Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches (2023) s01e03 Episode Script

1
It's not right,
they way she kept you like that.
My daughter's alive.
Lasher's seen her.
- Where is he?
- After all this time,
I still never know.
Rowan Fielding, checking in.
You understand that if
I'm awake now, so is he.
Please, I-I will explain everything.
I'll be in the lobby at the Pontchartrain
in five minutes.
- I'll be there.
- You are not keeping me from my daughter.
So you saw that her neck was mostly severed,
then you walked toward her
into the elevator?
I was trying to help. I'm a doctor.
And to confirm, you've never seen
this lady before in your life?
No.
Okay, Dr. Fielding, we'll call you
if we need to speak again.
Rowan Fielding?
I'm your great aunt, Carlotta Mayfair.
Was that my?
Deirdre Mayfair.
Your mother.
Mr. Mayfair is on his way.
- He'd like to speak with you.
- Tell him she's with me.
He would eat you alive. Come with me.
We'll go to the house.
You'll be safer there.
I have to go.
What's that, dear? Go where?
Rowan, I need to speak with you!
This is your place?
Yeah.
I know, the security is a little intense.
I've used it as a safe house before.
I am so sorry for the loss of your mother.
I know it must be such a difficult
So help me understand this.
I was gathering information about you,
your life, your routines,
so I could protect you.
The Talamasca exists
to document and investigate
the, um unexplained.
And when we see that someone
could be at risk,
we offer protection.
We've been around since the Middle Ages.
- I mean, not me
- "Unexplained"?
Seriously? Are you kidding me?
- No.
- Okay.
Whose house is this?
The Mayfair house on First Street.
Your aunt lives there.
It goes way back in your family.
Your mother lived there too.
Who is that?
Please.
There is something, a being.
He used to visit Deirdre.
Ellie was afraid that he might
start to visit you.
Has he?
"Being"? What is that?
What is what does that even mean?
We don't really know.
He's connected with your family.
- They call him Lasher.
- Oh, my God.
I can't believe this shit. This is crazy.
Um, you must want
to clean up, take a shower?
And are you hungry? I'll order some takeout.
Um
I need to go and deal
with something real quick.
Excuse me.
Um
make yourself at home.
Please, whatever you need.
Before you say anything,
I'm not gonna apologize.
I did what I felt I had to do.
She's here. She's safe.
Fine.
This isn't about a slap on the wrist.
I'm just here to help.
I've got the team
with me to apply protections
to your place.
But last chance you sure
you want to keep her here?
- You feel safe?
- I'm good.
She's the one in danger.
Okay.
That's a terrible way to die.
I failed her.
I failed our family.
- I failed God.
- No.
You have been his servant always.
He's rattling the trees again,
looking for his whore.
Christ.
30 years, and he's on to the next one
like it was a minute,
like it was nothing.
What's she like, Deirdre's daughter?
I
I think she's made of sterner stuff
than her mother,
but she needs our protection.
What about a wake?
She'd come to us
if we held her mother's wake
here at the house.
Better she come to us than Cortland.
A wake?
Yes.
Yes.
- Where's the necklace?
- I took it off Deirdre.
What are you gonna do?
The only thing worth trying.
The only thing that has ever worked.
Binding him to someone.
What's with all the gloves?
What, a man can't accessorize?
No, it's, um, my gift.
When I touch something with my hands,
I see its past, some moment
connected to the object.
I can't turn it off.
I wear the gloves to keep the noise out,
keep from going crazy.
But at the beach, you had the gloves on.
It didn't seem to keep anything out then.
You're an exception.
Your gift is the strongest
thing I've ever felt.
Do all the Mayfairs have gifts?
Well, from what I've read,
some do, some don't.
Your mother did. Deirdre, I mean.
- But not Carlotta?
- No.
At the hotel, the bellboy said Mr. Mayfair.
That's Cortland, your great uncle.
As far as I know, he doesn't either.
