01x07 - The Pit and the Pendulum

[bunniefuu]

[ticking]

[siren wailing]

- Do you recognize this form?
- Yes, it's a CFC, a Consent for Care Form.

- Hey, Freddie, no siren, okay? Thanks.
- [wailing stops]

- What purpose does this form serve?
- Um...

[siren wailing]

It's an agreement between the patients,
the providers, the...

Freddie. Siren.

- The patients, the providers, the company.
- [wailing stops]

It lists all the risks and side-effects
associated with the proposed treatment.

Have you ever signed as a witness
on a CFC?

- Yes, I have.
- And is this your signature?

- No, it's not.
- [papers rustle]

How about this one?

[siren wailing]

No.

And so on more forms.

Why might someone forge your signature
on a CFC form?

Objection. Speculation.

[chuckles]

Mr. Usher, in your opinion,

what's a likely reason
to forge a signature on a CFC form?

To make it look like the patient
knew the risks

and made an informed decision
to join the trial.

[siren wailing]

And also to shield the company
from liability.

Jesus, Fred.

[sighs] Take a time out, yeah?

- Can I get you some more tea?
- I'm fine.

Hey, sweetie. I just put Tammy down.
What is the problem?

[Roderick] We're rehearsing,
and he's making noise.

Can you take care of him?

Kids make noise, Roderick.
That's how we know they're working.

Sweetie, why don't you play
in Mommy's room?

[siren wailing]

[sighs]

So sorry about your rehearsal.

That's really no problem.

I support what you're doing, I really do,

but what about after?

I mean,
with everything that he has turned over,

is it really necessary
going on the record?

Well, the documents aren't forged
unless he points and says,

- "I didn't sign that."
- [Annabel] Mmm.

So, without him, my case is...

[sputters] You can't blow the whistle
without a whistleblower.

I wish it were otherwise. I truly do.

He'll be fired.

Yes.

I'd like your word that when it's done,
we can count on your help.

- Of course, I mean, in so much as...
- I would like your word.

You have my word.

[Roderick sighs]

[Auguste sighs]

[kisses]

[Annabel] You boys give them hell.

[Roderick] Okay.

Here's that tea.

You're a lucky man.

[exhales] Yeah.

What about you? You got some luck at home?

I think so.
I'm never there, so who can say?

Yeah, she puts up with a lot.

So does he.

Both of us lucky in one way, at least.

Got good people at home
who love us anyway.

Let's not let them down.

Let's make this one worth it.

Do you recognize this form?

Yes, that is a Consent For Care form.

[Auguste] Annabel Lee.

You know,
I've thought about it over the years

because I've got a good sense for people.

I ask myself what went wrong.

What malfunctioned with me back then
to make me trust you?

And I figured it out. It was her.

I trusted her, so I trusted you.

I mean, if that woman loved you,

if she trusted you,
f*cking fool to lose her the way you did.

Much as I lost after what you did,
and I lost a lot, damn near everything,

it sustained me a bit...

knowing you lost her.

And this was the reason that long ago
In this kingdom by the sea

A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee

You're the f*cking wind, Shakespeare.

So that her highborn kinsmen came
Bore her away from me

To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom...

- Oh, shut up.
- ...by the sea

Don't you ever get tired
of hearing yourself talk?

Can't imagine how she
hung on so long, frankly.

I say to people all the time,
"There's no such thing as a good Usher."

But there was. One.

Annabel Lee Usher.

The only good Usher,
and you chased her away.

Wrong. My granddaughter, Lenore.

The best of us.

And so like her grandmother too.

All the best of Annabel Lee without...

without the broken heart.

[thunder rumbling]

f*ck it. [exhales]

Uh, I'm glad you liked Annabel...

but she's gone,
she's been gone a long, long time,

and I would be lying if I said
I never wondered

- how the f*ck did this happen.
- How the f*ck did this happen?

We paid how much for security
standing right outside her f*cking door?

And he didn't think to knock
when he heard glass breaking?

What about the launch?
You were in the f*cking room.

[Arthur] We had ten people.

And not one of them could stop this woman
from leaving the building?

Not one could stop my daughter
from smashing a TV and assaulting my wife?

Not one single person lifted a finger
when she went home and...

The home was secure, I can't explain it.

I had my... my hands on her.

I felt her go apart like cold steam.

f*ck! Stop it. Stop. Stop it! Shut up!

f*ck's sake!

