The Mysterious Benedict Society (2021) s02e08 Episode Script

1
KATE: I'm escalating this to a threat
level zeta, possibly epsilon.
I'm not familiar with your
threat levels.
PERUMAL: Curtain's organization
is expanding rapidly.
BENEDICT: And more people have fallen
into waking comae.
JILLSON: Apparently, all of them
had complained of stiff necks.
There's a small chance
this is a repercussion of the program.
- KATE: Why is Constance smiling?
- STICKY: Curtain did it.
She was acting suspiciously nice to me.
REYNIE:
We just want them to be themselves.
Garrison's notebook?
If anyone knows how to reverse this,
it's her.
KATE:
I call it the Wetherall Worldview Wash.
REYNIE:
Could shock the photoreceptors in the eye.
- It can jar the brain into resetting.
- Turn the knob.
(GRUNTS)
NUMBER TWO:
He didn't turn the knob in time.
- We have to remove Curtain immediately.
- (GRUNTS)
MILLIGAN: It's a
healthy dose of duskwort.
It should last for hours.
NUMBER TWO: Good. Because we have
a long drive ahead of us.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
- There.
- What? Can you be more specific?
Bear left at the Hand Tree.
- The what?
- The tree that looks like a hand?
- The Hand Tree. Milligan, left, left!
- (TIRES SCREECH)
Sorry. I'm having feelings.
- BENEDICT: Oh, this is the safe house?
- NUMBER TWO: Potentially.
- (BIRDS CHIRPING)
- (GRUNTS)
- (DOOR CLOSES)
- Well, well, well.
- Well, well, well, well Well.
- Hello, Mother.
Mother? Oh, my. (LAUGHS)
- This is delightful.
- This is delightful.
Hello, Number.
- Number?
- Number's her first name.
I'm glad I can still recognize you.
Mom has been really brave
about your abandonment.
- Really brave.
- Everyone, meet my family.
My mother, Rowena.
- My sister, Charity
- Hello.
- And my brother
- (CHARITY CLEARS THROAT)
My sister, Charity, and Madame Chops.
- I'm pleased to meet you both.
- And my brother One.
- One? Two?
- So why have you come crawling back?
- What do you need?
- We need your
- (CRICKET CHIRPING)
- your help.
Make sure the other cars don't lose us.
It's going to get treacherous.
- Approved.
- Yes, do that.
That's unnecessary.
I have authority as interim
director to
- Self-appointed.
- Not official.
Keep driving, Erika.
Approved.
You have absconded with a mastermind?
An evil mastermind, yes.
And you brought them to our house?
- Can we see him?
- Or her.
Actually, he is my brother and I do
think evil is a bit overexuberant.
But allow me to say that I think
you should be very proud of Number Two.
She is one of the finest human beings
I have ever known.
- She's wonderful.
- Indeed.
It's a relief to hear that my sister
has finally sustained some friendships.
- One!
- I was being sincere.
He was being nice to you.
Don't jump down his throat.
- Of course, you'd take his side.
- Here we go again.
- She named you "One."
- Yes.
- You're the youngest!
- It had a nice ring. A nice ring.
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
We need a place to stay. A safe house.
We're being hunted.
Convenient.
- So, this is family life?
- Looks like it.
We have to rebuild the Worldview Wash.
Who knows how long Constance and
Mr. Benedict have before they go dark.
We need components, power tools.
- We have tools.
- Oh, my God.
Components too.
ROWENA: Your attention, please.
- I have decided that you can stay.
- Oh.
But you will have to work
for your supper.
We're very far behind on the additions.
This house already
has 17 bedrooms, Mother.
We quarry our own rock.
It's time-consuming but fulfilling.
I am gaining so much understanding.
- We need to get Curtain out of the truck.
- Uh-huh.
(THEME MUSIC)
It's so fun to see you all run around.
So busy.
We could use some help. This is for you.
Oh, don't do it on my account.
You might be just hours
from going comatose.
I feel amazing.
I need a better lens.
Things that reflect, refract,
and relay, are in that cabinet.
Here, things that connect,
confound, and contour.
Over there are
nails.
What happens when Curtain wakes up?
Mr. Benedict is convinced
he can reach him.
Of course, he's going to say that.
He's happy.
It didn't work last time.
I don't see how talking to
Dr. Curtain is going to stop him.
And we need to stop him.
He's the bad guy.
- But Mr. Benedict wants to
- To save him.
Yeah.
Maybe we need to save the bad guy
if we can.
Maybe that's the only way to really win.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
How are you feeling?
Yeah, I'm
Inspired. And betrayed.
What?
- You drugged me? Knocked me out?
- Blowdart.
Oh, how crude. That's beneath you.
I felt I had to get you out of there.
