01x16 - The Tear Collector

[bunniefuu]

[theme music playing]

NARRATOR:
Man lives in the sunlit world

of what he believes
to be reality.

But... there is,

unseen by most, an underworld.

A place that is just as real

but not as brightly lit.

A dark side.

[woman sniffling]

I can't meet a blind date,
not like this.

Oh, look at you.

You really think this person
wants to meet someone

who cries all the time?

Oh, this will never work.

Maybe there are some people

who are just born
different, sadder,

who feel too much.

God knows I've tried
to be happy.

My roommate tells me
I have to be.

WOMAN:
Oh, enough with the
tears already, honey.

Put a move on it--
they'll be here any minute.

I just can't do it.

Oh, sure you can.

Listen, doll, when you
look good, you feel good.

So, paint yourself
a pretty face, okay?

I wish it was that simple.

Oh, Gretchen, maybe
some other time.

I just don't want a date.

Another time, when?

You've been this way your whole
life, about everything.

Why do you always
have to be so sad?

It's how I feel.

[door buzzer]

Feelings, schmeelings,
they're here.

Come on.

Why does life have to be
such a tragedy with you?

Do you think I like
feeling like this?
[door buzzer]

Yes.

I don't!

[door buzzer]

I'm not scared of them.

They think I don't know,
but I know what's happening.

They... they
I know what they're doing,

I know what they're up
to... I know, I know.

I know, I know,
I know what's...

I see you looking at me.

Oh, don't.
You think
I'm crazy, don't you?

Want to help me out?

No, please.
You do, don't you?
Don't you?

Please, please,
leave me alone.
[laughing]

Here!

You're a very
sensitive person!

MAN:
Wait, Prudence.

Your tears are beautiful.

What?

There's so much sadness
in the world.

You feel it all, don't you?

Who are you?

My card.

I want you to
come see me.

I've been searching
for someone like you.

Ambrose Cavender, Collector.

Wait.

Collector of what?

♪ ♪

Mr. Cavender?

Hello?

Anyone here?

There's something
irresistible about
locked doors.

Uh, the front door was open.

I, uh, I didn't mean to intrude.

I've been waiting for you.

I don't know why I came.

You're like a dear little girl
lost in the woods.

And all you want to do
is cry, isn't it?

No, that's not it. I...

There's no need to pretend
any longer, Prudence.

Not with me.

I don't want to cry.

I hate it.

You musn't.

Come, sit next to me.

I'm sorry. I...

One must never
apologize for tears.

You'd be so much more
comfortable lying down.

How long have you been so sad?

Always.

As long as I can remember.

I've tried to
fight it, but...

You musn't fight.

I know what they all think--

my roommate, all of them.

They think I need
a psychiatrist.

But I don't want a doctor.

I don't want pills.

I just want...

You want to cry.

You are no longer
alone, Prudence.

I always have been.

No longer.

Let me bear your tears.

Don't fight them.

Your tears are too
precious to waste.

The ancient Chinese believed
it was in the tear,

that man and divinity
intertwined.

Few realize the power of tears.

They wipe their tears away.

They let them drop
to the ground.

Yet, among all God's creatures,

it is only man

who can cry.

I, Prudence, know
the magic of tears.

It's... it's, it's odd,
but I do feel better.

Yes, I know.

You didn't hate
your tears.

Why do you do this?

Let's just say that I'm someone
who can be of service.

You seem...

...kind of lonely.

Lonely?

No.

I'd like you to
accept something.

Oh, I can't.

A token of my
appreciation.

I want you to come
back and see me again.

We've only just started.

Talk about a babe
in the woods.

I don't believe it.

You meet some smoothie
on the street.

He invites you home.

And you actually went?

Hold still.

Come on, tell me he didn't
try to put the moves on you.

He didn't.

He's not like
what you're used to.

Oh, what's he like?

Omar Sharif?

How about Bela Lugosi?

He isn't like other men.

You're right.
He sounds dangerous.

God knows what he
really wants from you.

I don't know.

I've spent so long,
wishing I could be happy.

But somehow,

I really think he can help me.

[sobbing]

Don't stop.