Think like professionals
for a g*dd*mn minute. Please.

[exhales]

The board's making its move.

There's gonna be a vote.

The board is just math.

We've got blackmail material.
Strangle it in the crib.

Oh, it's out of the crib,
it's starting college.

Well, use the good stuff. Emergency.
Break glass. They'll fall in line.

Some. Not all.

Freddie is the swing vote.
Way I see it, he's key to the play.

Get him in here.

[door opens and closes]

- [Arthur] He deserves better, Madeline.
- [Madeline] Hmm.

[Arthur] I'm a realist,
and I agree he is compromised.

But he is a great man.

He has an untreatable, incurable disease
that impairs his judgment.

Right there, that takes him out of play.

I am close, Arthur,
my algorithm project is so close.

Do you know what that means?

We could take this company out of pills,
out of poison, into tech.

AI. Artificial consciousness,
virtual immortality.

You take that to the board.

You tell them that if I'm in the chair,
I take this company into the future,

leave all of this behind us.

The whole rotten legacy
goes out with Roderick,

and we rebrand as a tech company.

I imagine they'd find that appealing.

I imagine they would.

And I imagine this isn't easy for you.

It's the hardest thing
I've ever had to say out loud.

[Morrie wheezing]

[wheezing intensifies]

[Morrie weakly] Fred...

Freddie.

You must be feeling it a bit.

[wheezing] Sweetie, you need to stop.

- [Frederick whistling]
- Honey.

No. Honey. Please, no. No. No.

[wheezes]

[sighs] Works so fast, doesn't it?

[snorts, sighs]

Oh.

I heard Tamerlane k*lled herself
with a fireplace poker and,

I swear to God, I can't...
I can't figure out what that means.

I mean, how do you...
How do you even do that?

[sighs]

I knew I wanted to marry you
the first time we met.

Do you remember? At the photoshoot?

You came up to me, and I'd been approached

and chatted up by grifters
and groupies before,

but you smiled and it was so real.

And I asked you why you did it,

and you said that you saw me
standing there alone and you thought,

"That looks like a guy
who could use a friend." [chuckles]

And you were right.

That smile.

The smile stole my heart.

Do you know what the headline was
that morning?

When I took my board seat
from my predecessor?

Business section of The Times.
"From ruthless to toothless."

Is that how you see me?

Toothless?

[phone ringing]

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah. Oh.

Yeah. Now? Okay. Okay.

It's an emergency.

Dad needs me. I'll be back when I can.

Maybe we'll talk then.

[sniffling]

Where did you put your wedding ring?

It wasn't on your hand.
I saw footage from the party.

I got some of your things back.
Your purse, your effects.

Your... Your f*cking phone.

But no ring.
Where did you put the ring, Morrie?

Don't move.

- Don't make excuses!
- I am working on it.

Apparently not.
The building is still standing.

I've had other things on my mind, Dad.
Funerals...

I told you, call the Jersey boys,
and get it done.

I will. It's just a building,
I don't know why it matters.

It matters because I have to count on you.

It's a f*cking crime scene
with our family's name all over it.

Your brother's blood all over it.

It matters because if I can't count on you
to do the building,

then I can't count on you
for the little things,

which means I can't count on you
for the big things,

and I have to count on you, Freddie.
I have to.

You're it, you see?
You're the f*cking swing vote.

The board's swinging?

They haven't called you yet.

[sighs]

This is it, Freddie.

They're all gone,
and it's all about to fall apart.

So, I need to count on you.

And when they call, and they will call,

you just don't pick up,
that's the best message.

And if they corner you in the street,
you tell them, "I'm Frederick Usher,

I'm the repository of the hopes and dreams
of a f*cking empire."

"So take your
treacherous bullshit elsewhere."

Can you do that?

I can.

[doctor] I mean,
this is a very unpleasant process.

In fact,
for the symptoms you're describing,

your husband would probably say
upping the dose would smooth you over.

Not asking him. I'm asking you.

I'm on what?
Two thousand milligrams of Ligodone a day?

The second highest dose
you've ever heard of is...

- Thirteen hundred.
- Thirteen hundred? Right.

And then this happens
and they want to up it,

and I know you work for Fortunato, I know,

but you're still my doctor, right?

Yes, of course.

Do you have kids?

- Yes.
- Stepkids?

Mmm-hmm.

They ever call you a junkie?

No.

Mine did.

They're all gone now.

