02x08 - Better Angels

[bunniefuu]

I received a letter from Vienna.
They have offered me a position.

[Sara] Elspeth Hunter.

Confined at Blackwell's
Island asylum for two years.

For attempted m*rder.

Of her own mother.

She went to school with children
from the finest families in Brooklyn.

Aspirations.

So you fabricated a story
about her trying to k*ll you.

And you created a k*ller.

The madwoman had
a child of her own.

[Sara] He's gone behind my back

and used that child to
lure Libby out of hiding.

[choking]

[Libby] What have
you done with her?

[Moore] I want not to be
alone. Childless, lonely.

[Bitsy] If you love him,
you must tell him, Sara.

A time will come
when it's too late.

Put the g*n down or he dies.

[all breathing heavily]

Stay away from
me or I'll k*ll him.

[shudders]

You don't want to do that,
Libby. You know that you don't.

No, you...

[chuckles]

You don't know anything.

Put the knife down.

Tell me where she is.

Put the knife down
and I'll tell you.

You're lying!

- No. No, no.
- Those are lies!

[breath trembling]

Please.

- Let him live.
- Why?

Because he's your beau?

Oh, because you love him?

All right.

[grunts]

I'll count to two.

One...

She's at the Kreizler Institute!

[Libby] What?

[hesitates] You put her in...

[grunts]

[Libby grunting]

Where is the baby?

That baby?

He ain't mine.

What have you done with him?

[laughing]

[theme music playing]

- [indistinct chatter]
- [dogs barking]

Carotid artery.

It would have been quick,
if that's any consolation.

Man walks a beat for
half his life. For what?

For this?

He died in his uniform
serving the city.

Serving the propertied patroons

with the greenbacks
in their pockets.

It's what we do, Marcus.

You think there'd be an army of
men out there hunting for your baby?

Or his?

[flash bulb explodes, sizzles]

Does he need to suffer
this further indignity?

We know who done the deed.

Photographs will help the
prosecution, Mr. Byrnes.

[Moore] Who would've thought,

a newspaper man's occupation
would be this hazardous?

[Moore clears throat]

What's the plan?

I need to interview Libby.

John.

I thought I had lost you.

What are we going to do?

We will find a way.

Is that not what you want?

I just fear that you
love this Sara Howard,

your friend.

And all the qualities that
you like in me as a friend,

you would not want in a wife.

I love you...

for your kindness
and your courage,

your beauty and
your fierce intelligence.

You challenge me.

What are you scared of, Sara?

Love that is not
truthful is not love.

It's only passion.

Is it not true that you
want a wife, a family?

A place to call home?

That's what you want?

- Is that so wrong?
- No.

But at this moment,
I'm not sure that I...

- [groans softly]
- You need rest.

The child is alive, I know it.

I'm coming with you.

We must hurry.

Laszlo is meeting
us at the station.

[door unlocks]

[keys jangling]

[door unlocks]

I talked to Mulberry
Street, Mr. Byrnes,

and they're happy for you
to conduct the interview,

given your knowledge
of the situation.

Ordinarily, I'd talk to
someone such as yourself first.

That would be the first degree.

And if the truth
weren't forthcoming,

I'd subject you to
the second degree.

I broke all creation and all
nature and all wrath in my time.

Even the toughest ones crack

when they have been subjected
to the Byrnes' third degree.

Gentlemen.

[officers grunting]

[Libby gasping and sputtering]

I will return tomorrow
to check on her.

I appreciate it.

And while these matters are
brought to their conclusion,

you and I have another
pressing issue to discuss.

We might not have the time.

Vienna.

A decision must
be made imminently.

I hadn't imagined you would go.

And I hadn't imagined
you would stay.

[chuckles softly]

I can't decline an
invitation from Dr. Freud.

As much as I'm
tempted to go with you,

my life is here.

All windows and
doors here are secure.

Would you and Lucius
remain here while I'm gone?

Of course.

[Dr. Kreizler sighs]

[men chattering and laughing]

- [man urging horse]
- [horse whinnying]

Goo Goo.

Goo Goo.

Hold off. It's me.

[dog barking]

[baby fussing]

The cops got Libby.

- How?
- One of our guys saw her dragged in.

- So what you gonna do with it?
- [Goo Goo] I don't know.

Not sure if Libby
wants it no more.

Maybe leave it.

[gasping loudly]

Are you gonna talk?

Again.

[sputtering]

[bucket rattling]

[breathing heavily]

[coughing]

Where is the child?