I mean, he has a lot
of the normal kind of power,
wealth-and-influence variety.
He's on the board of everything.
He owns that hotel
through the Mayfair Trust.
For such a prominent family, the Mayfairs
are very private people.
I used to walk by that house
on my way to school,
and I always wondered what went on inside.
I saw something there once that
scared me so much that I ran,
but the next day, there I was,
walking home the same way.
- So you grow up nearby?
- Did you know my mom?
Is that why she had your number?
No, no, I first spoke to her when she called
about what happened with your boss.
She had been in touch with
my predecessor years before
about a playground incident.
She told me that that was all in my head
But she knew it was real.
She knew the whole time.
I know how you're feeling.
Alone. Ashamed.
Afraid of yourself.
You have no idea how I'm feeling.
I felt it when I touched you.
You don't have to hide that from me.
You have 40 pairs of gloves.
You're the one who can't handle your shit.
You don't know anything about me!
I'm sorry.
You're right.
I don't know you.
Um, I have to get back to the hotel
before any more time passes.
I'll find out who did this.
Don't leave the apartment.
Until we know more, it's not
safe for you out there, okay?
I need your okay on that.
Okay.
Oh!
You're heartbroken, I know.
I loved her too.
But now your time has come.
The 13th witch.
She's different from the others,
closed to me somehow.
I'm sure you'll find a way in.
Who the hell are you?
- I'm a friend of Ciprien's.
- Who the hell are you?
I'm Odette, Sip's sister.
I'm just here to grab something.
I knew it.
Well, I'll leave you to it.
Late for my shift.
- Are you seeing my brother?
- No.
No, no, no. Uh, it's just, um
It's a work thing.
Ah. Okay.
Hush-hush CIA, FBI shit?
Oh, I'll never tell.
When are you due?
A couple of weeks.
- Congratulations.
- Oh, it's not mine.
Um, I'm a surrogate.
Yeah, this little girl is going to a couple
of nice daddies uptown.
- Have you done that before?
- First time.
- Do you feel connected to her?
- Not really.
I feel connected to the heartburn,
that's for sure.
I bet she does, though.
I'm sorry?
I bet she feels connected to you.
She'll wonder about you her whole life
and dream about you.
This could be hours.
I have to get to work, so
Yeah, no worries.
I have an aunt that lives
nearby here, I think.
Which way is First Street?
Like, a 10-minute walk that way.
- Just straight down?
- Yeah, yeah, you'll find it.
- Okay. Thank you.
- Bye.
40 years.
- 42 plus some.
- Mm.
You were still married
when you came to this house.
He was no good for you.
I remember that much.
Do you remember when she was a little girl,
how you'd sing her to sleep?
Yes, ma'am, of course I do.
There was a time she
wouldn't have anyone but you.
Mm.
She left you this.
- Put it on.
- Oh, no, I couldn't.
- It's an heirloom.
- Put it on.
She was so attached to it.
That must be why she left it to you.
Thank you.
Now, come.
I need your help with something.
Was it the damask or
shantung curtains you wanted?
Oh, Delphine.
I left you in charge of her.
May God forgive you.
Oh, no.
What's up? You lost?
Hey. Where you going?
Over here, baby.
Come back.
We are the North side
We stomp to rise you
Before you die
You'll ride together
Next time you see us
Be too late to cry
How did you know him?
I'm crying for somebody else tonight.
I'm sorry.
I lost someone too.
We'll meet again.
He's still here.
They all are, if you know where to look.
No one is ever gone.
Only separated for a minute.
It must be nice to see it that way.
It is.
You can too. This will help.
Oh, no, I'm okay. Thank you.
One for my friend here.
That one.
- I no, uh, thank you.
- It's paid for.
Take it.
Have a nice night.
Well?
Well what?
Now we dance.
- Oh, no, I
- It's not for you.
It's for them.
But I have to go.
Now we dance.
