05x03 - Backbone

[bunniefuu]

[TENSE MUSIC]

f*ck, yeah.

Hmm.

The cocaine will help with your exhaustion.

It already is. Wow.

I feel like a locomotive.

- Thank you.
- My pleasure.

It's fantastic for surgery.
It's a veritable wonder drug.

Ah! I'll say.

And it's totally natural and harmless.

From a small little plant found
in the South American highlands.

So, this will keep me awake? Focused?

I use it myself, for long surgeries.

'Cause with a m*rder*r on
the loose, I need to stay alert.

For when you need a pick-me-up.

Or you can drink it if you prefer.

Though it's preferable
to consume it as a tonic,

as it's not very palatable.

[KNOCKING]

Come!

[TENSE MUSIC]

Sir, there's been another m*rder.

- The Widow?
- It looks that way.

The report came from The Echo Tribune.

- From Enid Jenkins.
- About Enid Jenkins...

Is something on that dogged
mind of yours, Detective?

No, sir.

Son, you couldn't keep
a secret from my blind grandma.

Out with it.

I warned you that The Widow
would strike again.

- Oh, you warned me, did you?
- You got it right, once.

Come back to me when you've arrested

as many psychopaths as I have.

Psychopaths...

like Andrew May Sr.?

Because it's looking
an awful lot like you arrested

the wrong man.

Who the f*ck do you think you are,

questioning my police work?

Andrew May Sr.
Was convicted in a court of law.

The evidence I had on that murderous bastard

was a f*ck of a lot more substantial

than your left-handed, poem-writing bullshit

you waste your time on.

You can be sure of that.

Back! Outta the way!

"The five more who did their part,

Five who stopped a woman's heart,

Their justice is a blatant lie,

If they don't confess, the five will die."

[EERIE MUSIC]

Jesus... It's the skin off her back.

[SIGHS]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

The message that preceded this m*rder,

the one delivered directly to Enid,

it mentions "a paper's lies."

- So what? Lies sell papers.
- People are morbid.

Bloodthirsty. Insatiable.

Show me a rag that doesn't
stretch the truth.

Of course. But my point is that The Widow

is communicating directly with us.

And the common denominator
amongst all these messages

is Margaret Mehar.

So, what lies did Enid
tell about her m*rder?

Only Enid knows.

Sir, if this is what
The Widow will do to someone

who merely printed details on the case,

imagine what she'll do
to the man who solved it?

- Nah. I was just...
- I was just doing my job.

Sir, this message speaks about justice.

And you are justice in this city.

We have to accept the fact
that your life is in danger.

Do whatever it takes.

All your fancy profile stuff,

I don't care what, just get me targets.

Guys I can shakedown.

We need this evil creature locked up

before they can strike again.

[SHOUTING]

Ms. Verdi, are you awake?

Can you hear me?

[VENETIA]: Poor thing.

I cannot believe she would
do this to herself.

Self-flagellation,

all because she was caught alone
with a man in the house.

A frenzy of religious guilt.

We could barely stop her.

It's a good thing you didn't
get hurt in the process.

What I worry about, Dr. Israel is...

could this behavior be indicative

of something much more concerning?

Is she mentally ill?

No.

But what if this Vesuvius
of guilt is because

she invited this man...

into her bed.

Our dear father, may God rest his soul,

left us one final request.

To marry our pure sister to a good husband.

But...

if she were not quite so pure...

You can see how that would prove difficult.

They check, you know. In some cultures.

Can give us the room?

Unconscious or not, your sister
deserves her privacy.

Oh, yes, 'course.

We're in your debt.

After seven tours of five continents,

I can attest that you, Mrs. Simcoe,

are one of the most powerful
mediums I have ever encountered.

I am no medium. I had no control

over what was happening.

Ah, and this is why we need each other.

For all we know, I was just suffering

from nervous exhaustion.

No.

I can verify how real it was.

I have devoted my life
to searching the known

and unknown world for the answers

to the greatest mysteries of life.

And I think

if you and I were to delve into
this exploration together...

[GASPS]

Oh, we might shake this world
to its very foundations.

No. Communing with my husband
is against nature.

And I can't help but feel
that some of the tragedies

I have faced of late are because Alistair

veered from the path
of godliness and I followed

- right along with this séance.
- It is not evil, Mrs. Simcoe.

There is no morality to the energy

that exists all around us.

I tell you I reject it!

[DOOR OPENING]

Detective.

Has Mr. Rondeau perhaps
outstayed his welcome?

