03x16 - Dawn's Early Light

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Sleepy Hollow...

Pandora: There are fates worse than death, Abbie.

How long will you be able to stand the solitude?

Betsy Ross?

The flag woman?

Betsy... was a woman of many talents.

Abbie: Betsy and Crane... kind of were a thing.

You know why I fell in love with you back when we were new agents in training?

You love me?

You never said that before.

I care about you, Abs.

I found Dad.

You want to reconnect with that deadbeat?

(scoffs) Go ahead.

You're not actually thinking of working with Pandora?

We need to save Crane, and she's the only one who has any idea how to break through this barrier.

Pandora: I knew you had the Emblem, and I did not tell him.

We have much to discuss, Pandora. We can start with the truth.

The fault lies with me, really.

I was far too indulgent.

Allowed you to become too familiar, like a house pet that has come to expect feasts, rather than table scraps.

Perhaps my long slumber caused me to forget the devious nature of humans, because if you are anything, you are a human.

(gasping)

(coughing)

Your kind can never be trusted.

My Lord...

I did not betray you.

Lies!

You knew the Witnesses had the Emblem of Thura, yet you hid that from me.

It nearly resulted in my downfall.

I recognized the error of my ways.

I enlisted the help of the Witness, to aid me in freeing you.

The only reason you are still alive.

Clean yourself up.

I may continue your punishment later, but for now...

I am weary.

You really don't miss coffee?

Not really.

I think being stranded in an unearthly realm for a year helps you kick those addictions.

Hmm.

Maybe I should go to the Catacombs.

My diet soda habit's out of control.

(knocking)

I swear...

I'm gonna tie the key to Crane's neck.

Yeah.

(clears throat)

Abigail.

Hope I'm not interrupting.

No.

Come in.

Oh, Jennifer.

I'm glad you're here, too.

What are you doing here?

Oh, well, I was, uh, passing through town for work, and, uh, your place is on the way, and I found something that maybe I-I thought you might want to, um...

Look, the truth is, I just wanted to say hi.

After I saw you at the diner, I, uh, dug through some old boxes.

I don't have a lot of stuff from the old days, but I did find this.

I thought you might want to know more about who you are, where you came from.

This was the first picture we ever took of you.

You tried to walk for months.

Kept at it from morning to night.

I-I remember this one.

You used to bring home taffy when you were out of town for work.

Yeah, from that place in Atlantic City.

What was it called?

A real funny name...

You remember this, don't you?

You got it in your hair; Mom had to cut it out. - Yeah.

Sorry, no.

Ah, your mother.

She was an amazing woman.

Beautiful.

Strong.

And you left her.

There were a lot of things that were unspoken between us.

Too many secrets.

A relationship can survive most anything... except secrets.

(door opens)

Here endeth the reign of the house of burger.

Long live the new fast food king, a poultry farm in Kentucky and Colonel... oh.

Oh, we have company. Crane... uh, this is...

(chuckles)

This is Ezra Mills.

My name is Ichabod Crane.

What a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

The pleasure's mine.

Abbie: Ezra was just passing through on his way to...

Ezra: Uh, Maryland.

...Maryland for business.

Yeah, um, I should be going.

Um, it was nice seeing you again, girls, and it's nice meeting you, Crane.

Likewise.

Take good care of my daughter.

(door closes)

I appear to have missed something.

No.

You didn't miss anything.

(clattering)

(g*n clicks)

Pandora.

The other Witness, where is she?

Why would I divulge that to you?

She has heard my story.

I have confessed to her my shame.

She will know that I speak the truth.

Well, then how unfortunate that I am the only Witness here.

Please... do not let our past distract you.

I am the only one who can bring salvation to...

Stop talking. (sighs)

Judging by your appearance, this will actually hurt this time.

So, tell me, why are you here?

I need the rest of the Box.

It was forged by the gods themselves to contain their power.

It is the only thing that will stop him.

The Hidden One?

Why would we believe that?

Because if you do not, then we will all be extinguished.

So, your impending demise caused a change of heart.

I speak the truth.

If I were to believe you, there must be another way to stop him.

Another way to restore the Box.

It cannot be repaired, but it can be regenerated, only in the place where it was forged.

The Catacombs.

And it is impossible to journey there, now that you and your partners have k*lled the Tree of Fear.

Impossible for most, perhaps.

This cutlass.

This belonged to Betsy Ross.

So, if we could find a path...

Then there would be hope.

Your mile's even faster than Quantico.

Just trying to keep pace with your time.

