02x32 - The Hound of Ulster

[bunniefuu]

GOLIATH: 1, 000 years ago, superstition and the sword ruled.

It was a time of darkness.

It was a world of fear.

It was the age of gargoyles.

Stone by day, warriors by night.

We were betrayed by the humans we had sworn to protect, frozen in stone by a magic spell for 1, 000 years.

Now, here in Manhattan, the spell is broken and we live again.

We are Defenders of the Night.

We are gargoyles!

ELISA: Previously on Gargoyles...

Yes, this time you can come.

Who is this guy?

Tom was a friend to my clan, when friends were all too few.

[CHUCKLES] Bronx seems to like him.

Since we arrived upon the island all those years ago, Avalon has been completely deserted.

Gabriel, goodbye.

Goodbye all of you.

Good luck.

[POLICE SIREN WAILING]

[YELPS WITH EXCITEMENT]

Told ya they'd never catch us.

[PANTING]

Aye, it was close, though.

[PANTING]

The police are as thick as two planks.

I don't know why I even bother nicking things anymore.

It's too easy to get away.

Still beats watching telly, listening to your da tell ya...

Oh, please. I've had more than enough of him going on about

"me lack of motivation ."

What's to be motivated for?

Here I am, done with school, and I don't know a trade.

Not that there's any jobs to be had.

Look at him, 10 years on the dole now.

But I'm supposed to be different somehow.

Ah, there's nothing in Ireland for us.

You ought to get out, Rory.

America, maybe.

With what? Me vast savings?

It's hopeless.

[SIGHS]

I should go.

I'll meet you in the woods tomorrow night.

You'd best get on home.

You don't want to be out too late, anyway.

You might meet the great beast in the dark. Ooh.

The Hound of Ulster?

You been listening to my da?

I've no time for fairy tales, Molly, even when you tell them.

The Hound of Ulster... Sure.

And dwarves made me shoes.

[HOWLS]

[GASPS]

[DISTANT HOWLING]

[GASPS]

[HOWLING]

How atmospheric.

I don't know whether to expect vampires or Sherlock Holmes.

Where do you suppose Avalon's magic has sent us now?

[CONTINUES HOWLING]

Somewhere cold and wet that smells like the bottom of a garbage can?

[SNIFFING]

This odor is from a peat bog.

Could we be in Scotland again?

[BANSHEE WAILING]

[BRONX GROWLS]

I don't think we're in Scotland.

Or Kansas either.

[BANSHEE CONTINUES WAILING]

[WINCING] Got to get away!

[MOANING]

[WHINES]

[BANSHEE WAIL CONTINUES]

I can't fly straight!

[GRUNTS]

[GRUNTING]

[SONG CONTINUES]

Goliath!

[BOTH STRUGGLING]

[SCREAMING]

[GASPS FOR AIR]

[GROWLS]

[BANSHEE WAIL RESUMES]

[SNIFFS]

[GROWLS]

[CHATTER FROM TELEVISION]

You were out late last night.

I don't suppose it had anything to do with you looking for a new job?

Da, did you hear anything last night?

Like someone howling, crying.

Out in the field?

You told me stories once about something that howls like that when there's trouble.

The great beast...

The Hound of Ulster.

Hearing its howl warns of danger.

Seeing it...

Ah, it's, it's just a story these days.

Ah, more likely it was the guard's siren you heard.

News is they were chasing some thieves last night.

They didn't catch them.

Those boys couldn't catch a pig in a bucket.

It's all very well for you to make fun.

What have you done lately that's useful?

You have to make something of yourself!

You can't make something from nothing, Da.

There's no point in tr yin'.

There's nothing to try for.

I'll not hear that kind of talk.

You come of a good family. An old family.

The blood of heroes is in your veins!

There's no heroes anymore!

Only villains, and they've got us all b*at!

Ah, Rory, you always gave up too easy.

[ROARING]

[ROARING]

Elisa! Are you all right?

Nothing wrong that a hot bath won't fix.

How about you two?

Well enough, it appears.

Which is strange, since the last thing I remember is sinking to the bottom of a bog.

Where's Bronx?

No sign of him.

I woke up in here with you two statues, and I've been waiting for sunset.

I have no idea how we got here.

[GRUNTING]

A whole clan of gargoyles could not batter down these walls.

Then what'll we do?

Wait. Someone went to considerable trouble to put us here.

They'll surely return, sooner or later.

Mol? Molly!

[BRONX GROWLS]

Molly?

I'm not up for games tonight!

Where are ya?

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

[GASPS]

Molly, you fair gave me a heart att*ck, you did...

[BRONX GROWLING]

No! No, it can't be...

It's the Hound, the Hound of Ulster!

[BARKS]

[WHIMPERS]

[HOWLS]

[GASPS]

We have company.

I greet you, travelers.

Who are you?

Why have you brought us here?

I am called the Banshee.

Are we in Ireland, then?

The Sheewere of Ireland, in ancient times.

This is Ireland, indeed.

Where is our companion?

The great beast?

He does not matter.

He could tell me nothing of what I desire to know, whereas you may, which is why I saved you from the bog.

Explain.

You have been recently in Avalon.

The scent of its magic is all about you.

There is no reason for anyone to come here from there, except they be sent by Lord Oberon to bring me back.

We've never met Oberon.

Do you think me witless?

The time of the Gathering approaches.

Oberon wants his children to return to Avalon.

But know this, I will not return.

I like it here.