There is nothing here amiss, sir.

Glad to hear it.

However, I have come on police business.

Of course. You must forgive me.

Being in the presence
of this spectral powerhouse

is so intoxicating that I forgot

the horrid malfeasance
you are striving to control.

My good lady.

Sir.

I bid you both, adieu.

[DOOR OPEN AND CLOSES]

That horrid man.

You've rid me of him
for the moment, at least.

Thank you.

I've come to impose
on your kindness once again.

- And to offer an update.
- I heard, yes.

Poor Enid Jenkins.

This... This brutality,
it seems unstoppable.

Tell me you can stop this,
Detective. Please.

Tell me that no one else will meet the fate

that my Alistair did.
Promise me that you will.

I swear I will.

I'm sorry.

I'm terribly sorry.

I... I'm in a state.

There's nothing to apologize for.

I would usually reach for Alistair.

You're a good man, Detective.

Would it be possible to gain access

to your late husband's study, once again?

Of course. Come.

- [GRUNTING]
- Jesus, it hurts.

It's like pissing when you've got the clap.

Really think you need more of that?

It's not like I can't sleep,
it's that I won't sleep.

If you had seen what that
maniac did to Enid's back...

Ripped the skin right off.

Her head crushed like a tin can.

We are going to figure out
who is responsible for this.

- With what?
- These notes she leaves

- point the way.
- All those notes only show us

that she's getting closer!

I think you're doing
too much of that cocaine

Israel has you on.

I've started looking over
my shoulder, in my own home!

Maybe if you leveled things off a bit.

[TENSE MUSIC]

I wonder what evil she has in store for me.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Will she rip my teeth out? Feed them to me?

While f*cking me up the ass
with my own severed manhood?

Get a f*cking hold of yourself!

How?! With her out there taunting us!

The Widow is not some magic succubus

who suddenly appears through the ether.

She, or he, is just a bitter little f*ck

who knows what happened that night.

And since the only people
who do know what happened

are those of us who were there,

we need to figure out
who among us is doing this.

Okay. Good.

Eddie!

You keep up the police chase.

I'll sic Eddie on the others
who were present,

see what we can scare out of them.

Eddie, get your lazy ass in here!

Eddie!

Where the f*ck is he?

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

Hey, the boss wants a word.

[GRUNTING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[COUGHING]

I hear you were stepping out on me.

Packed a bag, even.

It's not what it looks like.

Well, what it looks like
is one of two things.

One...

- You're the f*cking Widow.
- The Widow?

I've been with you most of the times

- people have been k*lled.
- Except when you weren't.

Plenty of time to get up to no good.

Mr. Garvey, you know it wasn't me.

Well, that just leaves the latter option.

You're a coward and you're doing a runner.

And Eddie, it's the second one
that really pisses me off.

She's gonna k*ll everybody who
was at that party that night.

We can go. We can move around.

I'm not running from my city,
from the empire that I built!

And I'm not dying just because
I was there that night.

I didn't do nothin'!

You don't get to duck out
on me, m*therf*cker!

You don't do anything
without checking with me first!

I f*cked up. I f*cked up.

g*dd*mn right, you f*cked up!

It won't happen again!

[COUGHING]

[GRUNTING]

[SCREAMING]

What the f*ck?

[SCREAMING]

[GOAT BLEATING]

You forget, I own you.

Every last filthy piece of you.

And I will do with you whatever I want.

And as the good Lord tells us,
in Proverbs :,

when justice is done,
it brings joy to the righteous,

but terror to evildoers.

[CHURCH BELLS RINGING]

A man who strays from
the path of understanding

comes to rest in the company of the dead,

and the company of the dead...

Sister Mehar.

Welcome back to the house of God.

We've missed you.

I haven't been in a church,

any church,

in a long time, Pastor.

Are you injured?

Injured? No.

I was assaulted.

And not by a man.

But by two vipers.

I've come to you for help.

Because I cannot stay in that house.

Sister Mehar,

it was a miracle the Botticelli sisters

took you in, given your history.

They took me in because of my history.

I'm completely at their mercy,

not that they have any.

And I would rather be back on
the streets working for Horatio.

You cannot mean that.

I do, Pastor. I do.

It is an easier life, as wrong as it is.

So, please, help me.

You must have a spare bed.

I can barely keep the orphanage

- functioning as it is.
- You take Basil Garvey's money

for the same secret that I know

and yet I receive nothing but pain.