Don says the security feed
is working fine now, sir.
The system's been operating perfectly.
I don't know what could've
caused that kind of gap
in the footage.
- Evening.
- Bonswa.
Uh
Merci.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- That's an interesting mask.
- Thank you.
Do you wear masks?
No.
No?
No, why would you?
What's your name?
Adonis.
That's your real name?
It's my name tonight.
Okay.
San Francisco.
I'm sorry, I thought
you asked where I was from.
See, I was just about to.
You read my mind.
Be careful what you think.
Oh, I don't like to be careful.
Don't be afraid.
The dead are with us always.
You remind me of her.
You know you're special, don't you?
You're exactly where
you're meant to be right now.
Can you feel it?
Yes.
You get used to it.
Although this is some crazy first-day shit.
Deirdre Mayfair.
What was wrong with the photos
the girl took before?
They were a little blurry.
Typical.
You just started the forensics rotation?
Yeah.
Don't y'all usually rotate at once?
I feel like I usually see
all the newbs at the same time.
It's just me. Do you have her clothes?
They're in evidence, man.
- It's a murder investigation.
- Right.
And you better hurry up too.
Lonigan's picking her up
for embalming, like, stat.
- That's a quick turnaround.
- Yeah, well,
the rules don't apply when you're a Mayfair.
They want fast, they get fast.
Screw waiting in line like the rest of us.
Sounds nice, right?
No! No!
Bring her back! No!
Please!
Wait!
You're dead.
I held your body.
Am I dead?
No.
You're very much alive.
You're perfect.
It's just how I imagined you'd be.
Oh, my little girl.
- This can't be happening.
- But it is.
You know it is.
They told me you were dead.
I would never, never give you up.
You're not dead.
You're not dreaming.
You're awake,
and you're just beginning to
see the world behind the world.
Isn't it beautiful?
You can have this all the time.
If you open your mind,
you can be transformed.
I don't want to be transformed.
I just want to be me.
But you aren't that yet, not without us.
You've felt alone, haven't you?
Because you're disconnected.
From your blood,
from me,
your grandmother, your great-grandmother,
on back to the beginning.
This is where we are connected.
This is where we find each other.
Through him.
You're not her.
Miss, you need some help?
Are you okay?
- Yeah?
- Sorry. Yeah.
All right.
Did you get the drawing I sent?
- Yep, that's him?
- Uh-huh, I saw it.
He stopped the elevator and got in with her.
And then?
That's all I saw.
- That's great, that's plenty.
- I'll send it around.
- We'll get him.
- Yes, we will.
Wait!
I wanted to give you this.
It's next week. It's a rally.
- What for?
- Brotherhood.
I know you're not a medical student, man.
Come on.
You heard the rumors about the family.
You came here to see for yourself.
I don't know what you're talking about.
She's a witch.
You just touched the body
of a real goddamn witch.
A witch?
Come on.
Listen to yourself, man.
There's no such thing.
My mistake.
Rowan.
Are you okay?
I don't know.
I think so.
Let's get you inside.
He doesn't like her wearing it.
If it traps him down there
with her, it'll be worth it.
I have no doubt that
all three of them were him.
He can take different forms.
I really miss the world making sense.
It never made sense.
Most people just can't see that.
So what'd you find out?
First, I found out
that someone doesn't want me
to find anything out.
Elevator's been wiped of memories.
I touched the walls, and I got nothing.
That's never happened before.
But then I went to the morgue,
I touched the body,
and I saw a guy stop the elevator
and get in with her.
I sent his likeness to the team.
They're out looking for him.
Whatever else Lasher can do,
I see he has the power to dehydrate you.
Yeah, Jesus.
So you touched the body?
I saw your birth.
She didn't give you away.
You were taken from her.
I felt her heart break.
It was the strongest memory
left in that body.
She loved you.
Yeah, she said that, too,
but it was just him
telling me whatever I wanted to hear.
It was all lies.
