02x04 - Free of Pointless Command

[bunniefuu]

Mr. Benedict and Number Two are missing.

- He kidnapped us.
- He wants me here.

BENEDICT: He is inducing
happiness. It's dangerous.

- JILLSON: Sebastian?
- JACKSON: Sebastian?

Blink if you hear us.

If I could just have more time with him,

I really believe I could
get him to listen to me.

NUMBER TWO: We need to get out of
here and alert the authorities.

Why does it feel like we're descending?

ANNOUNCER: We're experiencing
a very slight deflation issue.

REYNIE: We're stowaways. We
need to find the next clue.

It'll tell us where to
go when we get to Lisbon.

"Look up to the stars.
Take wing to the sun."

It's a constellation.
It's Apollo's bird.

The train station in
Lisbon is Saint Apollo.

KATE: I should have known they
weren't real water polo players.

REYNIE: They must be
undercover. Working for Curtain.

STICKY: Four kids traveling
alone in a foreign country.

They've proven to be my
only true adversaries.

Treat them without mercy.

Curtain's gray man.

- KATE: Get in! Get in! Get in!
- REYNIE (IN PORTUGUESE): Please go now!

(CAR HORNS HONKING)

(IN ENGLISH) No, you
speak bad Portuguese.

He's right. Your accent
insults the nation.

Listen to the girl.

No sign of Curtain's
gray man. I don't get it.

I thought he sent the water
polo team to follow us.

Why would a man send a
sports team after you?

REYNIE: It's Curtain.

He probably has multiple
teams following us.

Exactly. He kidnapped Mr.
Benedict and Number Two,

and now he's after us.

I bet Curtain's been plotting this

ever since we took down the Whisperer.

- Revenge is a dish best served cold.
- Agree.

- What if we let the grays capture us?
- What?

Have you gone insane?

Most likely they'll just take us back

to wherever Mr. Benedict and
Number Two are being held.

The same grays that
tried to brainsweep me?

She makes a great point.

Then we'll just have to
be more careful than ever.

But if we stick together, I really
believe we can outsmart anyone.

Debatable.

You know, it's rude to listen in.

(HORN HONKING)

- Come on, come on, come on.
- Hey.

Hey, escudos.

Right.

The ride was only minutes. It
couldn't possibly be that much.

My mother calibrated this meter.

She's very old and weak, but
she insists on doing the work.

The accuracy... is her greatest pride.

"Down to the centimeter," she says.

But maybe she's just a
common crook, hmm? A liar.

- My mother.
- No, no.

- I'm sure the meter is correct.
- Good.

Nine hundred thirty-two
escudos and make it quick.

The sandwich shop here runs
out of bifanas by four o'clock.

All we have is... escudos.

Ninety-eight escudos.

(IN PORTUGUESE) Police! Police! Police!

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

(THEME MUSIC)

(IN ENGLISH) Wait, wait, wait.
You don't need to talk to the cops.

We can pay you in non-liquid assets.

How would you like a
drop forged C-clamp?

This is an extremely expensive
piece of finely crafted...

- I don't clamp.
- KATE: Okay.

How about this one-of-a-kind
vintage protractor,

- made in Holland?
- No.

- Nail clippers?
- No.

Leather hole punch?

My German-engineered
spyglass with modified optics.

Actually, I can't let that one go.

I'll take the whole bucket.

Uh, that's not possible.

I can maybe bundle two or three things.

- Bucket or police?
- But...

- Wait, wait, wait.
- (IN PORTUGUESE) Police!

- (IN ENGLISH) Sir, please.
- Enough!

Here. This is worth a
lot more than cab fare.

Deal. Now get out of here.

Remember this face. You'll see it again.

- I don't see any grays, do you?
- Hopefully, we lost them.

Come on.

Hey, thanks for giving up your necklace.

- I was really...
- Don't cheapen it.

PORTUGAL POST

ANNOUNCER (IN PORTUGUESE):
Attention, public notice.

Miss Grizzi Laura...

(INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT)

(IN ENGLISH) Based on the
size and the cut of the key,

I'm guessing it's for a
public locker at the station.