Basil Garvey is but a generous patron

who believes in our ministry.

Basil Garvey is the illegitimate son

of cankered whore.

If you let your tongue run loose,

he will cut it out.

Well, all he has to do is pay me

and I will take his secret to my grave.

Margaret...

I have looked out for you

since I saved you from
that den of sin as a child.

Now, you haven't always listened to me,

but I never gave up on you.

So, please, please...

I beg of you, do not do this.

He's a dangerous man.

Let me get you out of town.

You can start fresh, somewhere new.

And do what? With what money?

How can I start fresh when I have nothing?

Who will hire a woman like me?

Margaret.

Basil Garvey will send you to an early grave

rather than pay you a penny.

Margaret!

[TENSE MUSIC]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

In the Name of God,

the merciful Father,

we commit the body of Daisy Zywiecki

to the grave.

From dust you came,

to dust you shall return.

Jesus Christ is the resurrection

and the life.

Amen.

Amen.

What a waste.

A tragic waste of a life.

These murders are a scourge.

These murders are the Lord's
rightful vengeance.

Daisy was .

A simple street walker trying to get by.

And she was innocent.

But Horatio, Enid, Alistair?
Sinners, all of them.

Horatio sold that girl.

Alistair paid for her.

And Enid?

The forked tongue of the serpent.

She spread lies.

She no longer can.

You sound glad that she was m*rder*d.

Her lies hanged my father.

Now The Widow is here
to deliver God's holy vengeance,

so I say let the streets run red with blood.

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

What are you hiding from me?

Do you always talk to yourself?

Ha.

Your husband didn't have
photographs by chance?

Oh. Here, let me...

Always so gallant.

It's going to be hard
for me to look at these.

I'll be sure to keep
my questions to a minimum.

Earlier, I know I was emotional.

- It's only natural.
- But my question stands:

Will you catch this k*ller?

Will Alistair see the justice he deserves?

This k*ller is two steps,

two very large steps, ahead of us.

But I will say this:

she or he will make a misstep.

And when they do, I will be here, waiting.

Thank you.

This is from before I met Alistair.

Long before.

Twelve years ago, in fact.

A week before Margaret Mehar's m*rder.

[EDDIE]: I've seen cleaner chamber pots.

It's carbolic acid.

And I can assure you, it is very antiseptic.

Shaving accident?

You could call it that.

Sit.

This is going to sting.

[GRUNTING]

What the f*ck was that for?

You'll thank me when the side
of your head doesn't rot off.

And I'm afraid the pain
is just getting started.

Enid Jenkins could've used your skills

when The Widow was removing
the skin from her back.

Indeed.

Whoever did that knew a thing
or two about human anatomy.

You know more than a thing or two.

I also took an oath.

"I will abstain from all
wrongdoing and harm."

[GROANING]

So you're telling me I got your word.

You're not the one
taking us out, one by one,

for what happened years ago?

[TENSE MUSIC]

I heal people, Eddie.

Though sometimes, healing requires

cutting away that which is...

diseased.

Apply this, morning and evening,

and keep it covered with clean fabric

until your wound is completely healed.

Oh, and, please, give my best to Basil.

[KNOCKING]

Sir.

Look at what I found.

Do you recall this night?

It was at a party. So what?

I can't go to parties now?

I'm not good enough to rub
elbows with the hoity-toity?

No, sir, that... that's not what I meant.

Look at who was with you.

Georges Rondeau.

And?

Sir, this photo was taken a week

before Margaret Mehar's m*rder.

Georges Rondeau,
he was in town, performing.

I confirmed that with public records.

But he's never been back. Until now.

And these killings only
started upon his return.

Exactly. Sir, we need
to bring him in for questioning.

No, we need to put his head on a spike

and place it on the city walls.

- First things first.
- Yes, yes, of course.

You splendid, lovely young man.

I've got an eye for talent.
I knew it when I saw you.

You cracked this case.

I know you have!

- [LAUGHING]
- Thank you, sir.

[SIGHING]

Hmm.

It's fake.

- How can you tell?
- It's too smooth.

There are no imperfections.

Venetia Botticelli, despite her pretensions,

wears paste.

Ahh.

She may still prove useful.

Botticelli's a good friend
with Regina Simcoe.

I could convince her to
reevaluate an old devil like me.

Or you can let go of your
obsession with Regina.

Oh, the green devil!

- You're jealous.
- Jealous I am not.

Threatened, then.

You have nothing to be threatened of.

You are essential to my plans here.