Not that part.
Do you think it was the drink?
Or can he just get
in my head whenever he wants?
I don't know.
I do know he can't get to you in here.
He lit that fire to get you
out of the apartment.
I saw that much.
I didn't even feel it starting.
I was just in it.
Like, I just felt like I was swept away.
And I don't know how to stop it.
I mean, if that's how this works,
how he works.
Well, that's why you need to understand
the full extent of your power
so you can defend yourself.
I can help you with that.
I can go into those moments,
slow things down
so we can see how it works,
what's really happening.
You mean touch me again?
You're not afraid I'll hurt you?
No.
Last time, I was a stranger.
Now I think you trust me a little.
Maybe a little.
Let's do it.
- I'm ready.
- Okay.
No wonder everyone's looking
at me like I'm a ghost.
The Mayfair matriarchs,
300 years of women handing down
everything to their daughters.
How many families can say that?
He's coming for her.
What even is he?
Ask him.
Rowan in that elevator
is in shock and trauma.
The camerawork, the beautiful
cinematography is meant
to suggest the state that Rowan's in,
the way in which she's not really tracking
what's happening.
But she does see this face
that she will come to know,
that's the face of her Aunt Carlotta.
Rowan Fielding, I'm your great-aunt
Carlotta Mayfair.
Is that my Deirdre Mayfair, your mother.
Rowan is in such a state of shock and trauma
she does not know who to trust.
Mr. Mayfair's on his way,
he'd like to speak with you.
Tell him she's with me.
He would eat you alive.
She sees Cip, and this is the person
who has said to her, "I can tell
you who you are.
I can help you understand."
I have to go.
What's that, dear?
So that is who she trusts in this moment
and who she goes to.
I was gathering information about you,
your life, your routine
so I could protect you.
The Talamasca exists
to document and investigate
the, um, unexplained.
Unexplained?
Seriously?
Are you kidding me?
No.She is a scientist.
All of those years of training
have not allowed her
to believe in anything like
what Ciprien's telling her.
Something a being,
he used to visit Dierdre.
Ellie was afraid that he might
start to visit you.
She just cannot believe it.
"Being"?
What is that? What it's
What does that even mean?
We don't really know.
He's connected with your family.
I think that Cip understands
more than anyone
what a potent and powerful,
magical being Rowan is,
and he needs to help her sort through that.
Both Lasher and Rowan are grieving Dierdre,
and are going through this kind of grieving
and funeral process together.
They meet in the midst
of this second line parade.
And the way he finds to connect with her
is through this mutual experience of grief
that brings them together
in the second line,
and then, you know, this magical concoction
that he gives her that makes her
sort of open herself up
in some ways.
You remind me of her.
You know you're special, don't you?
And then, of course,
the last way that he uses
to try to open and connect with her is
he embodies the form of Dierdre.
My little girl.
This can't be happening.
But it is.
But Rowan, even in that moment,
is so guarded.
You're not her.
She's onto it. She knows that it is Lasher
trying to manipulate her.
Miss, do you need some help?
Are you okay?
I didn't even feel it starting.
I was just in it.
Like, I just felt like I was swept away.
And I don't know how to stop it.
That's why you need to
understand the full extent
of your powers so you can defend yourself.
I can help you with that.
You mean touch me again?
You're not afraid I'll hurt you?
No.
Last time, I was a stranger.
And, well, I think you trust me a little.
Incredibly deep, really,
for Rowan in this moment
with Cip, that she has decided
to trust someone.
Let's do it.
Decided to put aside her rational mind
for a moment and open up to what
might really be going on.
This felt like the first time
we really get to see Rowan
let down her guard and relax
and connect with someone.
In some ways, this is more
profound than seeing a sex scene
between these two characters.
It's more profound for someone
as guarded as Rowan
to open up herself to someone else,
knowing all of her memories,
all of her past,
and asking that person
to help her understand
this new force within herself
that she has no idea about.