- Sherlock Holmes over here.
- Huh?

We're sent to a train station.
With a key. Of course it's a locker.

Kate could've figured that out.

What? I'm just standing
here, minding my own business.

I don't know. I'm hungry.

Okay. Let's find the locker bay
and then we'll get some food.

Constance, what's wrong?

- We need to hurry.
- What are you talking about?

- STICKY: Are you seeing something?
- We need to find Mr. Benedict.

Something is very wrong.

Nathaniel. Nathaniel. That
was brilliant. Brilliant!

- Oh, you enjoyed the broadcast.
- Very much. Very much.

And it unlocks something.
I have never felt better.

You are a visionary.

My.

I'd be lying if I said I
hadn't heard that before.

You know, all the science
medals, magazine covers,

honorary doctorates,
genius grants, honor.

Hmm. That's a lot of prestige.

Cash tributes, but they
don't mean anything.

- They're dust in the wind.
- Oh.

Your word.

That's really something.

I'm so proud of you.

And almost bizarrely happy. (CHUCKLES)

Yes. Yes. Happy.

I knew that if you
just gave it a chance,

you'd see the value in what I'm doing.

- We're not meant to live in opposition.
- No. No, no, no.

Together we can do even
more amazing things.

Two parts greater than the whole.

Ah, that volcano demonstration
we did at the orphanage,

- do you remember that?
- Mercury thiocyanate.

The intumescent reaction,
that was your vision.

Oh, but it didn't work
until you solved the design

for the central channel.

Oh, that incredible
plume of smoke and ash!

I did cough up black
grit for a week after.

A prodigious amount.

You know, as we used to
say, "no price too high... "

"To pay for discovery."

(BOTH LAUGH)

It is good to be back
with you, Nathaniel.

It is.

- There's something nagging at me, though.
- Oh.

Yeah, it's your
associate. Number Two. Hm.

She seems to have your ear

and doesn't strike me
as particularly joyful.

Do you think she could be...
convinced of our noble intentions?

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

The way I feel now,
anything seems possible.

Wonderful.

POST, POLICE, HOSPITAL

- Milligan. Our luggage is gone.
- You don't know that.

I would just like to find
Kate's lucky windbreaker.

RHONDA: Perhaps the
time would be better used

finding transportation to Lisbon.

(THUDS)

I'm over parenting.

Jackets can be bought.
Right now, we need a car.

How far behind the kids are we?

You don't want to know. Which
leads me to a more delicate point.

- Ms. Perumal.
- Yes. I... What?

- Where is she?
- I don't know.

What I do know is speed
is our priority now.

I have the utmost respect for educators,

but maybe her skill set is
not what we need right now.

I don't know. She gave me some
sage advice on the dirigible.

About search and rescue?

This is what we do.

We know the craft. We can
move faster without her.

And most importantly,

we won't be putting her
in a dangerous situation

where she's not prepared to...

(ENGINE RUMBLES IN DISTANCE)

What do you think?

I borrowed it from the farm back there.

- You stole it.
- I left ample compensation.

Double the Blue Book
value of the vehicle,

plus a little extra for the hassle.

And a thank you note. Carefully written.

Beautifully, even, if I may.

And I made this compass.

Fairly simple to
magnetize a sewing needle.

Drop it in the jam jar and voila.

And I charted the fastest way to Lisbon.

It's miles due
south, which is that way.

- I'm impressed.
- There's no key.

- Did you hot wire this?
- There are things you don't know about me.

Let's go.

ANNOUNCER (IN PORTUGUESE):
Attention, public notice...

(INDISTINCT ANNOUNCEMENT)

(IN ENGLISH) Four passes for unlimited
rail travel anywhere in Europe.

So he wants us to go anywhere?

"Well done, my friends.
You're on the right track.

Now you must board the right
train". Signed, Mr. Benedict.

"Much like a racecar or a train,
one did reverse, but stayed the same.

Constance has the gift, so
no need to borrow or rob.

Just the eye will do the job.

Look into it. It requires
further investigation.