Away from the acolytes and the yes men.
Nathaniel, what you're doing
Is helping people. It helped you.
No, it's artificial.
And, and yes, it does feel so good,
but it's not helping anyone.
In fact, it's quite harmful.
People are going blank,
they're going catatonic.
There's no concrete evidence
that my system is causing
I saw it. And I know you saw it, too.
You're in denial.
You're not thinking about anyone.
It's still about control for you.
Oh, please. You don't know me
as well as you think you do.
Oh, well, I thought I did,
but maybe I was wrong.
Either way,
I can't let you do this any longer.
Oh, you don't have a choice.
My people are already on their way.
Well, they'll never find us.
We are far off the grid.
We're ten miles from the French
border in southwestern Luxembourg.
You think I didn't do my homework,
that I didn't anticipate every move
you might make?
That's more, like, 12 miles.
So, they'll be five minutes later.
- What's that?
- What?
- Your neck, what's wrong?
- Oh, nothing.
Your people tackled me, so
- How long has it been like that?
- A few days. What does it matter?
- Stop trying to change the subject.
- This is the subject. I'm just asking you.
How long has it been like that?
Nicholas.
Nicholas?
(OMINOUS MUSIC)
(THEME MUSIC)
You seem to have found an
agreeable group.
- Have you adopted any of those children?
- I have not.
They seem nice. Orphans?
I sense an orphan's appreciation
of what it means to have a loving home.
I've often wondered
how you were managing
in the chaotic
nightmare of out there.
It's not that chaotic.
Well, in normal times.
Right now, it's pretty chaotic.
It would have been nice to
hear from you.
Well, you never pick up the phone, ever.
I find it a nuisance.
Anyway, no time to catch up, really.
Work to do.
Hm. This is nice.
Been saving it for you.
- Thank you.
- Balance is off for me.
Thought it might play better
with your weird swinging pattern.
Thank you.
And by the way, I sent letters.
You could have written back.
I'm not going to sleuth out
my own daughter's address.
It's right there on the envelope.
- Some of us are happy right where we are.
- (THUDDING)
But not all of us.
- And you never wanna leave? Ever?
- There's too much to do here.
And though I know you believe it,
different does not equal better.
It's perfectly normal
to want to see the world.
- To meet new people.
- New people. Terrible priorities.
I suppose the correct priority would be
to build yourself
- a prison of spare bedrooms.
- (THUDDING CONTINUES)
May I offer an observation?
You mean Mind Tricks?
If given a decade,
I think I can solve this.
But I have to make
defensive preparations.
Do you have a map of the property?
Of course, I have a detailed map
of the property.
It's in the foyer, framed.
You can take it down.
- One can show you.
- No problem.
One, do you find this
lifestyle stifling?
No!
I was just on the ham radio.
Great way to stay in touch
while staying right here.
World at your fingertips.
Anyway, old Vandenpuig
said the funniest thing.
There are people in town
asking about us.
- More new people?
- Grey people.
We've been found.
NUMBER TWO (SHOUTING): Milligan!
Nicholas? (BREATHES SHAKILY)
I need you to wake up. Wake up!
I know it looks messy right now,
but we're trying to
- No time. The greys are coming.
- Okay. The property is defensible.
I have many ideas,
but we will need everyone.
- Got it.
- Okay.
Why must we have conflict?
Okay. Everyone, except
perhaps Constance.
We could really use her mind power
about now.
- We're about to be attacked.
- CONSTANCE: Kate.
It's not something I can choose to do.
It just happens
and I'm completely fine with that.
Sticky, Reynie, Kate, Dipika.
We have work to do.
Constance, go back into the
main house for your own safety.
Maybe I'd rather take a walk.
There's a lovely 2,000-piece
jigsaw puzzle inside.
(GASPS) Oh, intriguing.
(THUDDING IN DISTANCE)
Please.
Please, I don't know what to do.
You have to come back.
You were right. This is about
control, it always has been.
And yes, I did know it was wrong.
But somehow I thought if I
convinced you that it was good,
then you would think I was good.
(QUAVERS) You have to come back.
You have to fix this, fix us.
You have to make things right.
I love you, Nicholas.
Oh, I wish we could have
gotten here sooner.
(GASPS)
You were faking it?
Oh, Momma ♪
I'm in fear for my life ♪
From the long arm of the law ♪
Lawman has put an end to my runnin' ♪
And I'm so far from my home ♪
Oh, Momma, I can hear you a'cryin ♪
You're so scared and all alone ♪
I think I've almost got it.
Hangman is comin' down
From the gallows ♪
What's that?
STICKY: Three cars, heading this way.
The jig is up! ♪
The news is out! ♪
- They've finally found me! ♪
- (WHISTLES)
The renegade, who had it made ♪
- Retrieved for a bounty ♪
- I hope they're ready.
