thought the symbol was tormenting you, when, in fact, it was here to help us.

But...

'tis an invaluable lesson.

Sometimes the things we think will hurt us will actually save us.

Thanks.

You are welcome.

Hospital called, says Robbie's gonna be fine.

He doesn't remember much, which is probably for the best.

You and Foster did a great job keeping him alive.

You made the right call in going for help.

Danny... (sighs)

I did a lot of thinking when I was away.

I came to see that there are things missing in my life.

I got friends and family, you know, but I don't have, like... what we had... and because of the way that my life is, I may never have that... and figuring that out is scary.

And having this conversation... is scary.

So, I'm gonna tell you that I... don't think of us as something in the past tense.

And I never will.

Thank you for telling me the truth.

The truth...

For the longest time, I thought that the truth was dangerous, and it still can be, but... now I'm starting to know that the thing that we think will hurt us may actually save us.

Where'd you put it?

Somewhere safe.

Neither you nor Pandora should be able to sense it.

(sighs)

We should have seen this coming.

Pandora's box summons monsters, and I'm a monster.

You are not a monster.

As long as we keep you away from that Box...

No, that Box isn't the problem.

The problem is that the Wendigo is still inside me.

You could get hurt.

Hey, no, no, no, that's not gonna happen.

Okay?

Remember, you're in control.

You.

Joe Corbin.

And Joe Corbin is someone I trust with my life.

Hidden One: They dared to lay a hand upon you?

The humans?

He was not human.

He had seeds of darkness within him.

He is a creature of chaos.

I thought their kind heeded your word.

Only when my Box and power are complete.

My abilities are at a low ebb.

This situation must be addressed.

(whispering): Yes.

Yes.

(sighs)

I must destroy the Witnesses.

My love?

Your failure has made my path clear.

You let the mortals get the better of you at every turn.

So now, I must do what should have been done long ago.