Through friendship, your society
sees its next destination."

Rhyming is a Band Aid for hacks.

- Like Poe? Frost? Dickinson?
- Hacks.

It says Constance has the gift.

I have many gifts.

Maybe Mr. Benedict is talking about

Constance's gift of psychic ability.

Right. "Just the eye" could be referring

to Constance using her third eye.

That's what the fortune
tellers at the circus

called their psychic powers.

I don't know. Do we
really think Mr. Benedict

would have us rely on something

as unscientific as some intuitive power?

Well, Mr. Benedict has been living
with Constance for a while now,

- so maybe he knows just how mu...
- I know what the gift is.

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

- Now make a wish.
- I wish to be free of pointless commands.

Oh. Here.

- Nice.
- Everyone wants a piece?

Yes. Yes. Please, please,
please. please, please.

Chocolate. Ooh. Oh.

Why don't you use this instead?

We're gonna be in Europe
for your birthday, so.

RHONDA: Oh.

It will be tough to outdo
this, but I enjoy a challenge.

- Shall we?
- Of course.

(BOTH EXHALE DEEPLY)

Now, Constance, I, um... I was
wondering, on the day of your birth,

if you were ever curious to
learn about that very day?

About where you came from,
about the people and places

- from when you were too young to remember?
- I'm fine.

- Fine?
- Yes.

I have a bed, books, food,
people, an adequate chess partner.

Hm.

This is my home. I'm fine.

A well-reasoned point. (CHUCKLES)

But if you're ever
curious, I can help, yes?

Oh, I almost forgot.

I have a birthday present for you.

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

Here you are.

This is slightly ugly.

Oh, well, maybe it'll grow on you.

REYNIE: Why didn't you tell us
the locket was from Mr. Benedict?

Constance, you shouldn't
have given it up.

STICKY: We could have come up with
another way out of that situation.

You sacrificed it. For my bucket.

Kate will fall apart without her bucket.

CONSTANCE: I don't want
to pick up the pieces.

You and Sticky look out for grays.

Reynie, I'm gonna need
your help. Follow me.

We're getting your locket back.

Dr. Curtain needs me, so
this had better be important.

I'm already stretched too thin.

We wouldn't bother you
unless it was urgent.

- Alarming.
- Sebastian, what are you doing in here?

- Why have you imprisoned Sebastian and...
- Paula.

- Paula?
- Look closer?

- JACKSON: They won't speak.
- JILLSON: They don't even blink.

JACKSON: We found him like
this in the woods yesterday.

And Paula this morning in the orchard.

We didn't want to alarm
anyone, so we put them in here.

I don't see the problem.

BOTH: Uh...

This is obviously some sort of
deep meditative work they're doing.

- Or...
- Are you implying that Dr. Curtain's

revolutionary system has
something to do with this?

Well, they were some of Dr.
Curtain's earliest adopters.

- Quite steeped in the methods.
- Then, by all means...

you go tell him.

- Not really within our purview.
- Is he currently in a good mood?

Exactly. No one is going to tell him.

Dr. Curtain is on a mission and I...

we are the custodians of that mission.

We are not going to
interrupt his important work

and occupy his valuable brain
space for what is obviously some...

unrelated ailment.

Just find them a doctor.

I'm sure this could be straightened out.

- We're on it.
- Only the best.

Good.

Every time. Unwanted tomato.

- Just grab it and go.
- (BOTH WHISPERING)

KATE: You trade him. You said
you'd do it. You promised me.

No. He's not gonna... It doesn't matter.

- REYNIE: You promised me.
- KATE: He's not gonna know.

- REYNIE: Come on.
- It's not fair.

Hi, sir. I just rode in
your cab from the docks?

I remember. It was recent.

Um, I just wanted to thank you
again for the elegant cab ride.

- "Elegant?"
- I appreciate efficiency.

Bit of an engineer.

Don't you have a train to catch?

No. Kate, you're doing this.

Sir, I'm trying to be a better person.

- Who cares?
- I'm not proud of my recent behavior.

I have to make it right.

- Say it.
- Give me a second.

