05x12 - Descent

[bunniefuu]

[title music playing]

[chiming]

[footsteps approaching]

[screams]

Ah!

Ah!

[whistle blowing]

[Inspector]
With all due respect, Doctor,

I still can't believe
that these sinister goings-on
in Whitechapel

are the work
of a man in his 60s.

I mean, be serious, Dr. Xavier!

You must believe me, Inspector!

Dr. Nathaniel Essex

is responsible
for these crimes!

Every person
who has seen this butcher

agrees that he's a younger man.

And I can't credit
a man of science

with these inhuman atrocities!

Essex isn't human, Inspector!

Not anymore.

And after tracking him
round the world

for half my life,

I begin to think

he never was!

[whinnying]

Whoa!

Hey, move this wagon
out of the way!

Now, Doctor, how is it you know
this mad doctor, Essex?

I first became aware
of his obsessions

in the year of our lord, 1859,

while in the employ
of Lord Grey,

his patron and father-in-law.

Essex had been fascinated

with the theories
of Charles Darwin.

In particular,
the groundbreaking work
assembled

-in hisOrigin of Species.
-[yawns]

[Darwin]
And therefore, I am convinced

that natural selection
has been the main,

but not exclusive means

of species modification.

I open the floor for questions.

[audience clamoring]

Mr. Darwin,

while your theory may explain

diversity in the lower animals,

how can your natural selection

account for the human soul?

Were we not created
in God's own image?

I have not, uh,

as yet, applied

my observations to mankind.

Though I may do so
at some future point.

[man]
But, Mr. Darwin,

shouldn't natural selection
operate

within any
naturally occurring population,

be it animal, vegetable
or man himself?

Yes, yes, quite right.

And, given that
we have removed ourselves

from the mechanisms
of natural selection,

isn't mankind overdue

for the next evolutionary step?

[Darwin]
No, no, not at all.

Man is still
in direct competition
with his fellows,

and thus subject
to natural selection.

Uh, yes, you had a question.

Mr. Darwin,
I am Dr. Nathaniel Essex.

Ah, a pleasure, Doctor.

Gentlemen, I wanted
to speak to you
about my own research.

I have made
detailed observations

on mutated humans,

incorporating
some of your theories.

I must caution you,
these are dangerous times

for free-thinking
men of science.

I shall very much look forward
to reading it

when you publish it, sir.

But I have irrefutable evidence

to back up my claims.

And I'm sure
with your support...

In light
to the lukewarm reception

my theories received here, sir,

I believe it is I

who am in need of your support.

-Thank you, sir.
-Be patient, my boy.

And discreet.
[coughs]

[Essex]
Oh, Mr. Darwin,

may I present
Dr. James Xavier,

family physician to Grey Hall.

So, Dr. Xavier,

do you believe me a heretic

or merely a madman?

I have the utmost respect
for your early work, sir,

but natural selection

seems to deny
the divine hand in creation.

[chuckles]
Heretic it is, then.

[coughs]

Gentlemen, if you'll excuse me.

But I grow weary
of this debate.

How is Rebecca faring?

If my wife's condition
has changed at all,

it is for the worse.

-Will you be coming by
to check on her this evening?
-Of course,

[Xavier]
Though Essex was qualified

to treat his wife's disorder,

it was considered
improper then, as now,

for a physician to treat
members of his own family.

James, can you give me
any good news

about my daughter?

Not as yet, sir.

But I'm confident my treatments

will prove effective in time.

Treatments?
Why can't you admit

you haven't the slightest idea

what's wrong with my wife?

You insult me, sir!

No, I...

Please forgive me, my friend.

My frustration
got the better of me.

I understand.

Lack of sleep, I expect.

I bid you goodnight.

It is his work
that worries me, sir.

I tell you, his ideas
verge on blasphemy.

I understand.

But he is my son-in-law.

And one of the few things
that bring a smile

to my daughter's lips.

[Xavier]
Though I dared not admit it,

Rebecca's illness
confounded me.

Rebecca, darling,

I need another sample
of your blood.