[shouts]

- Wait, wait, wait.
- Hang on.

I'll tell you where the baby is.

I'll tell you where the baby is.

[Byrnes] What? What did she say?

I'll tell you where...

[officer screaming]

Get her off me! Get her off!

[officer groaning]

Get him out of here!

[spits]

[laughing]

[sobbing]

Mr. Byrnes, I must protest.

I do not approve of
merciless methods of t*rture

no matter what someone has done.

It's easy to cast aspersions from
where you stand, Miss Howard.

You have that luxury.

I, on the other hand, don't.

No matter how
difficult the task.

[Dr. Kreizler] It is not
a bad thing to feel guilt.

It furnishes the mind with
the possibility of change.

[Byrnes] Oh, don't start
talking about me now.

You and your postulations.

I can't break her.

You can't break someone
who's already broken, Mr. Byrnes.

Why don't you have a go at her,

see if one of your claptrap
theories can't open her up?

It's worth a shot.
What have you to lose?

[Marcus] It's one night, Lucius.

Just until Laszlo finds
a suitable place for her.

Do I look like I'm complaining?

Yes. Yes, you do.

- Are you comfortable?
- Quite.

[chuckles]

Did I tell you about the dream I
had the other night about Mama?

She asked me to meet
her midday on Hester Street,

under the clock
outside Mendel's.

Mendel's?

What happened?

I waited under the
clock. She didn't show up.

What do you think that means?

That you miss her.

[Dr. Kreizler] Not yet.

What is it?

- You do not know how to approach her?
- On the contrary, I do.

We don't have time for
her to know me, and I her.

It would serve us better if...

If I were to interview her.

She needs a doctor.

- I fear I'm not qualified.
- You are immensely qualified.

She's entirely deranged.

Surely it's not safe for Sara
to be in there alone with her.

They have treated this
poor creature with violence.

She will distrust
any unfamiliar face.

You and Libby share a bond.

You know her. You
met her. You studied her.

You know who she is.

You're right. I'll do it.

If you need us, we'll be here.

[Dr. Kreizler] No.

Hello, Libby.

You're not frightened of me?

You should be.

They hurt you?

Men have always hurt me.

I know about your mother.

Mm.

She lied, you know, my mother?

First time I went to Blackwell
Island when my father died.

When I came out with
a child, she cut herself.

She said I did it.

She didn't want a baby.

She didn't want me.

She didn't want me to have it,
so they took the baby from me.

Because of her.

I'm of the opinion that some
people shouldn't have children.

They do it because they
think they're supposed to.

But it's not really
what they want.

Is that the way your mother was?

Yeah.

Mine, too.

She didn't love you?

Your father, he loved
you though, didn't he?

I always felt, as a child...

that if he did love me...

why did he leave me?

But I was happy

before Papa died.

Me, too.

I was always happy. [chuckles]

I had these pretty dresses.

Taffeta and silk.
And I did ballet.

Dancing. I knew all the moves.

Pirouettes and arabesques.

But having Clara...
that made you happy.

To feel loved. Didn't it?

When she was born...

she was covered in blood.

And they wiped her down
and they laid her on me.

And from that
moment, I loved her.

Would you like to see her?

Clara?

Because I could bring
her to you, if you like.

You... you'd bring her to me?

But you would have to
tell me where the baby is.

[Libby whispers indistinctly]

Sara?

When can I see her, Clara?

- Lock the door.
- Wait.

Wait.

She told me where the baby is.

No, no, no!

No. No!

Mr. Byrnes, we have an address.

- Murphy!
- Sir?

- Round up your boys. We're leaving.
- [Murphy] Yes, sir.

[Murphy] Keep it moving,
lads. Come on, hurry up.

Those damn Dusters
will be waiting for us.

[officer] On the double!

Ready?

You b*tch. You b*tch.

I fear I have been
unnecessarily cruel to her.

And yet, I had to deceive her.

As she deceived you.

I lied. I said I would
bring her Clara.

You found out where the
child is. That is what matters.

[horse neighs]

[officer] Hyah!

[Murphy] Boys, lads.
There's a light on in there.

You two, cover the back.

Ready yourselves, boys.

Sir. Over here.

[Byrnes] Come out or we sh**t!

[wings flutter]

[pigeons cooing]

They've taken flight, it seems.

[baby fussing]

- [dog barking]
- [gasps]

No, don't sh**t the damn
dog, man. It's just an animal.

[baby crying]

It's all right, little man.