- The locket.
- A deal's a deal.

Exactly, but when one party misrepresents
something to the other party,

it's not right.

- What are you talking about?
- The locket isn't worth anything.

It's a fake. All it has
is sentimental value.

And if I'm being honest, which
I am trying very hard to be

in my life right now, not much of that.

- KATE: We scammed you.
- No, it's a trick.

(SOFT CHUCKLE)

- Great.
- Where are you going?

My conscience is clear. Thank you.

- Nothing I can say at this point.
- Stop.

Give me the bucket then or
we're back to calling the cops.

Can't do that.

The transaction is legally done,

but I'll trade you for something better.

This is just about making it right.

Wait, wait. What's the first one?

- This?
- The one you put back.

I thought you were trying
to learn a lesson in honesty.

(SIGHS)

(INDISTINCT PA ANNOUNCEMENT)

(SOFT CHUCKLE)

Victory.

(SCOFFS)

- Good con, partner.
- Let's figure out how to use it, quick.

Our train could be leaving any minute.

You claim that Dr. L.D.
Curtain, the L.D. Curtain,

kidnapped you and held
you against your will?

Indeed he did. Off the
street and in his compound.

And he's still holding his twin brother,

Mr. Nicholas Benedict, against his will.

Do you have the means to
lead us to his location?

Yes. I know I can.

- Good.
- Good.

Because there are many
in the gendarmerie here

- who would like to firmly shake his hand.
- What?

You seem genuine and sincere
in a way I rarely encounter,

- but your claim is nonsensical.
- You malign a good man.

ITALIAN OFFICER: One of the best men.

A man literally committed
to the happiness of others.

You don't know who he really
is or what he is capable of.

He lifted us from the ashes!

He created the ashes!

He created them.

Someone's finally at the wheel
and all you can do is naysay.

(TUTS) You sound like
a person who, frankly,

would benefit from time
in Dr. Curtain's program.

Compulsory or not.

POLICE

You know what? You're probably right.

- (IN ITALIAN) Until we meet again.
- Of course.

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

(IN ENGLISH) Come on, Rhonda.
Pick up, pick up, pick up.

(ENGINE RUMBLES)

What's the problem? Why did we stop?

We're out of gas.

There's a village up ahead.

PERUMAL: Way up ahead.

(CLATTERS)

I'll be right back.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(SLURPS)

(MILLIGAN COUGHS)

(COUGHING CONTINUES)

(DOG BARKING)

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(PANTS)

RHONDA: A boot?

So you stole the gas.

I left ample compensation, and
a workman-like thank you note.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Does anyone have any gum?

REYNIE: "Look into it.

It requires your investigation.

Through friendship, your society
sees its next destination."

- Hmm.
- What "hmm?"

I just don't see anything.

So don't look at it. Look
into it. Like it said.

A lens.

CONSTANCE: There's a world in here.

Germany?

It's Germany.

Yes, train to Germany. Let's go.

STICKY: Hamburg's in Germany.

Frankfurt, Berlin,
Baden-Baden, Munich, Mannheim.

We need more information.

And we need it fast. Curtain's
men can show up any second.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

(CLEARS THROAT)

I'd like a receipt, please.

What's happening?

(INHALES DEEPLY)

(MUMBLING)

(LAUGHS)

(HUMS)

Oh, oh, hello and where have you been?

(CHUCKLES)

You're enjoying some time alone?

I'll start with the good news.
I found a way out of here.

- Oh.
- Loading dock. Pie truck. Village.

Twenty kilometers away, give
or take from my internal clock.

My brother has pie trucks?
You stole a pie truck?

Used a pie truck.

Oh, well. What's the bad news?

I'm just, I'm sure it's
just a matter of perspective?

When I went to the local
police, no one believed me.

- They're all cult of Curtain.
- Oh.

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

I tried calling the mansion,
but no one picked up.

They're probably on their
way to find us, but how?

- (LAUGHS)
- Called my family in Luxembourg.

Of course, they didn't pick up.

Then I tried calling Interpol
and they were actually rude to me.

The fact is we are on our own,

which means it's up to us to
take down Curtain ourselves.