Oh, well, then you have a long way to go.

Oh, it's like that now.

(chuckles) You care to put your money where your sneakers are?

Danny, um, I don't really know where to start with this, but I have some things that I have to tell you, and I don't know if this is the right place, or if there will ever be a right place...

(phone chimes)

...but...

But there is a right time.

I have to...

You got to go.

You can't tell me where.

You'll explain later.

We'll talk when you're ready.

(sighs)

Hey, what's the emergency?

We had a visitor... and she had some rather alarming news.

She?

Pandora.

I found her in the Masonic Cell, searching for pieces of her Box.

She told me that the Hidden One is approaching full power, and we have but 48 hours before he destroys all of humanity.

And she needs her Box to stop him.

Yes.

But... the Box can only be regenerated in the Catacombs.

You want to go to the Catacombs?

It appears it is our only option.

If you believe Pandora.

Lieutenant, you once allied yourself with her.

To save you.

Now this is to save all of us.

(sighs)

This must be your decision.

I know what that place did to you.

I know how hard it has been for you to recover.

I will not proceed unless you are fully on board.

There's no way of going back to the Catacombs.

Not that we know of... but we do know that Paul Revere recovered the Eye of Providence for Washington, and according to Pandora, the Eye was previously in the Catacombs.

We also know that Betsy Ross, at some point, was there, and she discerned a way out.

Now, the last time I saw Revere and Betsy together was Christmas Day, 1776... with Washington's forces as they prepared to launch an att*ck on the Hessians in New Jersey.

The crossing of the Delaware.

You were a part of that mission?

No.

Washington ordered me to stay behind, a decision with which I heartily disagreed.

So, there I was, stood on the riverbank watching the launch.

The fog was so thick, I lost sight of them as soon as they left the shore.

The fog, as in a mystical fog?

Possibly.

What if Washington asked you to stay back because they weren't going to New Jersey?

What if the crossing at the Delaware was actually... a journey to the Catacombs.

♪ ♪

Abbie: So, the original painting was created by Emanuel Leutze, who painted it 80 years after the actual crossing.

It was based on an eyewitness account in a journal of General John Sullivan.

And Sullivan was a Mason.

Any relevant details needed to be transmitted to future generations, he would surely have made note.

God's wounds.

How have I not seen this before?

This man with the flag... he has a rabbit fur hat.

Four inch brim at the front, five inch fan... a prominent cockade.

This was Betsy Ross's cocked hat.

So, that's... supposed to be Betsy in the painting?

Leutze must have assumed that the figures Sullivan described were all male, but this...

Betsy was on that boat.

Wait, are you sure? I mean, you're placing a lot of weight on a hat.

No, no, no, I'm quite certain.

I recall that day very clearly.

(soldiers shouting)

Washington is leading a company of his very best men across the Delaware to take the Hessians by surprise.

It's a bold move. It's a brilliant move.

Possibly the turning point of the w*r, but what's my role in this?

I'm being forced to stay behind and play nursemaid.

See it from his perspective, Crane.

You're too valuable to risk on such a dangerous journey.

Valuable?

Of what value am I in inaction?

Washington didn't invite you on his mission either, did he?

No.

All he asked was that I complete this.

What do you think?

Let's see.

Oh, Betsy, that's beautiful.

These five-pointed stars, that's an improvement on the original.

Look at them.

They practically shimmer.

(chuckles) An illusion, created with a little gold thread.

It's clever.

I daresay, if all goes well today, this may very well be how I'm remembered.

After all the missions, this flag may be my greatest accomplishment.

Betsy, I'm certain you are wrong there.

And even if it were...

...it really is beautiful.

Wow, the Betsy Ross flag.

The original Stars and Stripes.

She told me she was not going on the mission.

Clearly, she did.

Well, she knew you'd just worry.

She must have cared about you a lot.

Indeed.

You said she used golden thread.

Yes, it was a decorative flourish.

I always thought it rather baroque for Betsy's tastes.

You used this to find me when I was in the Catacombs, right?

The Lydian Jug.

Orpheus employed it to locate Eurydice in the Underworld, but it did not work quite so well for me.

No, but you were on the right track.

I followed up on some of your Orpheus research, and the Jug helped him find Eurydice, but to enter the Underworld he used a lyre, one strung with golden thread.

Betsy always said that the flag was her greatest achievement, but the flag is not important.

It is the thread she sewed into it.

Somehow it allowed them to enter the Catacombs.

So, we need Betsy Ross's flag.

