03x03 - I Awake

[bunniefuu]

Previously on
Van Helsing...

Good evening. I'm Edward Hawkins,
and this is my wife.

Lillian Van Helsing.

Give this to our daughter
for safe keeping.

That's so strange.
She looks like she d*ed yesterday.

These other Elders,
tell me about them.

There are others that guard the pathway
to the Dark One.

They have some thing. A totem.

- Is that right?
- Yes.

- My totem!
- Get back!

Give it back to me. It's mine.

She must have fought the B'ah
at some point in her short life.

- What's the B'ah?
- Oh, not what, but who.

The B'ah is one of the great Elders
you will face

and for that,
there is much you don't understand.

- Then teach me.
- Better still, I will show you.

Damn robe!

- Wake me up!
- Please, Lady Van Helsing!

Who's this, huh?
Tired of pretending to be Susan?

My lady, I-I was merely
unpacking your weapons

your trunk! Please don't strike me
with that vase!

If you're not,
then how do you know my name?

I am your new servant, my lady. Siobhan.

Are you saying you don't remember me,
Miss Lily?

What did you call me?

Apologies, Lady Van Helsing,
I should not address you so informally.

What have you done?

The lengthy journey's left you
quite out of sorts, my lady.

- It's to be expected, I suppose.
- I want this to end now.

My lady, would you mind terribly if I got up?
I can fetch a tonic to ease your anxiety.

Where are we?

When?

We arrived in Hong Kong by steamer
just this morning.

By now it must be, uh... quarter past two.

The year.

Should I send for a doctor, my lady?

If you don't mind me sayin',
your behaviour is quite peculiar.

1896!

June the 14th as I do recall. Really, ma'am,
you're making me truly anxious.

What colour is my hair? What do you see?

Strawberry blonde, like it's always been.

If this is just a dream, then why am I her?

Why here?

This is my doing.

You asked for a laudanum to help you sleep

I must have mixed it too strong
and now it's caused you these delusions.

- So, I'm Lily Van Helsing?
- Indeed, my lady.

Proud granddaughter
of Abraham Van Helsing and...

third generation vampire hunter.

So this is...

The Elder, he said I had something to learn.
That the past informs the futures.

But I couldn't have travelled in time.

The Elder, is that one of the vampires
we're here to k*ll?

Vampires? Here?

Oh, it is coming back to you.
That is why you brought your weapons.

You received a telegram.

You told me to keep it a secret but
I must say, this is all terribly exciting.

Never had a job quite like it.

Lily Van Helsing, 1896.

China.

Oh, thank goodness
the fog's clearing for you.

Not a moment too soon.

For what?

Tea.

With the governor's wife?

- Mrs Fauntleroy?
- What a great pleasure to meet you.

I am Agnes.

May I call you Lily?

Mm-hmm.

I do apologise for requesting
you meet me here. Oh!

A journey through the shanties by rickshaw
can leave one rather... disoriented.

But...

Dòjeh.

To the matter at hand.

I am here quite covertly
at the request of Master Tsui

a Chinese gentleman

who apparently has ominous
and important things to share with you.

- Why?
- Oh, come, my dear.

We've never met but I do know your secret.

After all, my maiden name is Seward.

My father was a faithful servant
to your grandfather, Abraham

and although I've never seen one myself,
I've heard many tales of vampires

and of your family's efforts to purge them.

When Master Tsui heard you were due
to arrive in Hong Kong

he revealed to me quite in confidence

that he, too, knows of vampires.

So they're here, even now.

Perhaps this is where they began.

Maybe that's what I'm here to find out.

Recently there have been reports of bodies
drained of all their blood

one found just this morning
in an alley off the market.

The locals assume it had something to do
with botched attempts to cure the outbreak

of bubonic plague.

- Plague?
- Oh, surely you've heard of it.

In Chicago.

Oh, terrible death toll.

But with all the fatalities,
it makes a perfect cover

for the vampires to hide their victims.

Mmm.

So, where might I find this Master Tsui?

Well, he has a curious little shop
in Tai Ping Shan.

Ooh.

You will find him here.

Do you trust this Master Tsui?

I don't trust anything.

Yet, here I am.

And what about these vampires?

They're likely...

different than any you've
encountered before.

Yeah, I think that's
the whole point, it's...

it's like the history of vampires
being played out

- in my subconscious.
- Your what, m'lady?

Never mind.

Once you're ready,
I should be able to create a distraction

that will allow you to slip away.

Slip away from what?