Never more to go astray ♪
This'll be the end today ♪
Of the wanted man ♪
Oh, Momma, I been years on the lam ♪
- And had high price on my head ♪
- (CAR THUDS)
Lawman said, "Get 'em dead
or alive!" ♪
Now it's for sure he'll see me dead ♪
- Dear Mama ♪
- Wild style! Wild style!
So scared and all alone! ♪
One got through.
L. D. CURTAIN: Why?
I knew the only way to get through
to you is if you thought you lost me.
- How?
- The children, they, uh, fashioned
a device to reverse the happiness.
And before it was broken,
the device actually worked on me.
It's a fact I chose to hide.
A devious plan. I have to respect it.
But it changes nothing.
- I don't believe you.
- You don't?
Even if you don't admit it, what you
felt a moment ago, that was real.
More real than anything you
could create.
And whether it was happiness or
sadness or anything in between,
it was true emotion. And it's essential.
It's what I finally can feel
standing in front of you.
A swirl of emotions, good or bad,
and it is more valuable to me than gold.
And I'm sorry.
- For what?
- The blowdart. I know it hurt.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
They're here.
(TIRE SCREECHES)
- (IMITATING BIRDCAWING)
- ROWENA: This is my daughter!
- And while she is not perfect
- Not relevant.
- neither am I!
- It's a two-way street!
- Perfectly said, my beautiful son.
- (IMITATING BIRDCAWING)
NUMBER TWO: Back off. This is my home.
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
L.D. CURTAIN: Stop. Stand down.
Stand down, all of you.
- What?
- I don't understand.
We're here to save you, sir.
No, you can't save me.
I've already been saved.
By my brother.
- Sir?
- Yes, he helped me see that I
possibly have been approaching things
the wrong way.
And if you told me I would never say
something like that,
well, I would never say something
like that, but here we are.
Now, you're free to go
to find your own path.
That doesn't make any sense.
It has to be some sort of code.
- Is he blinking in code?
- I think I see him blinking in code.
You're released from service.
- Are you saying don't believe you?
- I'm not.
No, I'm Stop.
Jackson.
The door is open.
Please, discover who you are.
I urge you to find your own happiness.
It's what we all deserve.
I, I
- I, I
- I
- I
- I
- Uh, I, I, I, uh
- I, I, I
- I, uh
- I, I
(PANTS)
- Your philosophy will live on!
- Even without you!
Don't want it to.
- (CAR DOOR OPENS)
- (CAR DOOR CLOSES)
I
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
I'm just not clever with words.
I'll go check on Constance.
- Well, what can I do?
- Are you handy?
I don't understand the question.
- Grab a hammer.
- It's ready.
RHONDA: Mr. Benedict! Number Two!
This is how I found her.
I'm responsible for this.
So I'll fix it.
No.
We both will.
Come on, please.
There has to be a solution.
Are we sure about the light box?
Yes, my doctor tried something similar.
It only works
before they become like this.
However, what if we insert an electrode
into the right hemisphere
of the frontal lobe
She would lose all function
in her left side.
- Well, there are worse things.
- Well
I know. I know.
But this was ultimately
a mechanical process,
there has to be a similar fix.
- What if there isn't?
- Oh, well, that's helpful.
What I mean is,
what if the fix is emotional?
Oh, skeptical.
Your process triggers
an artificial happiness, yes?
What happens to the real happiness?
- The real joy?
- Nothing?
Exactly. It's buried, tamped down.
Unprocessed to the point
where it fries the pathway
and leaves you unable to feel anything.
I propose we attempt
to rebuild that pathway.
- That road back to happiness.
- How?
KATE: So what do we do?
We're trying to restore Constance's
ability to feel happiness.
Or anything.
And as the people she cares most about
in this world,
I think you three are
in the best position to help.
Returning to my original question.
What do we do?
Just be yourselves. Talk to her.
You are the ones who make her happy.
- We do?
- Yes.
Um, hey, Constance.
I assume you can hear us, right?
I mean, look,
you're not always the nicest person
- Kate.
- What are you doing?
I'm getting to my point.
Which is that despite
the relentless crabbiness,
we actually all love
spending time with you.
Next.
Remember that time you broke
The Whisperer with your brain?
That was fun, right? Good times.
So, um
let's make more memories.
Friendship? Laughter? Fun?
You're just listing pleasant words.
Constance, we really want you back.
Please. We love you.
KATE: We're not making her happy.
We're annoying her.
Maybe that's it.
What does Constance like to do
more than anything?
- Insult us?
- Exactly.
It's what makes her happy.
It's how she shows love.
- Unconventional, but true.
- So let's get her to insult us.