Right, uh... last time I saw the flag, it was with Paul Revere.

Now, Revere would have ensured that anything so vital was well-protected.

He would not have allowed it out of his possession.

So, we need to figure out where Revere's stuff ended up.

The Paul Revere House.

North End, Boston.

It's a registered historical landmark.

Contains a full catalog of his holdings.

What?

We went there on a field trip in sixth grade, Mrs. Broka's class.

Is there a flag in Revere House?

Yeah.

The museum inventory logs one Revolutionary-era flag.

(snaps) Okay, so... we can be in Boston in a couple of hours, if you guys can figure out what we do with the flag once we get it.

Man: Well, this is quite a surprise, uh, but the Historical Society is always happy to assist, Agent Mills.

The FBI appreciates your help.

You'll find that most of the rooms are exactly as Revere left them, virtually untouched, and we've actually been getting more visitors these days.

Mostly Hamilton fans hoping to recognize stuff from the musical.

(chuckles) Have you seen it?

A musical about Alexander Hamilton?

Unbelievable.

The man had a voice like a stuck goat.

Seriously, that's why he wrote so many pamphlets. No one could bare to listen to him speak.

Would you mind if we took a look around?

Oh, not at all.

Let me just make sure the exhibits have been cleared.

Thank you.

Stuck goat?

Your father seemed... well.

I guess.

Perhaps now we might see a little more of him around the house.

Go on, Crane.

What do you want to ask?

No, nothing.

I merely want to express how pleased I am that you and Miss Jenny have reconciled with your father.

Well, I don't know about reconciled, but we're making progress.

Probably more so for me than Jenny.

But...

I'm also at a point in my life where I am a little more open to change, which is why I think I'm going to tell Danny the truth about the whole secret, monster-fighting.

Are you sure?

I think it's time that he knew.

If I want to have any chance at something more with him, I have to be honest.

All clear.

The house is yours.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Here.

Oh, this is in a sorry state of disrepair.

I guess the Founding Fathers did not believe in mothballs.

This was not made by Betsy's hand.

What?

Are you sure?

Yes, Betsy always used a modified whipstitch to protect the edges of her garments.

This is a cross-stitch.

Someone has taken Betsy's original flag and left this counterfeit in its place.

(low rumbling)

What was that?

(alarm beeping)

Someone turned on the smithy, and I can't turn it off.

I have to call the fire department.

You folks need to get out of here.

The smoke isn't coming from there.

Oh.

Whoa, these walls are scorching.

(yells)

(growls)

(growling)

(g*n clicks)

(g*nshots)

Crane!

Crane! Come on.

Crane.

(growls)

What was that thing?

I recognized the garments it was wearing.

It was the uniform of the 8th Virginia Regiment.

Now, most of the 8th Regiment was k*lled during the Battle of Monmouth, but some defied orders and escaped.

Now... there was an entry in Franklin's notebook.

After Washington captured one of the deserters, the Sisterhood of the Radiant Heart tarred and bandaged the prisoner using infernal materials, thus transforming him into a creature known as the Eternal Soldier.

Revere must have assigned him to protect Betsy's flag, and when we attempted to remove it, the Soldier was awoken.

Except that wasn't the actual flag.

At some point in history, someone replaced it with a fake.

Someone who knew how to get around the Soldier.

Well, unlike said person, we have roused the beast, and in doing so, I fear we may have painted the proverbial target upon our backs.

The creature will not rest until he hunts us down.

So, not only do we need to find the real flag, we need to do so without being roasted by an overheated guard.

Yes.

And we're running out of time.

(sighs)

(sighs)

Well, I can't find anything in the Sumerian texts.

Did you dig up anything else on the Orpheus legend?

Downtown Brown's Taffy House?

Okay, I know I'm not that experienced with all this, but I don't think the road to the Underworld runs through a candy shop.

My dad used to get us taffy from this place when we were kids.

My favorite were the pink ones.

Not that he'd remember.

Come on, it sounds like the guy's trying.

I mean, that's got to count for something, right?

I guess.

It was just so weird.

Sitting around, pretending to be this, like, normal family.

Looking at photos, laughing.

Yeah.

I mean, look, this whole thing is as new to him as it is to you.

Yeah, you know why it's new to him?

'Cause he abandoned us.

I'm sorry, just... we're trying to save the world, and I'm here whining about candy. (chuckles)

It's okay.

Abbie sent these.

They were hoping that whoever took the real flag would leave behind a clue, something that might tell us where it went.