From who...

not what.

- Who the hell are you?
- I beg your pardon?

Of course. Lily was married.

Why are you speaking in third person?

Are you feeling unwell again?

It is my fault, sir.
I gave m'lady some sleeping medicine...

I beg you, Siobhan,
do not make excuses for my wife.

I distinctly overheard the two of you
discussing an escape.

Does this have something
to do with vampires?

What do you know about it?

Other than this strange delusion of yours
that such things are real

flatly nothing, but...

I'd rather thought you'd put these
silly fantasies behind you.

We cannot afford a relapse, Lily.
I need you to maintain a grasp on reality.

You looked at me just now as though
you'd never laid eyes on me before.

I'm feeling a little disoriented.

Well, then might I suggest
you take some time to recover

gather yourself.

- You're of no use to me in a state like this.
- Use?

We are having dinner with Cyril Abernathy.

The head of the East Asia Trading Company.

Sometimes I wonder what gets into you,
this headstrong nature.

- I had hoped it would be tamed.
- Tamed?

Like an animal?

Please, Lily. Let us avoid
the suffragette debate again, shall we?

I cannot have you embarrass yourself or me
with talk of vampires tonight.

I think it would be best
for you to remain here.

As you wish.

Well, I must say, Abernathy

- I am rather looking forward to this evening.
- Yes, Edward.

Oh, um, is your wife not coming with us?

Unfortunately, no.

She has been rather overwhelmed
by the journey.

- You know how fragile women can be.
- Yes, indeed, yes.

- Well, shall we?
- Yes.

Sorry, excuse me...

I see you.

Come out.

Madam Van Helsing.

I've been expecting you.

I am Master Tsui.

Master Tsui.

- How do I know that's who you really are?
- Mrs Fauntleroy.

You received my message?

- That thing just disappeared. What was it?
- A Goeng Si.

Also known as a shadow walker.
Very dangerous.

We should not linger here.
More will come with the darkness.

So these shadow walkers
are servants to a B'ah?

Yes.

Ancient type of vampire. Very dangerous.

They move faster
than the human eye can track.

Hide in shadows.

You said they've changed. How?

Shadow walkers were rarely seen
inside the city.

They kept mostly to the countryside
where it was easier to feed.

Small villages.
People disappear, never investigated.

But now they're in Hong Kong.

Why?

I believe it has something to do
with the outbreak.

Bubonic plague.

Yes.

Tens of thousands dead.
Mostly Chinese, outside the city.

If the illness spoils the blood...

Then they'd risk coming to the city
for a clean supply.

Exactly so.

You Van Helsings have superior instincts.

What do you know about my family?

Only that you share similar ambitions
to my own.

It is why I wanted us to meet.

But now that you are here, I am concerned.

You do not seem ready.

This is starting to sound like
a bad kung-fu movie.

- What is a movie?
- Doesn't matter.

What I really care about is that spear
you just picked up.

Didn't think I'd notice?

I was counting on it.

So is that why I'm here?
So you can train me up?

And the idea of that amuses you?

Actually, it's pretty insulting.

Your fighting style is fuelled by anger.

Anger works.

Not if it blinds you to your true purpose.

Now, calm yourself and we will begin again.

Good.

Good.

Remain focused.
Do not let your anger consume you.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. "Wax on, wax off," right?

You like to speak in riddles,
but they only mask your uncertainty.

I'm done with this "sensei, Yoda" sh*t.

You're lucky I didn't knock you on your ass.

But instead you controlled your temper.

Maybe you can be taught after all.

This taxes you.

Perhaps a rest will bring you clarity.

Go. Please.

The only clarity I need is
where the B'ah is, so I can k*ll it.

Or be k*lled.

Thank my stars, I was so worried!
Lord Edward is on his way up.

- So?
- They can't see you like this.

Help me get out of these clothes.

Lily, are you decent?

Get the sword! Get the sword!

Did I wake you?

Something terrible has happened.

Come downstairs when you're dressed.

Cyril Abernathy's been m*rder*d.

It makes no sense.
Why would anyone want to k*ll him?

Unless there was something else
you two were involved in.

He was excited about new clients.
A large shipment to the Americas.

He wanted me
to broker the thing.

Were you the last person
to see him alive?

What is this?
Interrogation by my own wife?

I'm just trying to help.

A little early, isn't it?

My nerves are shattered.
That's reason enough.

What happened after you and Abernathy
parted ways?

We finished dinner a little after midnight.
I took a rickshaw home.