You watch three coffins
being lowered into the ground,

two more on the way,
and you can't help it.

It just makes you think, you know,
life is so f*cking short.

And the thing I keep going back to...

is that Ligodone is more like heroin
than any other drug I've ever been on.

Well, Ligodone has a lower incidence
of addiction if used correctly.

Come on. It's just me and you here.

So, tell me, how do I get off this
perfectly safe, non-addictive drug?

[sighs]

Very, very slowly.

[Frederick] I see.

Yes, well, I am the repository
of the hopes and dreams of an empire,

so I'm happy you're
thinking of the future.

- [Morrie wheezing]
- [exhales]

Wow. [laughs]

It is happening. [laughs]

[snorts]

[exhales]

Hey, it's Fredso.

Yeah, uh, listen,
I know we're all set for next week,

but things are moving fast here,
and things are happening for me,

and I really need that building
to come down.

I need it done, like, today. Tonight.

Well, I... I don't care about
the f*cking blasting permit.

Get me a ball and a f*cking crane.

Because I f*cking asked you to.
Because I'm the Usher ascendant.

Yeah. No...

The Jersey boys listen to Roderick,
and the Jersey boys listen to me.

Yes, I will be there.
I want to see that building come down.

Okay?

Ha! [sniffles]

Did you hear how fast he changed his tune?

[snorts, groans]

It's amazing.

My whole life, you know,
they won't take me seriously,

and then, suddenly, you're the new CEO...

[laughs]

...and everybody
is f*cking so accommodating.

Well, almost everyone. [sighs]

You, Morrie...

[Morrie wheezing]

You know one thing
Dad was really big about?

It was a lesson that he taught us all.

One of the first things he taught us.

No! Frederick! No!

If you wanna test a bond...

- No!
- You don't really need to break it.

No!

You just cr*ck it a little.

Now, he put me one rung
higher on the ladder than Tammy

and he sat back and watched.

Cracked, but it didn't break.
It did make it stronger.

Second lesson Dad was big on
was getting your house in order.

- [sighs]
- [Morrie wheezing]

You don't have to be a tyrant,

but if you don't want to be
consistently cruel,

then you have to be sufficiently brutal
at least once to establish authority.

[sighs]

Your f*cking smile.

I don't want to be consistently cruel,
that's not me.

I won't break our bond.
You already cracked it.

So I've just got to put our house
back in order.

I'll strike one solid blow,
sufficiently brutal.

So, let's do this once.

Let's do it fast.

Let's do it quiet.
And then we can start to heal.

[gasps]

[sighs]

I've gotta go.

I've got another house to put into order.

[sighs] Oh.

While I'm there, I'll look for your ring.
Maybe it's still there.

If not, I'll get you a new one.

But if I do find it, I'll bring it home.

And if you ever take it off again...

I'll weld it to your f*cking finger.

[phone ringing]

Yeah? You good?

[metal clangs]

Don't you f*cking say that to me, Vinnie.

That ball is gonna swing
at : p.m. tonight.

That building is coming down
or else I'm gonna...

I'm gonna come over there,

and I'm gonna pull out your f*cking teeth
with a pair of pliers.

[door slams]

Dad. Where are you going?

Got some work stuff to do.

Can we talk first?

Sure, peanut.

I found this place. It's fantastic.

Best in the country for burn treatments,
chemical burns.

I mean, they've got top-notch
skin-graft work and everything on campus.

Plus, I talked to one of the doctors.
They said they could take her.

Why the f*ck would you do that?

I'm sorry, why the f*ck
would you do that, sweetheart?

She'd be better off someplace else.

Lenore, we've talked about this.

Where are they?

Who?

The specialists. The doctors.
Everyone you promised would be here.

When you're at school,
they come here a lot of the time.

- But she is fine.
- I don't believe you.

And you're... You're not right, Dad.

You smell like sh*t
and you look like sh*t,

- and you're acting weird.
- Watch it.

Do you know who you're talking to?

Mom is not okay. You are not okay.
None of this is okay.

And I found a place that can
actually take care of her,

- and we can take her there tomorrow.
- I can't do this. You need to stop.

- Stop it, please. Stop! Stop it!
- All you have to do is call.

Stop f*cking talking!

If anybody spoke to me like this,
there would be repercussions!

You do not get a free pass
because you're my daughter!

[exhales]

I want to talk to her specialist.