What's with the holes?

I don't know.

Burn marks?

Moths?

No, they're too symmetrical.

They're all identical.

Hmm, meaning they were put there deliberately.

Maybe a grille cipher?

Yeah, maybe, but, I mean, what would the source text be?

Why stripes?

What?

I mean, I get why the Founding Fathers put stars on the flag, and the-the red, white and blue, that's from the British flag, right?

But why stripes?

Music notes.

You want to play Name That Tune?

Yeah.

All right.

G-E-C-

E-G-

C.

♪ Oh, say can you see... ♪

(chuckles)

Why is "The Star-Spangled Banner" on this flag?

Jenny: Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the w*r of 1812, decades after the crossing of the Delaware.

Right, so there was no way that he could have been involved with the journey to the Catacombs, but here is the thing about Key.

He was a Mason.

Jenny: That's right.

Now during the w*r, the British were invading the country and ransacking artifacts everywhere.

They hit the Capitol, the White House, and they were targeting other important sites...

Like Paul Revere's house.

So, rather than risk Betsy's flag falling into the wrong hands...

Crane: Key secured it elsewhere.

(explosions, soldiers shouting)

Jenny: Being a Mason, the story of the Eternal Soldier would have been passed down to him, so he knew how to avoid triggering it, but he left behind a clue as to where he put the real flag.

"Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light..."

Anapests. I cannot abide anapests.

Joe: Crane.

"Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there."

Key wrote those words at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.

Road trip?

Jenny: We'll meet you there.

I have some ideas on how to deal with your tar monster, but I got to pick up some equipment.

Without the protection of the Masonic Cell, we must keep moving or face detection by...

Danny.

What are you doing here?

I just got a call from an angry historian, saying one of my agents wrecked a national monument.

I can explain that.

What were you doing in Boston?

And why does he have to be with you everywhere you go?

Agent Reynolds...

I wasn't asking you.

I was talking to her.

I gave you space, Abs, and I think I've been more than patient.

You have.

But there are consequences...

Danny!

(growling)

FBI!

Freeze!

Danny...

I'm warning you, not another step.

(g*nshots)

What the hell?

Oh, God.

(screams)

(growling)

(tires screeching)

Crane: Get in!

Come on, Danny, move.

Inside.

(tires squealing)

(groans)

That man... I unloaded a clip into his chest, and he kept coming.

In his hands he created fire.

Okay, that is because he is not a man.

W-what are you saying?

He's a...

A demon.

A monster.

Accursed spawn of hell.

There are some things about this town, things that seem impossible, but monsters are real, and they're here in Sleepy Hollow.

And you... fight these monsters?

The two of you?

So, that explains the disappearing acts, the lies, the excuses, it was because of... o-o-of this.

I wanted to tell you, really, and that's what I was getting at this morning.

I should have told you sooner, but I didn't want you to find out like this.

The thing is, it's only after us, so we're gonna drop you off so you'll be safe.

That doesn't sound good.

It's okay.

We have a plan.

Hidden one: Pandora!

Pandora, where are you?

I am here.

Why have you not brought me more sacrifices to replenish the Hourglass?

I am almost restored.

I will no longer be providing for you.

No longer will I feed your vanity, your hunger and your pride.

How dare you?

You forget your place.

My place?

I thought my place was by your side, as an equal, not as a sl*ve.

You were a sl*ve once.

And I rose up, and I helped you rise up.

If there is one thing that I learned from those Witnesses, it is that the power of a true bond can conquer any might.

They are stronger because they have each other.

They are stronger because they love each other.

You?

You love only this.

The power.

(chuckles)

You are as foolish as you are cruel.

(echoing): My astral form is what you mindlessly lash out against now.

A trick I learned from you.

I am now safely far away, out of your reach.

By sundown tomorrow, I will be the one true God, and I will wipe away this world, you included.

Then you will see just how far my reach extends.

You love these humans so much.

You wear their clothes.

You feel their petty, worthless emotions.

If you want to live among them, then you shall die among them.

How long have you known?

I was wondering how you and Mills got so close so quickly.

Not long.

I got clued in when we were hunting for Mills.

I was... exposed to some weird stuff and...

Crane got me up to speed.

Why didn't you tell me?

Tell you what?

That... that Mills was trapped in a mystical dimension and we had to battle demons from Hell to get her back?

'Cause I'm not sure how that would have looked on my quarterly evaluation, you know?

Yeah, I'm not just your boss.

I'm your friend.

Yeah, you are, and as your friend, I wanted to protect you.