He insisted on walking, damn fool.

What about the police? What are they saying?

"Wealthy Westerner falls prey
to murderous Chinese thieves."

They ripped open his neck.

Drained his blood?

And what would you know of it?

Oh, allow me to guess.
You suspect m*rder by vampire.

Please spare me your hysterical nonsense.

This is a serious matter
you cannot fully comprehend.

Try me.

Let me look at your paperwork, see if I can
figure out who Abernathy...

My God, lady, who do you think you are,
Sherlock Holmes?

- You need to calm down.
- You need to know your place!

I'll tie up my affairs
and make arrangements for us to travel home.

You're right, my dear. This...
this must be very distressing for you.

Quite.

Why don't you have another drink...

and a little lie down?

- No, but I must...
- I insist.

Let me take care of you,
the way any good wife would.

Have Siobhan pack your things.

I'll make arrangements, book travel for us
to get out of this godforsaken place.

Bottoms up.

Thank you, Lily, dear,
for coming to your senses.

You are...

I think I'll have that lie down after all.

I'm... I'm not feeling quite myself.

Mm, that makes two of us.

- My goodness, my lady, what have you done?
- Bought myself some time.

I don't think that Abernathy's death
was a coincidence.

It might even have something to do with
why I'm here.

Here it is, East Asia Trading Company.

What are you up to?

Coming here was a mistake.

Not my choice.

I had to meet the B'ah.

Now I have.

You think that I am the B'ah?

You are not worthy of our time.

Why don't you take me to her?
Let her decide.

She has acquired a taste
for Western blood, as have I.

So what are you waiting for?

- You are not what you seem.
- No sh*t.

You can't defeat me.

You cannot k*ll what you cannot see.

Then come out.

As you wish.

Strike where he is not.

- You are wounded.
- I'll heal.

- Only with stitches.
- What're you doing here?

I was fortunate. Tracked Yang Shih.

He led me to this place.

Yang Shih? Is that the name of
the thing I just k*lled?

We k*lled. Yes.

Second to the B'ah.

- Very...
- Dangerous?

And also very dead.

What was it doing? Burning all these papers?

Covering tracks.

"East Asia Trading Company."

What would a vampire care about this for?

They k*lled the man in charge last night.
Maybe they're involved in something together.

They care only for blood
and keeping themselves safe.

What could a mortal provide in that regard?

You must attend to that injury.

I told you, I'll...

heal.

I'm not healing...?

That's because I'm a...

You are what?

We need to find the B'ah.
She's the answer to all this.

I will find out what I can.
Send word once I do.

In the meanwhile...

please.

You are clearly blessed, my lady.

One inch to the left
and it would have cut the artery.

I need to remember who I am.
What my weaknesses are.

I am a seamstress, not a surgeon.

I'll take another sh*t of that whiskey.

This all feels so real.

The burn of the booze,
the sting of the wound.

What do you mean?
It is real and still bleeding.

Mm... Just do it.

I-I'm sorry.

I've felt worse.

If... if you don't mind me sayin',
m'lady...

there's something
about you that's different.

The-the way you talk,
the language you use.

It seems as though you're...

Somebody else?

Yeah, that might be close to the truth.

- And a vampire did this to you?
- Yeah.

I must say, I'm...

I'm a little envious.

Of getting hurt?

No, no...

The adventure of it all.

The way you, as a woman,
are embracing danger.

Fighting against evil.

I wish I could know what that felt like.

One day, a long time from now,
women will have power.

A voice.

We'll chart our own courses
and make our own decisions.

Really?

When on Earth will that be?

What the devil is going on here?
What happened to your neck?

- It's not what you think.
- Who did this to you?

Have you been...

Oh, this is so much worse than I thought.

- You don't understand.
- Sadly, my dear, I think I do.

- The doctors warned me of a relapse.
- Relapse?

Of your psychosis, my dear.
This desperate delusion that affects you.

And now, to make things more real,
you have hurt yourself.

This is my fault. It's my fault.

I never should have brought you here.

I need you to recover, Lily,
so we can start a family as we planned.

I cannot lose you.

Uh, there's, um...
there's some things I need to explain.

I'm not who you think I am.

No, Lily.

I cannot hear anymore.

I blame you for keeping the severity
of this from me.

For indulging my wife.

- Sir...
- Now, you listen to me!

She is to be kept here until our departure
tomorrow morning.

No more flights of fancy, no more escapades,
and no more sword, is that clear?

Anything else happens to her
and I will hold you responsible.

