The Essex Serpent (2022) s01e06 Episode Script

Okay.
Dr. Garrett? Where are you going?
Dear Stella,
I've only just heard the
terrible news from Luke.
I'm so sorry.
For once in my life,
I'm at a loss for words.
I came to Aldwinter to
look for the serpent,
and I didn't expect to find friendship.
Stella, what I really
want is to see you,
but I fear that coming back
would just upset the village.
You are my friend and I never meant
What's happened?
Have we been burgled?
Where's Martha? Her room's empty.
Let's go and have breakfast.
- Where have you been?
- I couldn't sleep.
I came to look for you.
I was looking for Naomi.
Is she with the serpent?
Let's warm you up.
Will?
Yes?
He's waiting for me.
Don't be sad.
I'm ready.
Help me.
Anything.
I want to see Cora and Frankie.
I want them to come back.
Shall I get another crate?
Yes, please. In the scullery.
My comics!
- There you go, miss.
- Thank you.
Dear Cora,
Shortly before we met in London,
Stella received a diagnosis
of tuberculosis.
Perhaps that may explain
my behavior at the museum.
Tragically, her health
is now fading fast.
She's been begging me for
some days to write to you
and ask you to visit.
But I have to say, I don't
think it's a good idea
for her, me Any of us.
The truth is, I scarcely know
how to get through the days.
I am broken.
There.
At least your shaving is
better than your stitching.
Why don't you move in with me for a bit?
I'm fine on my own.
Let me do it.
- We'll go to the mortuary later.
- What?
I need to practice
manipulating my fingers.
I have to get back to work, Spencer.
One day at a time.
Don't think about operating yet.
You think that's possible?
I can just relax? Give up my work?
- Don't you know me at all?
- I'm sorry.
There must be something I can do.
Leave me.
Luke
- Leave me alone.
- Yeah.
Bye-bye.
Thank you. That'll be all.
Hello.
Ambrose has changed his mind.
I'm so sorry.
Please.
"I cannot raise a bill
because I do not believe that
social housing is the answer.
People must solve their own problems,
not rely on the state."
Honestly, the man has no
brains and even less heart.
Don't worry. I'll keep going.
Writing letters.
Actually, we have some news too.
Spencer's come up
with a plan to help us.
What? When?
We carried on talking after
you all left, and he said
Well, he's offered to buy
this whole building.
- What?
- Yeah.
He wants to install
plumbing and electricity.
Transform the place.
Good for you.
Not just us, ten families live here.
Aren't you pleased?
Of course.
As individuals, you will
all benefit enormously.
But we need real change,
not philanthropy.
I think he's doing this for you.
He talked about your future together.
Cora.
- Spencer.
- Cora. I
If you're after Martha, she
moved out a few days ago.
- She's staying in Cheapside.
- No. I have bad news.
Luke was robbed, stabbed.
What? When?
On his way home from the party.
His right hand was sliced open.
I took him straight to theater.
- Worked to the best of my abilities.
- Of course.
I don't think he'll operate again.
Oh, Luke!
If I could change things,
change places
What can I do? Anything.
Visit him. Cheer him up.
He asked for me?
He doesn't know I'm here.
Luke?
Luke?
Oh, my dear friend.
Wondered if you'd come.
As soon as I found out.
I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Look at it. Useless.
I can't even carve a joint of beef.
Let me clean it.
Maybe I could arrange
some physical therapy?
Exercise with a rubber band? No, thanks.
Or write to that doctor
you told me about,
who inserts artificial
parts into the body?
I told you about him
because he's an idiot.
It can't be done.
Well, I'm here now.
Whatever's next, we can
deal with it together.
Together?
Just forget our stupid row.
I'm going to look after you.
How?
Come and live with me.
Ugh, you sound like Spencer trying
to nurse me through all of this.
No, no. I mean I mean
move in with me. Forever.
What?
As my friend and companion.
Thought that was Martha's department.
She's moved out.
I see. So, filling a void.
No.
The parson's retreated,
- the servants vanished.
- No, Luke.
- I'm the last man standing.
- No Please, shut up and listen.
I think it can work.
We get on well, we enjoy
each other's company.
I My house is far too big for me.
I mean, you could have Michael's room.
The mausoleum?
I've cleared it out.
Just think about it.
We could spend our days
together reading and talking.
Maybe lunch out.
A stroll in Kensington Gardens.
Or a gallery? Light a fire? Dine in?
Eat too much, drink too much.
Before we say good night and
I retire to your husband's bed?
Why not?
Because it's ridiculous.
And you can't even see it.
But this this mangled bloody
mess has finally opened my eyes.
I care about you, Luke.
You called me when you needed me.
A doctor. A shoulder to cry on.
A drinking partner.
That's not true. You're my friend.
Well, as your friend
I have to be honest with you, Cora.
I don't wanna live with you.
Why not?
Because I'm in love with you,
and you're in love with somebody else.
Martha.
Do you wanna come in?
You heard about Luke, I assume.
Yes.
Why didn't you tell me?
I-I thought that you might
do something stupid.
I'm sorry, Martha.
For what?
How I've treated you. Luke
for not looking after the people I love.
There's a wonderful view from the roof.
Do you wanna see?
I told Cora I don't want a nurse.
How was she?
Impossible.
She cares about you. We both do.
Spencer, I can't even write.
You dictate, and I'll write.