It's all right.

[shushes]

It's all right, little man.

Is he all right?

Yes.

We should take
him to a hospital.

It's all right.

[shushes]

Sir, what now?

Escort the baby to the
hospital. We'll notify Vanderbilt.

Sir.

[Ding Dong] What's the plan?

We're gonna make
these sorry sons of b*tches

wish they'd never been born.

[officer] Stack your cards up.

Did someone come over here?

Is there nothing else
we can do for her?

Her mind's in great turmoil.

[Libby humming]

At the very least, we should
insist she see a doctor.

She needs medical treatment.

[indistinct shouting]

[grunting]

This way!

[guard] You'll be safe in there.

Take the keys.

[men shouting]

- Goo Goo. Goo Goo!
- Libby? Libby!

I'm here. Goo Goo!

Libby!

Open the door, open the door.

[lock clicks]

Where's that b*tch?

I know she's here.
I know she's here.

I can smell her.

Libby.

We've got to go. The
cops are gonna come back.

I need Clara.

I need Clara.

Let's go.

[glass shatters]

Hey. Hey. Wake up.

Wake up. Someone's here.

[g*n c*ck]

Marcus?

- Where's my daughter?
- You can't take her.

[scoffs] I can't take
my own daughter?

Hey, what are you doing?

[g*nsh*t]

Hi.

Hey.

Clara, come here.

Hey.

It's me.

I'm your mama.

And you're gonna come with me.

[Goo Goo] Come on, let's go.

Oh, this? This isn't anything.

[Clara gasps]

Now come on. Good girl.

Good girl.

[Clara grunts]

It's okay. I'm your mama.

Ow!

Don't hurt her.

[door opens and closes]

My glasses broke.

Marcus?

Marcus.

Marcus.

[Marcus groans softly]

Uh, stop the bleeding.

Stay with me.

What?

I have to stop the bleeding.

You're all right.

Marcus? You're all right.

[Marcus] Hm.

[crying]

Don't leave me.

It's okay.

Marcus.

Marcus.

Please don't leave me, Marcus.

[sobbing]

[Lucius praying in Hebrew]

[praying in Hebrew]

[in English] May
the Lord comfort you

with all the mourners
of Zion and Jerusalem.

Lucius, you have my
deepest condolences.

Marcus was one of our own.

As are you. The both of youse.

Go right ahead.

[man] I'm sorry for
your loss, Lucius.

[Joanna] He was taken from
you far too soon. I'm so sorry.

Lucius...

I know.

John.

I'm so very sorry.

I couldn't pull the trigger.

- I'm useless.
- Don't say that.

He loved you and you loved him.

[Moore] It feels
so fleeting, this life.

A gust of wind, and the
flame is extinguished.

[Sara] Man makes
plans and the gods laugh.

In the hospital, you asked
me, did I want a family?

And you said that you did.

I have dreamt about it often.

But I realize,
here in this room,

what it is I value
most dearly in life.

I was born a gentleman.

I have grown accustomed to
behaving in a certain correct way.

Not quite saying what it is I
want and what I don't want.

What do you want?

I want you.

[Dr. Kreizler sighs]

What's on your mind?

Dr. Stratton has been
offered a posting in Vienna.

Are you thinking of
accompanying her?

Whatever it is you decide, you
must place your own happiness first.

What of you, Sara?

John means the world to me.

And yet I fear we
desire different things.

But there is more?

I feel pulled every which way.

You should abide
by your own advice.

[door latch clicks]

[Moore] This is from Lucius.

Everything the police collected
over the course of the investigation.

Let us begin, then.

Laszlo, you said that Libby
was a frightened child herself.

Her emotional growth was likely stunted
by the repeated trauma she had suffered.

There was a moment
in the prison cell.

In the midst of recounting
the horrors that befell her,

her eyes lit up
at a recollection.

She spoke of being happy,

of doing ballet,
of pretty dresses.

She aspired to be a lady.

If her mother was being truthful,
they were more than aspirations.

It was a life they once had.

A paradise lost.

Lost when her father died.

She's sheltering
here, in her memories.

They do not disappoint her.

The more of a whirlwind
she reaps in the present,

the more her mind
seeks refuge in the past.

She is retreating to a
time when she was happy,

the halcyon days of childhood.

Perhaps this is the
house in which she lived.

It was in a painting on the wall
at Malorie Hunter's apartment.

If this was her
childhood home...

Now reunited with her daughter,

her own family unit is complete.