[sniffles]

Your mother is resting,

and you will leave her alone
while I'm gone.

And I will deal with you later
when I get back.

[breath trembling]

Ma? Ma, can you hear me in there?

[thudding]

Look, I've got to tell you, those noises
are starting to really bother me.

- You say that's Madeline.
- [Roderick] It is.

[phone vibrates]

I think we ought to go down
and make sure she's...

- And let me guess. That's Lenore.
- Bingo.

I don't know what you're playing at
with me tonight,

- but I've just about had enough.
- We're almost there, Auggie.

You know what? No.

- Uh, please. Sit down.
- [recorder clicks]

I'm wondering
why you're dragging this out,

why the cat and mouse,
and I know the answer.

Because you're getting
something out of it.

It's not like that.

And if you're getting something out of it,
whatever it is,

- I don't have to give it to you.
- Please.

Goodnight, Roderick.
And good luck with the dementia.

You'll have me on m*rder.

That's where we're going.

You'll have me dead to rights on m*rder.

More than one, actually.

And here's where I stop in my tracks,
slowly return to the chair,

sit down and start the recorder again.

That's what I do now, right Roderick?
In your little script.

[chuckling] I mean, it'd be nice.

But... [sighs] that's the thing, isn't it?

We've been here before,
you and me, right here. In fact...

[clock clanging, ticking]

You see that too?

You're trying to scare me.

No.

No.

That's Freddie, I expect.

They've been at me all night.
Make sure I get their stories right.

Which is... It's fantastic. [chuckling]

As my personal hell
is being micro-managed.

No, what happens now, see,
is you start talking.

And then all of a sudden
I spot a little hint of Freddie,

but I try to ignore it
because you can't see him,

and then he manages to get
a good jolt in there

for my benefit while you look at me
like I'm insane.

I'm not insane.

And while CADASIL is no picnic,
it certainly isn't this.

No, I'm afraid you're ringside
for my reckoning, old friend.

- [metallic creaking]
- [ticking stops]

And any second,
Freddie is going to peek up from...

behind the chair,
and show off his C-section...

Honey! [laughs]

Hi.

Daddy.

Daddy.

[Annabel laughs]

Oh.

[chuckles]

We had to come for your big day.
Wanted Freddie to see his daddy be a hero.

[chuckles]

[squelching]

[Tammy] Mama.

[Roderick] You guys
were gonna stay at home.

I know, but these two thought Daddy
could use a little support.

- Didn't we, Freddie?
- You should've stayed at home.

- Hey! You guys made it.
- [Annabel] Yeah. Wouldn't miss it.

Hey, remember in there,

if you get scared or feel alone,
we are right here, okay?

On the other side of the wall.
We're here with you.

Yeah, why don't you come sit with me?
Let him get to it.

[Auguste] Mmm.

- You ready?
- Yeah.

- You got this?
- Yeah. I got this.

[man] We are on the record
at : p.m.

Today is Thursday, December th, .

Mr. Usher, I'd like you to have a look
at Exhibits and here.

Do you recognize that document?

Objection.

Go ahead.

She's going to do that all day,
just getting it on the record.

Doesn't matter with us.

Uh, okay.
Um, it's a consent for care form. A CFC.

And you deal with these routinely?

I do. Since my promotion.

And what purpose does the form serve?

[lawyer] Objection.

Uh...

It... It's an agreement between the patient,
the provider and the company

that lists all risks and side-effects
associated with the proposed treatment.

Anything strike you as unusual
about that document?

[lawyer] Objection.

Not particularly, no.

I mean, just the fact that it's here.
These are confidential.

These are property of the company.

- [DA] Nothing at all unusual?
- No, it's pretty standard boilerplate.

Um...

It's unfortunate
we couldn't get a family member

to sign along with the patient,
given their age,

but, as you can see here, it was witnessed
by a representative of the company.

Have you ever signed as a witness
on a CFC?

Yes, I have.

- [papers rustling]
- And is this your signature?

Yes, it is.

[papers rustling]

How about this one?

[Roderick] Yeah. That too. That's mine.

To be clear,
you're telling us that you were aware of

and signed this form on this day?

- Yes.
- Objection.

[lawyer] He's your witness, Pam.

Mr. Usher...

[whispering indistinctly]

Mr. Usher, did Rufus Griswold at any time
exert any pressure on you,

written or verbal,
to sign or falsify documents?

No.

Has he spoken to you at all
about today's deposition?