You can stay for one night.
For as long as you need.
Thank you.
I can almost see the house
where I was born.
Is Ambrose going to help?
He couldn't support a socialist agenda.
- Ugh, I'm sorry.
- Mm-hmm.
What does Spencer think?
I don't know. I'm avoiding him.
I think he's in love with me.
Has he said something?
I can just tell.
What is it?
It's Stella. She's unwell.
With the flu still?
Tuberculosis. I think she's dying.
She's asked to see me, but I'm
I'm not sure I can go back. I'm
Scared?
Not of the villagers.
Of seeing Will?
You know me. I
I break things.
You can fix them too.
If you need to, you should.
You're not a coward, Cora Seaborne.
Martha.
I had no idea you had so much.
It's good to see you.
Um
Listen.
If this new landlord idea
is meant as some kind of
overture to me, then
- More than that. I have a proposal.
- No.
I'm sorry, I'm not the kind of woman
who just strings a man along
- No, of course not. But
- Marriage, it enslaves women.
- Socially, f-financially.
- What? Uh, no.
Yes, it's one of the biggest
obstacles to revolution.
It's really not that kind of a proposal.
Ah.
I've decided to use my trust to set
up a campaign for social housing,
and I need someone to run it.
I want us to work together.
I'm offering you a job.
Hello, Gog. I've missed you.
Cobalt.
Cyan.
There's cologne in there and bath salts.
Thank you for coming.
For bringing him.
Of course. We've missed you.
I was worried you wouldn't come.
I had to see you once more.
How are you feeling?
I'm ready.
No, don't say that.
But I am.
How are the children?
Uh
A lady in the village
takes them after school.
I get a bit tired.
Are you all right?
Do you want to rest now?
No. Not yet.
Stella?
Did you want to talk
to me about something?
Yes.
Would you go and see Will?
What? No.
He needs someone to talk to.
But I'm here to see you.
He'll be in the church.
Well, then I shouldn't disturb him.
I'm asking you, Cora.
It's what I want.
Leave him with me.
I told you not to come.
I had to see Stella.
She asked me to come and find you.
I'll leave if you want me to.
Shall we walk?
Are any boats going out to sea?
No.
Everyone's still afraid.
How are the children
dealing with it all?
I haven't told them how ill Stella is.
With Naomi still missing,
it feels too cruel.
Stella thinks you need
somebody to talk to.
Talk to me.
She's so brave.
She's faced it far better than I have.
Well, perhaps she's known for some time.
Mmm.
Yes, she's accepted it.
At times, her
her mind roams.
And then, she returns to me, my Stella.
But
even when she drifts away, I
I couldn't love her more.
I'll always love her, Cora.
I know.
I know you will.
Your mother was right, you know?
The serpent is alive.
Have you seen it?
- What's it like? Is it very big?
- Yes.
Would you like to come and see him?
Are they for the serpent?
Save some.
Keep some for your mother.
I'm sorry, Will,
if I've made things worse for you.
No, Cora.
I let you in,
when I had everything I could ask for.
It's not that simple.
Isn't it?
Love is not finite.
It's not confined to marriage.
There are so many ways to love.
You've never known a happy marriage.
And yet I know how it
feels to love someone.
And to be loved in return.
There. Finished.
Shall we go back inside now?
Why are you getting in?
Where are we going?
Will you set me off?
Can you do that?
I'm ready to meet him now.
The serpent?
My god and king.
Mother!
Frankie?
- What is it?
- What's happened?
Where's Stella?
Frankie.
She's gone to see the serpent.
- What?
- What do you mean?
You're not in any trouble.
We just need to know where she is.
She's in the boat.
What?
We saw the serpent, Cora. We saw it.
It's all right.
Where is Stella going?
Back home, with Will.
But before, she said
she was ready to go.
Stella isn't very well.
Is she going to die?
Well, we all die one day.
But before her time, like Father?
Yes, I'm afraid she may.
I don't want you to die.
I have no intention of it.
I've got far too much to do.
That's good.
Naomi.
It's gonna be all right, Father.
I've seen the serpent.
I think it's dead.
It's over.
It's on the beach! Come on.
It's not Sunday, is it?
The beast is dead.
Down by the beach.
I have to spread the word.
Tell the parson!
The beast is dead.
It's down by the harbor.
See for yourself.
That's not a serpent.
What is it? Oh, my.
Naomi.
Jo!
Why did it come here?
Maybe its patterns were
upset by the earthquake.
Why did everyone think it was a serpent?
People fear what they don't understand.
Jump to the wrong conclusions.
I didn't want it to die.
Mrs. Seaborne?
Professor.
Another missive.
Thank you.
Cora, how are you?
Deep in a trench, I imagine?
I miss you.
Although, obviously not
as much as you miss me.
I finally found people
who appreciate me.
I've been made head
of the medical school.
They want me to teach them
the secrets of the heart.
Talking of which, how is yours?
You must have heard from Will by now?
"If Mr. Garth doesn't find
a fox in Eversley Wood,
as folks sometimes fear he never will,
that does not prove that there
are no such things as foxes."
Off you go. Sleep well.
Night night.
I'll be there in a moment, Jo.
Dear Will,
I still think of you every day,
of what we shared and what it means.
I am torn, and I am mended.
I love you, and I am
content without you.
Even so,
please write back.
You never wrote back.
I had too much to say.
Shall we walk?