Hey, why would anyone want to leave all this?

Nor will I suffer intruders to my home.

My friend speaks the truth, Banshee.

Avalon's magic did bring us here, but we have no agenda from Oberon.

Enough!

My voice can seduce or mesmerize.

Or bring pain beyond imagining.

If you will not give me the truth freely, I will take it by force.

Tell me now what Oberon plans for me!

[BANSHEE WAILS]

[ALL WINCING]

You will suffer for your slowness to obey!

And the human may do more than suffer, for when the Banshee keens, men die...

[BANSHEE WAILS]

[GROANS]

[WHIMPERS]

[GASPS]

[WHIMPERS]

This can't be happening...

Good boy...

[PANTING]

So you're the terrible hound?

Ugly as the back of a bus, you are.

[GROANS]

Well, you got me into this, me lad.

Can't see how you're going to get me out of it, though.

You want me to ride you?

Well, you're half the size of a horse, why not?

Though I'm a little old for bareback... [SCREAMS]

Ah, there's more to you than meets the eye, that's plain.

[WHINES]

You want me to go with ya?

[BARKS]

[WAILING CONTINUES]

[ALL WINCING]

[BRONX HOWLS]

No! He has found the Hound of Ulster!

Bronx. That was Bronx that made her run.

He'll find a way to free us. I know he will.

[HOWLING]

[BARKING]

Nothing much here.

Never has been, since... Since...

I've got to go there.

I don't know why, but I've got to.

But where is it?

What is it?

Rory? Ah!

Thank heaven you're safe!

I've been half the night looking for you!

What in the...

Molly, you won't believe this, but...

[GROWLS]

Here now! Cut that out!

No!

[WAILS]

[MOANS]

Molly?

Yes and no.

But that can wait...

Be still now, little mortal.

Come quietly with me into the dark.

Come...

[GROANS]

Good morning.

Or good afternoon, rather.

Oh, trying a different schedule, are we?

Stay out all night, sleep all day?

Da, I think I may be...

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Molly, it's you...

And who else would it be?

Hello, Mr. Dugan.

[SCOFFS] Molly.

About last night, you don't recall putting on a foot of height and a yard of hair?

Huh! In your dreams.

I guess.

But I've been dreaming even while I'm awake.

Night before last I saw this giant snake, like a huge worm with teeth.

And last night I saw the Hound of Ulster.

And a mound with stones around it, big as two houses.

Only one place like that around here, Cairn na Chullain.

Cu Chullain's tomb.

Cu Chullain?

It sounds familiar.

An old story, like as not you've heard it in school.

The Hero of Ulster lived nigh on 2,000 years ago and saved Ireland from the Banshee.

I'm going there. Tonight.

Rory, you can't be serious.

Son, I'm as skeptical as the next man, as a rule.

But there are some things in this part of the world it's not wise to tamper with.

I have to go, Da.

I have to follow this thing through.

Then I'm going with ya.

Oh, I'm scared to go, I won't lie.

But I love you, Rory, and I won't let you go alone.

Maybe I should...

No, Da.

Molly was in my dream.

She's part of this.

I think we need to go alone.

Rory, be careful, lad.

I really don't think you should go in there.

There's something important in there, something that belongs to me.

Rory, what do you see?

I'm not sure.

Something from the past, I think.

[VOICE DEEPENS] My past.

How do you know that?

[NORMAL VOICE] I don't know how, but...

The spear...

The Spear of Light...

[VOICE DEEPENS] Gaebolg, the Spear of Light!

Mine again!

And I am Cu Chullain once more!

I strove to prevent this, Cu Chullain.

If not for the Beast you could have lived and d*ed a mortal, never knowing you were the Hero of Ulster reborn.

But you have remembered whose soul lives within you, and such memories are fatal.

So, my ancient enemy, it begins again.

Yes, and now it ends for all time!

[BANSHEE WAILS]

She's going to bring the whole place down!

Look!

[INDISTINCT YELLING]

[WAILING]

You've lived among mortals too long, Cu Chullain.

Your skills have grown rusty.

But mine are as powerful as ever...

[WAILING]

Poor Hero.

It wasn't even a contest.

[BRONX BARKING]

Skills may rust indeed, but true friendship stays bright.

Now, my faithful Hound, we make an end!

[LAUGHS]

Oh, yes, we shall.

But not in this form.

You have forgotten much, Hero of Ulster.

Do you remember Crum-Cruach?

[LAUGHING WICKEDLY]

Crum-Cruach! Deathworm, you are still no more than that. A worm.

But more than enough to deal with a noisy young hero and his little dog, too!

[GROWLS]

[STRUGGLING]

What's that?

It's got Bronx!

More like Bronx has it.

[GROWLING]

[GRUNTS]

[ROARS LOUDLY]

[BANSHEE WAILING]

[WAILING FADES]

[WHINES]

ANGELA: Good boy, Bronx.

I knew you'd save us.

And where did you three come from?

It would take too long to explain.

He's yours, isn't he?

Well, thanks for the loan of him.

I had a dog like him once.

A long time ago, when I was someone special.

It would seem you still are.

Yes. And there's no training schemes for this kind of work, I'd wager.

Not easy, is it?

Being a hero rarely is.

Don't look so smug, Bronx.

Bronx has a right to feel proud of himself.

It's not every day that a land gets one of its old heroes back.

And a land with a hero soon finds other deeds for him to do.

[BRONX HOWLS]