[Roderick] Not at all.

[DA] Has anyone at Fortunato
spoken to you about today's deposition?

[Roderick] No. Not at all.

[DA] Mr. Usher, I will remind you,
you are under oath,

you agreed to appear here today
as a witness for this office.

Yes. Well...

[clears throat] Um...

Your man there wouldn't leave us alone.

He stopped by my home
on multiple occasions pressing this issue.

So, yes, I agreed to appear.

Call me a witness,
call me a representative of the company,

call me whatever you like,
I'd hope by appearing here

and verifying for the record
what I'd said to Mr. Dupin in privacy,

that he would do me the kindness
of letting my family be in peace.

Frankly, I didn't want to use this word,

but the treatment of my family
in the name of whatever vendetta

Mr. Dupin has for Rufus Griswold
borders on harassment.

That's what I came here to say.

Auggie.

What's...

Wait...

- What's happening?
- Don't say anything.

- What are they doing?
- Don't say anything.

- Your husband's under arrest for perjury.
- Perjury?

I told you to stay at home.

Roderick!

Don't say a word. Not another word.

Not here. I will meet you at home.

Hi. Madeline Usher.

Do you have a minute? Can we talk?

[Annabel] What the f*ck?
You knew this was gonna happen?

Of course.

- My husband is in jail.
- He'll be out before dinner.

You think Fortunato
is going to let him sit there?

As of today he's the most
important employee at that company.

They will have him out
before you can blink.

He's charged with perjury.

And that won't stick either.
He never signed an affidavit.

It's Dupin's word against ours.

What the f*ck is wrong with you?

Roderick was gonna do the right thing.
He was gonna be a hero.

That's what I told my children.

He did the right thing,
you f*cking simpleton.

The DA's embarrassed,
but he's not an idiot,

and once he's staring down
the whole Fortunato legal machine

without a single witness,

his whole case is just
a handful of stolen documents.

He will fold.

Perjury too. He can't prove it.

Right now, there is one name

on the mind of every board member,
investor and executive at Fortunato.

[liquid pours]

Roderick Usher.

He is a f*cking hero.

You're gonna be swimming in money

and promotions and protections
by lunchtime tomorrow.

You'll be in a new house by Christmas.

You would have been on unemployment
tomorrow if we'd done it your way,

and Fortunato would have sued you
into a f*cking crater.

Jesus.

I thought it was an act.

I figured you just played the housewife

so you could keep a roof over your head.

Spread your legs or suck his d*ck
twice a week and you're set.

You never have to work a day in your life.

And I thought, "Good for her,
she found her angle," but...

[sighs]...this is really you.

Isn't it?

I thought you only existed in the movies.

You are so...

small, Madeline.

[Tammy crying]

[sniffles]

Your baby's crying.

[door creaking]

All right, I know you're here.

[metallic clinking]

[Verna] Have a seat.

These aren't for us, technically.

They're for the boys later on,
but I don't think they'll mind.

Please.

Can I get you a drink?

No, thank you.

He's been coming here a lot
over the last few weeks.

Not sure he even knows why.

And you should see the basement.

He's got boxes of stuff down there.

More every day.

He just sits here and he drinks
and he cries sometimes.

Sad to watch.

A man like that reduced to such a cliché.

It really is you.

It's amazing how much I've denied.

But it is you.

And somehow I knew you'd be here.

Well, I left you the address,
don't pat yourself too hard on the back.

Go ahead. Say your piece.

I want to ask you to stop.

Come on. Ask me? That isn't you.

And frankly,
I think you've forgotten what I am.

Fine then. I want to renegotiate.

- You can't.
- Why not?

- The ink is dry.
- For him or for me?

Madeline...

Words got us into this,
words can get us out.

You blaming Roderick or rhetoric?

I want new terms,
and I shall have new terms.

Or have you forgotten what I am?

There she is. Ah, there's my Cleopatra.

Everything has a price.

Every negotiation's a point of entry.

Every deal is simply
an expression of will. Mutual will.

We can sort this.

Woman to woman.

I'm not a woman.

You know what I am capable of.
You know what I have done.

You know who I am.

You're a collection of impeccable,
elaborate masks

in orbit of a stunted heart.

[Verna] That was cruel. I apologize.

There are certain things
one shouldn't have to face in life.

Time enough for self-reflection after.

Yes. I know who you are.

And were.

And who you could have been.