I can't do it without you.

[CLAPPING SLOWLY]

I came here for a magic show,

but instead I get this dirty love story.

Brings tears to my eyes.

My dear, could you run
to the apothecary for me?

I feel a headache coming on.

To what do I owe this displeasure?

- [CHUCKLES]
- You and the fancy way

you talk.

I'm assuming you heard the news
about our friend Enid Jenkins?

Oh, I'm happy to see the back of her.

Never did like the woman.

Man. Whatever.

Enough to k*ll her?

Alistair. Horatio. Enid.

We're all dropping like flies.

Who's gonna be next?

Who, indeed? Care to guess?

You tell me.

It ain't for nothing,
these murders started happening

once your poncy ass came back to town.

Ah, my dear man,

I am in the business of illusion.

[EERIE MUSIC]

But m*rder?

Oh, m*rder is a little too real and odious

for someone of my refined constitution.

[LAUGHING]

You're the best all
of Basil's money could buy?

Ugh, you may be an ox on the outside,

but on the inside,
you're a timid little rabbit.

Too scared to stand up for anyone.

Including yourself.

Ah!

[THUDDING]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

Put that back in my room

where you snatched it from, you beast!

You absolute beast of a man!

Sister, control yourself.

Control myself? I am being
robbed in broad daylight.

We suffer now, so that in the future,

the very near future,

we can return to living as we once lived.

[SIGHING]

Focus on the good news.

Verdi is intact.

I would like to ship Verdi,
in pieces, back to Boston.

Oh, my dear.

She is worth far more to us whole.

[TENSE MUSIC]

[GRUNTING]

f*ck.

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

[BREATHING SHAKILY]

Oh. Detective.

What happened to you?

The magician did me wrong.

- He did this to you?
- With his trickery.

Wouldn't happen otherwise.

Untie me.

Why would he do this to you?

Boy Georgie didn't like me
sticking my nose in

and asking questions.

What were you asking?

How about you untie me?

Not until you answer my question.

Look, I'm not stupid,
and you're not a genius.

You and Basil, you think
Georges might be The Widow.

- You don't know that.
- I do.

Which tells me that you both
think you're targets. Why?

We have a picture
of all of you from years ago.

It was taken a week before
Margaret Mehar's m*rder.

There was Alistair, dead.

Horatio, dead.

- And now, Enid.
- So I can't be tied up

like a prize hog for The Widow to slaughter!

- What was that night?
- Why were you all there?

It was a party you weren't invited to.

- What the f*ck are you doing?
- If you're not going to respond

the civil way, I'll just have to adapt.

Be warned, Basil Garvey
doesn't take too kindly

to people f*cking with his business.

[SPITTING]

And so I need money and lots of it.

Well, get out there and earn it.

Shake your ass if you have to.
You've still got your looks.

And you've got a fortune.

You're going to give some of it to me.

[LAUGHING]

You think I'm joking? Pay me,

or the press and all
of your important friends

will know the truth about your life.

I'm rich. I'm a self-made man.

- Who cares where I came from?
- Oh, but they will.

Because you were the pickpocketing

street urchin.

The bastard son of a whore

who spent her days mugging
and her nights f*cking

the kinds of people you socialize with now.

I think they'd be awed
by all of my accomplishments.

Then why keep it a secret?

People like you and me,
we're gutter trash to them,

as soon as they know where we come from.

You may have money now,

but they will stop talking to you,

stop doing business with you.

They will always choose
one of their own over us.

And everything you've built
will be gone, just like that.

You're right.

You're right.

And I'll help you.

I should have, a long time ago.
I'm ashamed I didn't.

Street kids like us,

we need to have each other's backs, right?

I didn't know what else to do. I...

The Botticelli sisters are barbarians.

Oh, I know.

Hypocrites, the lot of them.

Save your breath, my friend.

Sanctuary is here.

Pastor May, I told him I was coming here.

Good... Good...

I'll confer with him.

In the meantime,
I'm to secure you safe lodging.

The Queen's Chamber.

- That is a place of ill-repute.
- Exactly.

It's the last place the Botticellis

will think to look for you.

Just a few nights there,
and we'll find you the kind

of room you want, the kind you deserve.

[TENSE MUSIC]

And if you won't tell me
what I need to know,

Basil will.

Good luck with that.

[SINISTER MUSIC]

Run. Run! Go, get the f*ck out of here!

Get help!

[GRUNTING]

[GRUNTING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Hey!

Hey!