This is not like-like telling someone that you've joined a private club with a secret handshake, okay?

You get pulled into this world, and there are consequences.

Responsibilities.

Once you know the truth, there's no going back.

Who else is in on this?

Mills' sister, and her boyfriend, the EMT.

Th-There's probably others, right?

I mean, this is not something that stays quiet.

I don't know.

That's the truth, man.

I'm not that far ahead of you on this.

(sighs)

Welcome to the club.

Lieutenant?

Hmm?

You all right?

Yeah.

I mean, look, I hate the way that Danny found out.

I should have told him before, so I could have controlled the message.

Agent Reynolds is strong of spirit.

He will be fine.

And if there's one thing I've learned, it is that life rarely allows one the luxury of hewing to one's plans.

The best we can do is adapt to those turns we never see coming.

(indistinct chatter)

Go and fetch Betsy Ross.

Tell her we need her help.

Miss Ross has left camp.

When?

I don't know, sir, but she said to give you this after the boats returned.

Betsy: My dearest Crane, Why is it there is always so much to say when there is so little time?

You see, I am leaving, and I fear I will never see you again.

Do not attempt to find me.

Where I go, I go of my own accord, and I am at peace with the future that awaits, but know that I curse myself for not being strong enough to bid you farewell in person.

For I have never been one who can bear saying good-bye to someone I love.

So be strong for both of us.

As always, I shall count on that.

With affection, Betsy Ross.

And she was right.

I never saw her again.

I'm sorry, Crane.

But at least now you know where she went.

She traveled to the Catacombs to get the Eye of Providence, and because she did, Washington won the w*r.

Yes.

And 'twas best we parted when we did.

She had her path to follow after that mission, and I had mine, but my point is, Lieutenant, if you care for someone, do not leave anything unsaid.

Crane, this is an American fort, right?

Used by an American army?

Yes.

Used continuously for over 125 years.

But why is there a 42 foot statue of Orpheus on the grounds?

Crane: These, around the base.

These figures are from Greek mythology.

Hmm.

No sign of Hades...

Orpheus used a lyre to enter the Underworld.

(bell chimes)

Any requests?

You know the tune.

(bells playing "The Star-Spangled Banner")

(whispering): All right.

(gears turning)

(sighs)

Still beautiful, Betsy.

(growling)

(growling)

(yells)

(bellowing)

Jenny: Figured hot tar doesn't mix well with cold liquids.

Can't get much colder than liquid nitrogen.

Science.

You guys okay?

A little singed, but no worse for wear.

Did you get the flag?

(chuckles)

Long day?

Guessing not as long as yours.

What happened with the, uh, fire man?

(chuckles) Extinguished.

How often do you deal with stuff like this?

Seems like too often.

So, listen, Danny, I know you have a lot of questions, and I am going to get to all of them... I promise... but first I need to say something.

Thank you.

(sighs)

For the longest time, I told myself that I couldn't let anything happen between us because of this responsibility that comes before anything else, but that was just an excuse.

Uh, the funny thing is, I thought that once you knew the truth about the craziness of my world, that I would be relieved.

I thought, I won't have to hide anything from him anymore.

But now you know and...

I'm still scared, because it's no longer about the monsters or the supernatural or anything else.

It's just, it's just about, um, you and me.

You and me.

I thought I knew what that was, but now I really don't know what's what.

Crane.

He's not normal, is he?

Is he a ghost?

Mm-mm.

Huh.

That would have explained a lot.

(laughs)

One more question.

Can I kiss you?

Hey.

I never took you for a camper type.

(chuckles) Yeah, I like to stay mobile and private.

Oh, uh, I-I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to intrude.

I just came by to drop this off.

What is this?

Just my way of saying thanks.

For what?

For opening the door.

(car door opens, engine starts)

(door closes)

(chuckles)

(bells tolling)

Abbie: You want to tell me why you called me to Law Memorial Park at sunrise?

I was attempting to ascertain how this flag might work.

I tried everything: lemon juice, perfume, all of Betsy's old spy craft tricks.

No luck.

It made me realize perhaps I didn't know Betsy as well as I thought.

Wait.

Then it struck me.

This flag is more than simply a piece of fabric.

This is a symbol of the nation we fought to bring forth.

It means something more.

Just like the national anthem.

It means something more.

Okay.

"Oh, say can you see, by..."

"By the dawn's early light."

It's the path Washington took to the Catacombs.

Are you ready to go back, Lieutenant?

Let's go.