I see all three.
Standing shoulder to shoulder.

And together, they break my heart.

Please. Sit.

I apologize.

Under the bridge.

I was saying,
I know who you are, Madeline.

You're one of my favorites.

And I understand.
You find an adversary, you k*ll them.

You find a hurdle,
you jump it or dismantle it.

You find a locked door, you pry it open.

Mom? Mom!

[Morrie wheezing]

[Roderick] This is insane.

- Ludicrous. I won't hear anymore.
- [Juno] Ludicrous?

I'm talking about getting clean.

Don't be stupid.
Can you imagine what that would look like?

My own wife trying to get off my own drug.
It's a PR nightmare.

I just want to be off it.

Then you'll have no problem.

It's not addictive.

Okay then.

It's not.

But if you try to get off it,

you can expect mood changes
and sleep changes and physical changes,

flu symptoms, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
stomach cramping, reduced appetite,

dilated pupils, blurry vision, shivering,

goosebumps, rapid heartbeat,
high blood pressure,

just imagine being so tired
you can't sleep.

So exhausted that you can't relax.

All soaked with feelings
of absolute desperation and dread.

Basically, the closest analogy
I can think of is a fish

being pulled out of water,
only at least the fish gets to die.

I thought...

Some people benefit
from rapid detox methods

like clonidine, naltrexone or rapid
withdrawal under general anesthesia,

but not with your dose.

With your dose,
you've got to take it slow.

% reduction per month.

You should be right as rain
in, um, three agonizing years.

What the f*ck have you done?

Don't play me like that
or did I get you wrong?

Haven't you sucked a few cocks
for a fix before we met?

Or am I confusing you with somebody else?

You're a monster, you know that?

I married a monster.

No, dear.

I'm Victor Frankenstein.

You're the monster.

You are my perfect creation.

What was left of you after that accident
was a corpse on a slab.

And Ligodone was the lightning.
I threw the switch, you sat up and look...

It's alive.

I thought...

[inhales sharply]

I thought that you loved me.

I... You are a miracle.

Your body just... soaks it up.

It's like nothing I've ever seen.
Like my drug is water and you're a flower.

You are the most perfect
and beautiful thing I've ever seen.

You know, a huge part of you is Ligodone.

How could I not marry you?

Three years?

Okay.

I can do three years.

'Cause yeah,
I've had a hard life at times.

And I've made mistakes,
but that's what I thought you saw in me.

Because that sh*t made me f*cking strong.

So, I will take three years of hell
over a lifetime with you.

Easy.

You should know there's common ground
between us.

You, your brother and I,
we share something.

I recognized it the moment
I laid eyes on you.

Pain.

You might accuse me
of being the broker of suffering.

I could say the same of you.

But I consider myself more its witness.

You're in pain.

You're exhausted. Uncertain. Frightened.

For the first time in years.
I can't take that pain from you.

But I can give you something for it.

And it's not a drug.

Years ago, I offered you certainty.

Tonight, clarity.

No strings.

I doubt that.

Your brother,
you know what he would have been?

A poet.

[both chuckle]

That's where his talent was.
A broke poet, sure.

But frankly, is there another kind?

He and I share that as well.

We both understand that...

language in its highest expression
is musical.

So...

Some clarity for you.

What's a poem, after all,
if not a safe space for a difficult truth.

Here's one.

Came to me when you adorable little things
started building cities.

I call it "The City in the Sea".

Lo! Death has reared himself a throne

In a strange city lying alone

Far down within the dim West

Where the good and the bad
And the worst and the best

Have gone to their eternal rest

No rays from the holy Heaven come down

On the long nighttime of that town

But light from out the lurid sea

Streams up the turrets silently

Up domes, up spires, up kingly halls

Up fanes, up Babylon-like walls

Up shadowy long-forgotten bowers

Of sculptured ivory and stone flowers

Resignedly beneath the sky
The melancholy waters lie

Ah.

But lo, a stir is in the air!

[sirens wailing faintly]

The wave, there is a movement there!

The waves have now a redder glow

The hours are breathing, faint and low

And when, amid no earthly moans

Down, down that town shall settle hence

Hell rising from a thousand thrones

Shall do it reverence

I thought you were offering clarity.

Let it steep a moment. It'll come to you.

Freddie. Hey.

Um, listen, we've got a couple
of small charges in there to help,

but, you know, if we get caught on that,
I will tell them that you insisted.