- All that's left is...
- To go home.

Bitsy, call Sergeant
Kelly in Brooklyn

and get the address of
the old Hunter family home.

We need to alert Byrnes.

I believe he does
want to help us.

This time we leave
nothing to chance.

[Libby humming]

[continues humming]

And again.

[hooves clopping]

[driver] Whoa!

[officer] Rope that off!

[Byrnes] She's in there.

We've identified Libby Hatch inside
with Goo Goo Knox and the child.

We believe if we
go in all g*ns blazin',

the child is lost.

And this could be a trap.

So my boys must stand prepared
for another attack by those Dusters.

Miss Howard, I'll set
up a perimeter watch.

You let me know what
assistance I can offer.

Thank you, Mr. Byrnes.

[indistinct chatter]

We'll begin with a demi-plié.
You bend your knees,

keep your heels
firmly on the ground...

Libby, the kid
don't want to dance.

What is this place anyway?

I already told you, you idiot.

I used to live here.

[laughs]

I don't think so.

This place is a g*dd*mn palace.

You heard that?

[glass crunching]

Shh!

Clara. Come... come here.

Clara.

Clara.

Clara.

Clara.

I'm your... I'm your mom.

I'm your mom. Clara.

Why? Why? Why are you so mean?

No, no, no!

Ow, ow!

[shushes]

[Goo Goo] I thought we had rats.

[g*n c*ck]

- [gasps]
- [g*nshots]

[muffled shouting]

[Libby shushing]

[gasping]

[Clara] Help me! Ow!

Clara.

You need to get Byrnes.

Come here. Good girl, good girl.

- [Clara] No.
- Shut up.

I'm your mom.

- Why don't you want me?
- Libby!

No.

No.

Let her go.

No, she's mine.

And you're not gonna take her.

Libby, don't!

I'll take her with me.

Where no one is gonna hurt her.

You're hurting her.

No. But...

But I love her.

I loved her the
moment she was born.

I loved her since she
was a baby in my arms.

What happened to you does not
determine what Clara will become.

She has her life ahead of her.

Look at her.

[crying, sniffles]

[glass shatters]

The only thing

that ever loves you is
a little innocent thing.

And you think, "Maybe...

maybe it will stop the pain."

And it does for...
for a little while.

Do not sh**t!

I'm sorry.

[sobbing] I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

[boy] New York
Times! Duster slain!

New York Journal! Knox gone!

Oh, no, thank you.

Well, congratulations, John.

I heard on the down-low
Vanderbilt is singing your praises.

I thought he was
keeping it hush-hush.

I've got my own sources, too.

We thought when you
hit a high, you'd leave us.

And forego my scoop
on the Lying In Hospital

- and Dr. Markoe? Never.
- [chuckles]

You know, Bernie, I've
spent most of my life

being somewhat
of a phony, a fake.

But, for whatever reason,

I feel I belong here.

What about Hearst? You tell
him about the promotion yet?

Well, that's complicated.

Would you excuse me
for a moment, Bernie?

I've been informed that this
promotion allows me to pick my team.

I would very much like it
if you were on it, Joanna.

Stay here. Work for me. With me.

Thank you, John.

But I found a newspaper
in Weeksville. In Brooklyn.

- It's somewhat more...
- Radical?

Progressive.

You've got a visitor, Mr. Moore.

Violet.

Papa said you've made quite the
splash with your stories about Libby Hatch.

Yes. Well, it's been
quite a taxing experience.

You've been a
stranger to me of late.

Violet, I wanted to, um...

I need to explain
something to you.

I feel we do need to talk.

[Cyrus] Laszlo Kreizler,
meet Frederick Douglass.

I've been meaning to give
it to you for quite some time.

The occasion just
never felt fitting.

I'm deeply touched, my
friend. I will treasure it.

Let me fill you up.

What's on your mind, Laszlo?

The Institute.

I feel, at times, that I've
been hiding behind its walls.

And yet, it's my life's work
and it has given me great joy.

You know, Laszlo, the whole
time I was at the Institute,

I never felt like
I was being me.

- And you do here.
- Oh, yeah.

This is my own place.

And I can decide what it
is I want to do for myself.

Despite all my knowledge of life

and my own advice to patients,

I hesitate,

I tread gingerly when I
should step purposefully.

If there's no struggle,
there is no progress.

Sometimes, Laszlo, you just
have to decide what it is you want

and then fight for it.

What on earth are you
doing, Miss Howard?