- She can't talk.
- Not right now.
But what if we make it irresistible?
- If I were to say, how much I like hugs
- Ugh.
how long do you think
she could resist?
It goes against her biology. Constance.
I love hugging. I love it.
Have you seen the livery
on the new German maglev trains?
Blue vertical stripes. I'm freaking out.
You know what the great thing
about my bucket is?
It's that it's not tied
to any emotional need.
It's just a totally logical way
of being prepared.
(MUMBLES)
- Go, go, go.
- REYNIE: Hey, Kate,
- who's your favorite rhyming poet?
- Do I have to pick just one?
They're all great.
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep.
But I have promises to keep
and miles to go before I sleep.
Success is counted sweetest
by those who ne'er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
requires the sorest need.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying
of the light.
"Whan that Aprille with his
shoures soote.
The droghte of Marc
hath perced to the roote."
You know what I love in this world
more than anything?
REYNIE: More than hugging?
I love a big, bright, sumptuous
sweater vest.
I'd rather be in a coma
than listen to this.
- PERUMAL: She's back.
- (ALL CHEER)
Constance!
- Oh, god.
- No, no.
No hugging. No hugging. No
(RHONDA LAUGHS SOFTLY)
- (MILLIGAN LAUGHS)
- (ALL CHATTER)
Thank you for helping us.
Thank you for saying goodbye
before abandoning us again.
Is it abandonment if you say goodbye?
NUMBER TWO: How about this?
You all come visit me in Stonetown.
I'd love to show you my other home.
- Maybe leave Madame Chops here.
- Nope.
Maybe a protective sleeve?
We'll see.
Oh, hello. (SOFT CHUCKLE) Hello.
Well (CHUCKLES)
- Back to the compound?
- Oh, yes.
Between this and what you
figured out with Constance, we
we have the template to
unwind this, so
I need to get to work. (CHUCKLES)
It's good to have you back.
- Yes.
- (SOFT CHUCKLE)
(GRUNTS)
Yeah. (SOFT CHUCKLE)
- (CAR DOOR OPENS)
- (CAR DOOR CLOSES)
(CAR ENGINE IGNITES)
(EXHALES DEEPLY)
Well, I think I lost a bit
of perspective on this one.
Happens to the best of us.
Still, this organization needs
more than just one perspective.
So if you're willing,
I'd like the two of you to step
into a leadership role.
We'd love to.
- Oh, in about five weeks.
- What?
(MOUTHS) Five.
Is this something
that I'm not invited to, or
- No.
- No?
Kate.
You'll be delighted to hear that
I am not going to ask
if you need a jacket.
I appreciate that,
but I really don't mind
if you do sometimes.
Let's go see Madge.
- REYNIE: Okay. I was a little needy.
- STICKY: None of this is easy.
I want you to know I'm really glad
you found your place at Boatwright.
I've got two places.
Come, come. That's it.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
I love, I love
I'm ready to love, yeah ♪
I love, I love
I'm ready to love, yeah ♪
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
I love, I love, I'm ready to
Ready to, ready to love ♪
- Yeah!
- Yeah!
Ready to love, yeah ♪
You keep me awake
with your white lily smile ♪
Don't keep me watching
your charms all the while ♪
'Cause as all the wise men say ♪
Grab it if it comes your way ♪
STICKY: Hey, Reynie. How's it going?
This semester's off to a great start.
Can't wait for your visit.
Everyone's excited to meet you.
Wo-ho-ho ♪
(APPLAUSE)
KATE: Hey, Reynie. Kate here.
Just wanted to drop you a note
to let you know that we are
back home and back to work.
Think we're finding a good groove.
Help my baby eyes
and open up the door ♪
You make me real
to everyone and everyday ♪
I, I thank the Lord
that you came along this way ♪
It's no more an illusion ♪
CONSTANCE: You asked for a letter.
This fulfills that request.
You're welcome. Constance.
I love, I love
I'm ready to love, yeah ♪
Oh ♪
Oh-oh ♪
I'm ready, ready, ready,
ready to love ♪
Do old people do puzzles
to keep their mind fresh?
Oh, hello. (SOFT CHUCKLE)
BENEDICT: Some do, I'm sure.
Science is pretty clear on the benefits.
Then maybe
maybe you can find out where
I come from?
Oh.
I'd be happy to try.
- And by the way, I am only 51.
- I know. It's disgusting.
Ah Well, I look 46.
- That's a lot of luggage.
- Yes.
I'm joining the society.
- You are?
- L. D. CURTAIN: Trust me, it's necessary.
Turns out we have a sister.
- And she is not as nice as I am.
- (OMINOUS MUSIC)
(CLOSING THEME MUSIC)
(ENGINE REVS)