See, isn't it amazing
what you can accomplish

- when you pull your head out of your ass.
- [sighs] Yeah.

She's gonna go down,
but it's going to be slow and rough.

- [Frederick] She'll come down?
- Yeah.

[Frederick] Are you ready?

Yes, we're ready to go.

Let me have your radio.

I need five minutes inside,
I have to do something.

Oh, come on, man.

You scrambled us here,
don't keep us waiting.

I need five minutes.

Then I'll give you an all-clear signal
and you can do whatever you do.

Okay? f*ck's sake. Have a little patience.

What a f*cking joke.

[sighs]

Should have d*ed here, honey.

Would've made you an honest woman.

[snorts] Ah.

Ah. [inhales]

Well, Prospero, my brother...

one last thing to say to you.

Rest in pee, f*ck face.

[groans]

[sniffles]

[urinating stops]

What the f*ck!

[footsteps approaching]

[Verna scoffs] Oh, honey.
This is embarrassing.

At least close your pants.

Otherwise it's just... Well,
it's humiliating enough, isn't it?

No? Gonna let it fly?

You're the boss, right?

That's the nightshade paralytic. [sighs]

[helmet clatters]

You got a little carried away back there.

And, strictly speaking,

I try to never intervene
this directly, but...

[chuckles]...the pliers got me thinking.

f*ck it.

[phone ringing]

Yeah? You good?

More.

More.

More.

Don't you f*cking say that to me, Vinnie.

That ball is gonna swing
at : p.m. tonight.

That building is coming down
or else I'm gonna...

I'm gonna come over there,

and I'm gonna pull out your f*cking teeth
with a pair of pliers.

I don't normally like to get my hands
this dirty, but honey, you earned it.

[radio crackles]

[mimics Frederick's voice]
All clear, start the music.

[Vinnie on radio] You clear?

- [radio crackles]
- The f*ck did I say? Swing it.

- [radio beeps]
- [Vinnie faintly] All ready?

[engine whirring]

[in normal voice] A dentist.

That's the funniest part.

That's what you were gonna be
in the other life.

You would have been a dentist.
And a pretty good one.

And I don't know,

I guess that made what you did
feel worse somehow.

[ball whooshing]

No need to panic.

No need to worry
what's lurking around the corner.

You've been scared your whole life.

And now you get to put that down.

It's here, Frederick.
I'm finally, finally here.

The cool thing is, like,
nobody gets to see this.

From this vantage point anyway.

So, at least try to appreciate that.

[metal clanging]

That's not good.

You know, I could have done this
just about any way I wanted to.

[ball thuds]

Could have had a heart att*ck in your car.
Coke would have teed that up nicely.

[glasses shattering]

Could have been hit by a bus.

But then you had to bring her home.

[ball thuds]

And you had to grab the pliers.

[metal creaking]

[ball thudding]

I'm gonna head out.

I've got an appointment with your dad.

[ball thuds]

He did you wrong, Freddie.

You only ever wanted to be loved by him.

You only ever wanted his approval.

[metal creaking]

And it's still no f*cking excuse.

[metal creaking, clanging]

[slashing]

[building crumbling]

Freddie's dead.

That means there's just us left.

You remember the deal.
You remember the terms.

I know you do.

"Into the world together,
out of the world together

or there's no deal," that's what she said.

There is only one way out.

And I think you know that too.

I love you.

More than anyone in the world.

[gasps]

And now I need you to be a hero again.

I need you to be my brother.

- We need you... to be our hero.
- [sighs]

[pills rattling]

[sighing]

These are the s. Ligodone mill.

And here's the thing,
once you start you can't stop.

You have to take 'em all at once

'cause if you stop it can hurt,
as you well know.

But if you take it fast,
you won't feel it.

- Your blood pressure will drop.
- [sighs]

And you'll just... just go to sleep.

[groans]

- [pills rattling]
- Um...

No other way?

There's not.

I have run it all down.
Every possible scenario.

You trust me, you have always trusted me.

This is the only one. This is it.

Go ahead. You can do it.

Now, that's a legend.

- [coughs]
- That's a king.

[sobs]

You're saving us all.

[exhales]

[pills rattling]

[Madeline] You're a legend.

You're a king.

You are saving us all.

[footsteps approaching]

[metallic clinking]

[coughing]

[retching]

- [Verna] Can't let you out that easy.
- [groans]

Hello again, handsome.