No one's ever let me...

ever listened to me.

You're very kind.

But, why are you
saving my tears?

When your vial is full,
you'll be ready.

Ready to do what?

To smile, to live.

But, I don't understand.

I mean, I've spent
my whole life crying.

Not tears like these.

You've always tried
to stop your tears.

These, are different.

Deeper.

Sherry?

Thank you.

What did you mean,

when you said, my tears
were different now?

Uh, deeper?

Tears of great sorrow
are unlike any others.

In such tears, are found
the rarest of chemicals.

Scientists have no way
to explain

where this, mysterious
ingredient comes from.

But I can tell you,

it comes from some place
deep within the soul.

And with it, the human heart
can heal itself.

So, when my vial is full,

I'll be happy?

You will be free.

No one can give you
permanent happiness.

I wish I could promise you this.

But sadness and happiness--
it is a never ending cycle.

I would like
to show you

what is behind that
locked door now.

[air whooshing]

[door creaks]

This is the Chamber
of Ancient Sorrows.

Tears collected
from across the ages.

Soon, you will join them.

PRUDENCE:
They look very old.

They are.

Each is special.

These are from a young Aztec,

who watched the conquistadors
crush his world.

And here, the tears
shed by the mother

of a Confederate soldier
who never came home.

They're beautiful.

How did you get them?

I've been doing this
a very long time.

Well, why is that
corner empty?

When your vial is full,
it will be placed here.

So now he's sending
you flowers.

No, I just thought the place
could use a little cheering up.

Well, that's a first.

What are you, falling in love?

What if I am?

Uh-oh.

Oh, damn.

Where's the Kleenex?

Wow.

One, two, three, $500?

Hey, Pru,
where'd this come from?

I-I just didn't want you to...

It's from that guy,
isn't it?

What exactly are you
doing for him, Pru?

I'm not doing anything.

I'm crying for him.

♪ ♪

Excuse me.

Uh, I,

I just wanted to see you.

I didn't expect you
till tomorrow.

I'll wait in the study.

It's almost full.

Oh, wait.

That's not why I came.

Why are you here?

Uh, I hope you don't mind.

I just...
um, I wanted to visit you.

Perhaps I haven't
made things clear.

No, no, I understand.

You want me to cry,
to fill the... vial.

It's very important.

I'll try.

I'm sorry, I can't...

Couldn't we just talk?

I'm afraid not.

Perhaps it would be best
if you came back another time.

I, um, I want to cry.

I just...

You need help?

Yes, I need help.

Can you help me?

♪ ♪

It is done.

You kissed me.

Only because it was necessary.

Necessary?

Yes.

To fill the vial.

Well, I can still see you,
can't I?

No, Prudence.

But I need to.

No, you don't.

You're ready.

I thought
you cared about me.

Good-bye, Prudence.

[door opens, closes]

[Cavender talking indistinctly]

[woman sobbing]

Tears, can be
a very precious thing.

[sobbing]

[Cavender talking indistinctly]

CAVENDER:
There.

Let yourself cry.

You must trust me.

[eerie voices wailing]

[glass crunching]

[glass shattering]

[eerie voices wailing louder]

Prudence,

there's too much sadness
in the world already.

Please, let go!

Leave me and
my tears!

Wait.

Why?

I want you to understand.

I understand.

All you ever wanted
was my tears.

Your tears are all
I can take from you.

You must forget me.

[car horn honking]

[tires screeching]

Oh.

Oh.

My tears.

All my tears.

[car door opens, closes]

Are you all right?

I guess we
didn't see you.

Can I help you up?

Thank you.

Was that something
valuable?

Uh, uh, it was to me.

Maybe I could
replace it for you.

No, you can't.

Well, what was it?

Well...

[chuckles]

it was my... my tears.

Your tears?

I guess, uh, I
don't understand.

No, it's okay.

I, I'm fine.

I... I just can't explain it.

Anybody ever tell you
you've got a wonderful smile?

Well, not recently, no.

Well, you do.

NARRATOR:
The dark side is always there.

Waiting for us to enter.

Waiting to enter us.

Until next time,

try to enjoy the daylight.