Am I your wife,

or your guinea pig?

You are the most
precious thing

in all the world to me.

And that is why I must do

everything within my power

to make you well.

[Xavier]
Essex's laboratory

was located in an asylum

-for the physically infirm...
-[knocking]

...on the west end
of the estate.

As director of the asylum,

Essex took in
those poor unfortunates

who, through some accident
of birth,

could not function
in normal society.

Disreputable procurers
knew he would pay well.

So they aided him

in seeking out
these curiosities

in the traveling carnivals
and dumb shows,

where they were obliged
to earn their keep.

I shall never forget
the day I arrived,

along with Darwin,

to witness the unveiling

of Essex's great work.

You've caught me in good health

and high spirits, Dr. Essex.

We're all most eager to hear
of your discoveries.

And so you shall, gentlemen.

Please, step this way.

As you know, my interest lies

not in the gradual mutations

that occur over millennia,

but in the leaps
that manifest themselves

in a single generation.

Gentlemen,
allow me to introduce you

to the men of tomorrow.

Mr. Fuente.

You will, no doubt,

recognize the electroscope,

a device
for demonstrating the effect

of an electromagnetic charge.

Mr. Flannery, if you please.

Dr. Essex, I am speechless.

I came today expecting

some minor breakthrough
in biology,

and instead,

you insult these learned men

with parlor tricks
and quackery!

But, but...

Now if you'll excuse me,
Doctor,

I have no time
for such foolishness!

No! Wait!

I have discovered
the mechanisms

of heredity!

In time, I shall bring an end

to hereditary disorders

to all disease!

Man shall at last possess

complete mastery
over his own body!

We shall become more than men!

We shall be Gods!

Good heavens!

You're quite mad!

Fools!

You blind old fools!

You require proof?

I'll provide you with proof!

In abundance!

I shall show you,

I shall show the world!

But I don't see
what that's got to do

with the butchery here
in the East End.

[Xavier]
That's only
half the tale, Inspector.

Please, if you could just...

Well, Doctor,
do you still think

this is the work
of a slighted scientist?

He has altered nature itself.

I believe the creature
responsible for this outrage

to be the result
of this man's

sinister experiments.

Inspector, I implore you

to accompany me
to Mansell Street!

This may be a chance to stop

the most diabolical madman

the world has ever known!

I shall finish the tale
as we ride.

After his expulsion
from the Royal Society,

Essex became
even more obsessed
with his research.

But still he met with failure
after failure.

As time passed,

he grew more reclusive.

Eccentric.

A fanatic.

Stories of strange goings-on

at the Grey Hall Asylum

circulated around Parliament

and made their way
into the papers.

Essex and Lord Grey

became estranged,

while Rebecca's condition
worsened.

Even the most
advanced techniques
of medical science

were to no avail.

And though Essex still fought
to save Rebecca,

his growing fascination

with human mutation

became all consuming.

Yes!

Yes!

I've done it!

[laughing triumphantly]

Mad, am I, Darwin?

Fool!

You are a mere spectator
to creation,

while I,

I have become

the creator!

[laughing maniacally]

Excellent.

I feel like a new man!

What...
what are you doing to us?

Have no fear, my friends.

With these transfusions,

you shall become more than men!

Much more!
[gasps]

Remarkable!

Not even a blister!

[laughs]

[Xavier]
I don't understand it.

Other than a slight pallor,
your daughter is making

quite an amazing recovery,
Lord Grey.

[giggles]

What is it, my dear?

He made me promise
not to tell you.

I-I suppose
it doesn't really matter now.

Nathaniel has been
giving me treatments!

He's been what?

What kind of treatments?

No professional jealousy,
James.

You said yourself
my recovery was amazing!

How dare he!

That arrogant, insolent
little jumped-up pipsqueak!

Sir, I think we'd best

not disturb Rebecca

at this critical stage.

[Lord Grey]
James, you must speak
with Essex.

Perhaps he'll listen to you!

We must learn what that madman
has given to my daughter!