[DISTANT INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[PANTING]

[HORSE HOOVES CLOPPING]

[HORSE NEIGHING]

sh*t. sh*t.

Ah!

[SINISTER MUSIC]

[GRUNTING]

[DOOR RATTLING]

sh*t!

[GRUNTING]

[GRUNTING]

[COUGHING]

[PANTING]

[SINISTER MUSIC]

And here we are.

Good evening and welcome, special people.

My, I didn't expect it to be so...

Gorgeous? I know.

It's a lot for a first-time visit.

But don't worry.

I've arranged for our most
luxurious room for you,

here in the quiet part of the building.

Oh, that sounds very nice. Thank you.

Of course.

I'm here to make sure
your evening is a memorable one.

After you.

[TENSE MUSIC]

f*ck! You let her get away?!

The Widow has ripped three men to pieces!

You didn't see Detective
What's his f*ck run away from her.

- He told me to get out!
- So you picked up your skirt

and ran, after some f*cking
magician got the best of you?

Jesus Christ! When did you get so soft?

The detective is on to us.

He has a photograph.

Of the party, all of us,

the dead and, thanks to her,
the about-to-be dead.

But f*ck that, I've paid my dues.

You f*cking coward.

Excuse me if I see this sh*t house sinking

in a sea of blood
and decide to run for shore.

It's this kind of cowardice
that has kept you at the bottom.

Says the guy hiding out
in his fortress with a bunch

of g*ons protecting him.

I think...

you've forgotten
how this relationship works.

You can bluster
and cut into me all you want,

but I'm the one who's out there
protecting you,

putting my life on the line, and for what?

For some tough-talking little bitch

whose day in the sun has long passed.

Watch your f*cking mouth!

Yeah? Or what?

I hope she saves you for last.

Now the city's gonna see
who the real coward is.

Let's see how tough you are on your own.

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]

- [BREATHING HEAVILY]
- Mm.

[BREATHING SHAKILY]

We'll put you in here tonight

and get you well and rested.

I, I thought you said I was
to be punished for my sins.

Oh, we're not monsters.

I can see that you've learned your lesson.

Heaven waits for you beyond this door.

Luxury, comfort, splendor.

Puzzle no more
and sleep the sleep of angels.

And heal your beautiful soul.

- Heal your beautiful soul?
- Shush, puss-puss.

You must take your gaze off
the comforts of the moment

and see the great rewards of our plan.

Our fattened calf needs her beauty sleep.

I'll have to burn all of my pillows.

Aww, you'll have all
the pillows your plump little

derriere desires,

once we sell her virginity
to the highest bidder.

[INSECTS CHIRPING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[FOOTSTEPS PATTERING]

[HORSE GRUNTS]

[DRIVER]: Hyuh!

[HORSE NEIGHING]

[EXHALES]

[EERIE MUSIC]

[DISTANT DOG BARKING]

[DISTANT INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[EERIE MUSIC]

[HORSE HOOVES CLOPPING]

[THUDDING]

[HORSE NEIGHING]

[SHOUTING]

[GRUNTING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Leave me alone!

I didn't do nothing.

No! No! Please!

No! [SCREAMING]

No! Let me go, please!

I didn't do anything!

[SCREAMING]

Jesus!

[DISTANT INDISTINCT CHATTER]

What the devil?

What are you up to, Georges?

[EDDIE SCREAMING]

Please! Please!

Don't k*ll me, let me go!

I didn't do anything!

Let me go!

Let me go

and I'll give you anything,
anything you want.

I will do anything you want.

Just don't let them k*ll me, please.

Please! I don't deserve this.

I haven't done anything wrong.

Please.

Why'd you have to go and thr*aten him?

It was a mistake.

Please, just get me out
of here and I promise

I will disappear into the night.

You will never hear from me ever again.

Please! Let me go.

- Come.
- Eddie?

Our guest appears to be lost.

Please show her back to her suite.

Our friend Alistair is waiting for her.

No. No. Please. I can't go back in there.

- Please!
- Eddie.

Be a good host, now.

Right, boss.

No, no! No! No, don't do this!

Please don't send me back in there!

I won't get back in there. No!

No! No! Don't! Don't!

[SCREAMING]

Please!

I didn't do anything.

[SCREAMING]

Please!

[SCREAMING]

[GROANING]

Please! Don't k*ll me, let me go!

Please!

[GROANING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[COUGHING]

[GRUNTING]

[METAL SCRAPING]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

Please.

[SQUELCHING]