I'm trying to take the
b*ll*ts out of my furniture.

It's quite the weapon
you have there.

[Sara] Oh, there.

[sighs]

What, this? This
is a Balkan dagger.

It's proven to be quite useful.

What is it?

John, nothing is so bad
that you cannot tell me.

Grasp the nettle
and it hardly stings.

Violet is in a
delicate condition.

Dare I ask?

I'm the father.

I'm happy for you, John.

I am sad, but I am also happy.

Because now, you get
what your heart desires.

And that is to be a father.

You said that it didn't matter,

but I suspect that it did.

I'm so sorry, Sara.

Desiring a child of your own
is nothing to be ashamed of.

It's a new life, a
new Schuyler Moore.

[chuckles softly]

In all this time,

there's been an
ache in my heart,

an emptiness ever
since my brother died.

And it may sound foolish,

but I hope, perhaps,

that if a small part of
him were to be born again,

that I would see
it in my own child.

Or my own child in him.

That doesn't sound foolish.

- Doesn't?
- No.

It sounds beautiful.

[Karen] You play chess so
romantically, Laszlo, with such daring.

Gallantly accepting my gambits,

and yet still
mercilessly ruining me.

Perhaps you play with
such reckless abandon

because there's little
at stake, there's no risk.

Knight to king's knight seven,
knight takes pawn. Check.

King to queen one.

Are you offering a wager?

Queen to bishop's
knight six. Check.

Indeed.

Should you lose, then you're
mine to do with as I so wish.

I fear at this moment, I would
have an unfair advantage.

What you suggest
sounds positively Faustian.

You mean to take
my immortal soul.

Yet hardly likely, Karen,

when my knight takes your queen.

Perhaps merely your
mortal body then?

Checkmate.

I do believe I did say, "To
do with you as I so pleased."

Are you sure I can't tempt
you to come to Europe with me?

[children chattering]

I'm sure the Institute will thrive
or even prosper without me.

I've realized I'm not
some omniscient god.

It's quite the breakthrough,
Laszlo, to know one is not divine.

[Dr. Kreizler chuckles]

Yes. I am simply a man,
quite an imperfect creature.

But your arrival in my life has
precipitated a desire to change.

I most...

Don't change too much.

I like the man you are.

Tell me...

how is the weather in
Vienna this time of the year?

We shall miss you, Laszlo.

And I you. Both of you.

But this is not the
time for melancholia.

[Moore] And so, here we
find ourselves once again.

"One of the most beautiful
qualities of friendship

is to understand and
to be understood."

Seneca the Younger. I think.

I did attend some of the classes
in our Harvard days, Laszlo.

[chuckles]

To our friendship.

I hope there will still be occasion
for us to dine together when I return.

If you return.

Well, my carriage awaits.

Laszlo, be well.

Goodbye, Miss Sara Howard.

Goodbye, John Moore.

So how long will
you be in Europe for?

I'm not sure. Six
months, perhaps longer.

And you'll have Professor
Stratton to share the adventure with.

Shall we drink to that?

American bourbon straight up.

And for Miss Howard?

Make it two.

[exhales]

[Libby] My father, he
had an accident, too.

I thought we understood
each other, Miss Howard.

But you... you're incapable.

And you think, "Maybe
it will stop the pain."

Morning. We have
a busy day. Bitsy?

I sent Ida down
to the Tenderloin

to get the lowdown on
the Annie Swede case.

And the Commissioner

is asking you to assist on
the Pacific State Bank heist.

Good. Set up a meeting. We
need access to all the evidence.

Mrs. Schermerhorn messaged.

Servants are stealing
her silverware again?

Politely decline, I think.

Girls, I would like to introduce
the newest member of our team,

Kitty Byrnes.

I appreciate the
opportunity, Miss Sara.

I won't let you down.

You will not see a lot of
photographs of detectives

that look like us in the
Police Gazette, Kitty.

Not yet, anyways.

But I think of it like this.

Our office at 808
Broadway is lit by electricity.

And before electricity,
people used kerosene lamps

and before that they used
candles made from whale oil.

The man with the whale oil candle
could never have envisioned all of this.

We may be judged as women,

but we must remember
that we are detectives,

and whether we wear skirts or
trousers is immaterial to what we do.

It's human nature to
make mistakes, Kitty.

We sometimes might fail,

but we should not be
defined by our failures.

It is eight o'clock.
Let us begin.

[indistinct chatter]

Bitsy.

[indistinct chatter]