Yes.

What's there to smile about?

Well, what isn't there to smile about?

I'm just reflecting on how maybe
all this is possibly a choice.

And, of course, our current status.

Kidnapped. Status, kidnapped?

No, our, our willingness
to learn from it.

To expand ourselves.

- Oh, no.
- What?

- Curtain did his thing to you.
- (BENEDICT CHUCKLES)

If by "thing", you mean
my brother's breakthrough,

neurobehavioral achievement, then yes.

No.

I know what you must be thinking,
I know what you're thinking.

I know what you're thinking.

But I can assure you that this...

incredible, newfound joy

is not going to influence my
ability to do what is right.

Right here is where we
need to stay. To learn more.

To understand this. This!

Here.

(BREATHES DEEPLY)

I don't know what to tell you.

There's no signs of physical distress,

not chemically induced,
not catatonia per se.

Pupils respond normally,
no brain injury,

hemorrhage, or internal trauma.

It's like nothing I've ever seen.

Surely there must be some
medication to give them.

Perhaps a form of electrotherapy?

A nice jolt.

Sir, I'm a doctor. No.

There's no conventional reason
for this, this... vacancy.

Another one?

- Another one.
- Another one.

KATE: "Much like a racecar or a train,

one did reverse but stayed the same."

- Mr. Benedict is so obsessed with words.
- He is.

So, what about the words themselves?

Not what they represent,
but what they are.

- Kate, do you have a pen?
- Do I have a pen?

REYNIE: Each clue has a few words

that are the same forwards
as they are backwards.

"Racecar," "did,"
"borrow or rob," "eye."

"Reverse, but stayed the same."

- They're palindromes.
- Palindrome, Germany. All aboard.

Our destination must be a city in
Germany whose name is a palindrome.

And I know for a fact there
are only seven places in Germany

with a palindrome for its name.

STICKY: Four are too small
to have a train station.

I'm not even gonna ask.

Common knowledge.

(INDISTINCT PA ANNOUNCEMENT)

There it is. Burggrub.

(INDISTINCT PA ANNOUNCEMENT)

It leaves in five minutes.

- CONSTANCE: We should...
- Go right now! Go right now!

Plan shake and bake. Execute!

- Plan what?
- Scatter!

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

(BRAKES SCREECH)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen,

the BergenLiner SchnellerZug
is now departing.

- All points to Burggrub.
- STICKY: We did it.

ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen,

the BergenLiner SchnellerZug
is now departing.

KATE: Reinforcements.

Should have planted more fruit.

They walked right past Curtain's gray

like they didn't even know each other.

They aren't working together?

- They're a third party.
- Soldiers of fortune.

REYNIE: Working for who?

(WHISTLES)

What now? The water
polo team is on board.

We can start by not calling
them a water polo team.

Disgrace to the sport.

They broke into our room
and tried to kidnap us.

Probably like they kidnapped
Mr. Benedict and Number Two.

And now we're on a moving
train with nowhere to run.

- This is a classic k*lling box.
- I wouldn't say nowhere.

Pop out a couple of hex
screws, we can jump out here.

A couple of broken ribs,
maybe a dislocated shoulder,

- but we'd live.
- No one's jumping off a moving train.

What are they waiting for?

Probably the cover of night
when everyone's asleep.

I say we att*ck.

- What is wrong with you?
- They will not expect it.

Guys, we can handle this, no problem.

Tonight, we each take
shifts staying awake.

If they make their move, the
whole train hears about it.

(ENGINE RUMBLES)

(SNORING)

What time is it?

It's : .

Your turn.

- Okay. Okay. Right.
- You haven't slept. Why not?

It's not exactly a relaxing time.

I'm invigorated.

Bottom line... can you do this?

- Yes.
- Can you?

- Yes.
- You haven't prepared yourself.

Now I sleep.

(ENGINE RUMBLES)

(SCREECHING IN DISTANCE)

Constance? Constance?

Constance!

- (EXHALES DEEPLY)
- What's going on?

Constance is gone.

(CLOSING THEME MUSIC)