Essex! It's Xavier.

Please, I must speak with you.

Very well, James.

Do come in.

Dr. Essex, I--

I am no longer a doctor, James.

Tell me, do they speak
of me still

at the Royal Society?

Indeed. They speak of...

sinister experiments

you are rumored to perform.

Sinister.

I'll have to remember that

when Queen Victoria knights me.

After you.

[all moaning]

This is your asylum?

Ah!

Thus out of small beginnings,

greater things
have been produced.

Please, sir, no more!

Good lord, man!

Even animals don't deserve
such treatment!

And the treatment
they'd receive
outside these walls

would be better?

Release these poor creatures!

At once!

They are unfinished, Doctor.

[Essex]
I cannot allow you to do this!

Ah!

Ah!

[grunts]

You truly have gone mad.

I am not mad!

[all clamoring]

[grunting]

I won't let you stop me, James.

[grunts]

[all shouting]

It is over, Nathaniel!

No! My work!

My subjects!

-What are you...
-[Essex] Don't go!

My children! No!

[all shouting]

[whinnying]

[whinnying]

Demons!

Spawn of the Devil himself!

They appeared
from the darkness,

demons spewing
the fires of Hades!

[stammering]
I didn't mean to.

Flannery, Vochek!

-My children!
-[whinnying]

[people clamoring]

[Man]
Get him!

[Flannery]
I'm frightened, Lord.

Why do you forsake me so?

If you truly have mercy,

deliver me from this.

Oh!
[crying]

Please don't hurt me, sir.

The lord cares
for all his creatures.

Why do you believe
he has forsaken you?

I only wanted to find work

so I could send money back

to my family in Ireland.

The... the famine.
We... we... [crying]

I'm not going to hurt you.

My name is James Xavier.
I'm a doctor.

No! No, no, t-that's what
the other one said!

I'm nothing like that madman!

I want to help you.

What's your name?

Flannery, sir. Thomas Flannery.

[people clamoring]

There's one of them! Demon!

Stay where you are!

Listen to me!

That's Dr. Xavier!

Let him speak!

This man is no demon!

He's a monster!

No! He is different, true!

Born with abilities
that may frighten us.

But he had no choice
in the matter.

Any more than we choose
the color of our eyes.

The true monsters

walk amongst us undetected.

There is your monster.

Nathaniel Essex!

Essex!

That madman at Grey Hall!

Butcher!

-Heretic!
-No! Stay away from me.

What in blazes!

Fools!

Who are you to judge me?

[people gasping]

[all shouting]

What is going on?

The noise!

My dear, we must flee at once
to the continent.

What is this all about? Ah!

You're hurting me!

Ah!

What have you done to yourself?

The treatments.

[gasps]

What have you done to me?

Do not fear, my darling.

Together we shall be
the Adam and Eve

of a new genesis.

[all shouting angrily]

Rebecca! Rebecca!

[whinnying]

[Xavier]
The mob's justice was swift.

Nothing would spare
their vengeance.

Essex was gone.

His laboratory and notes
destroyed in the fire.

All I could find in the rubble

was the madman's journal.

Lord Grey spent
his remaining years

quietly working on behalf

of the mutant humans
of London.

Most of whom disappeared
into the sewers.

Rebecca never spoke
another word.

[thunder rumbling]

As for myself,

I traveled the world

in search of Essex,

chronicling the carnage

left by
his terrible experiments

by his unfortunate "new men."

And here my search has ended.

I've tracked Essex

to the upstairs flat.

Let's go, men!

I got the samples
you wanted, Dr. Essex.

Jack, you fool!

I told you
I wanted this one alive!

I gave you life, Jack.

Do you doubt I could undo
my own creation?

Sorry, Dr. Essex.

Essex is no more.

From this day forward,

you shall address me

as Mr. Sinister!

I do not understand.

[Essex laughing maniacally]

A final taunt.

I fear now

I shan't catch him

in my lifetime.

But if I cannot,

then I pray
that someone else can.

[Essex laughing maniacally]

[theme music playing]