Edward, wait.

I...

A message came, sir. For your wife.

Whoever this Master Tsui is,
he's feeding my wife's delusion.

I will put a stop to this once and for all.

Those women are not to leave that bedroom
under any circumstances, understood?

Yes, sir.

I'll break the window.

Mr Edward has left a guard.
He will surely hear.

Well, then let's give him something
to listen to.

Edward!

Siobhan! Come on.

Oh! I must say, this is all so exciting!

What now?

If Edward read this,
he's heading into something he can't handle.

We should make chase
before anything unfortunate happens to...

No, you're staying here.
It's far too dangerous.

Dangerous?

Isn't that exactly what Lord Edward
would say?

"Such a frail and naive woman."

Fine, but you're staying outside.

- How can you be sure?
- Yang Shih.

I examined his body more carefully
after you left.

Black opium tar underneath the fingernails.

Stay here.

This is what they have been doing
to feed in secrecy and darkness

luring victims to them with the dr*gs.

- What about the other murders?
- That part I have not yet uncovered.

Something else.

Edward, he intercepted the note
before I got it.

Ah. I pray we are not too late.

Now I fear my wife has gone quite mad.

Something to do with a local gentleman.

He directed her to here.
I wonder if you might help me to locate him.

What is his name?

I believe it is a... Master Tsui.

I know him only too well.

What is his connection to your wife?

I'm not really sure...

but I intend to find out.

All her ramblings about vampires.

What of them?

I blame my wife's malady
on her wretched ancestry.

Generations of delusion passed down
by those damned Van Helsings.

If the B'ah can take any form,
how do we know who it is?

I fear we need look no further.

East meets West.

Two legacies of vampire K*llers.

I should be quite afraid.

You know who I am?

I know of your kind, spawn of Abraham.

Years ago, he nearly took my head.

And now here you are.

Here to finish what he didn't.

I doubt that.

No!

Impressive... for a mortal.

I'm a little more than that.

You bleed like a human, but there is
something different about you...

I can sense it.

Why don't you come a little closer?

I think I will wait...

for the poison to start to take effect.

We are outnumbered,
and you are in grave danger from the poison.

- We should retreat.
- Lily?

What're you doing here?

You run, he dies. Slowly.

Unless you die first.

We cannot save both him and yourself.

No, he doesn't die. He can't.

Ten years from now,
he signs Lily's committal papers

to Renfield House.

The poison. You are becoming delirious.

There is only one cure.

No, unless somehow...
him dying wakes me from this dream.

A dream?

Then you, too, are not really here?

Are you someone else?

This is a reverie...
created by another Elder. Why?

So I could learn how to destroy you.

But if we die here,
what happens to us in reality?

Only one way to find out.

No escape now.

Do not let the rage consume you.

Channel it. Control it.

Only light can drive out darkness.

Light. Light...

We need light.

I am certain we will meet again

but next time, not in dreams.

Edward.

How can such monsters be real?

The dark sleep.
Her kind take it for hundreds of years.

That is why the shipping company...
Abernathy.

She's trying to leave China.
Some place safer so she can return

and hunt again in my time.

I don't understand.

But... know this.

Only the blood of the B'ah
can stop the poison.

You are so much more than I realised,
Lily Van Helsing.

I'm sorry I doubted you.

From this day forth, I swear I will help you
as much as I can.

Rest now, you.

Did you find anything?

My husband acquired the shipment manifest
for the harbour.

Indeed, there is a freighter
leaving this evening.

A dozen unusual crates
from the East Asia Trading Company.

Headed where?

San Francisco.

- We have to stop that ship.
- I'm afraid...

we are already too late.

You made it back?

Not what you were expecting?

How long was I gone for?

Blink of an eye.

That's not...

But now you know.
Did you see it? The B'ah?

Its totem?

Did you claim it?

Not exactly.

But I know where it is.

- Let's go.
- Where?

San Francisco.

That's where it went all these years ago.

And what will you do if you find it?

You know what I'll do.

But first, you.

I'm gonna do what you asked.

I'm gonna release you from your obligation
to the Van Helsings.

You are too kind.

And wise.

Yes, wise enough to know
that you were hoping

I wouldn't return from that vision.

No, I...

- I was sworn to...
- Obey me, yes.

Until I release you or I die.

If you couldn't do it,
you were hoping the B'ah could.

- My mother told me to destroy these.
- No, you must not. It's mine.

The more Elders there are,
the greater chance I'll be betrayed.

I release you.