Castlevania (2017) s03e04 Episode Script
I Have a Scheme
1
Don't look at those.
Sumi.
Taka.
Hm. I'm just getting used
to saying names again.
How long have you been here
on your own?
Oh, years.
Or possibly a couple of months.
So
you've seen the parlous condition
of my new home.
It wasn't what we expected.
Well there was a small battle.
It must have been
a legendary battle.
Mostly just desperate and sad.
What exactly happened to the mechanism
that moves the castle?
She melted it.
Never mind.
So you were part of the court
of this vampire you call Cho?
Yes. In northern Japan.
Far from anywhere.
We all lived in her secret fortress.
Trapped in her fortress.
We were given
to Cho's hidden court as children.
It amused her to have
a human honor guard.
Not that she needed guarding.
Sometimes,
it was her pleasure
to have us allow a hunter
to pass through her ranks
and into the court.
This was how it was every day.
Some new horror.
Some new punishment.
Some new boastful exercise
of her complete power over us.
Every day was slavery.
Every day was death.
And we had to watch it all.
Cho was ancient and arrogant.
She had lived forever
where no army could reach her.
No superior power could end her.
We just watched.
And learned.
We spent years studying how she lived
studying how she fought.
We learned from her every victory.
Memorized her every weakness.
Our lives became nothing
but the development of plans to end her.
We read her books
and listened to her legend
and wished only for the chance
to free our people from her teeth.
And then she left.
Summoned to Dracula's war court.
We killed all her guards
and freed the people
of the hidden court within days.
But Cho was always
going to come back.
So we left to hunt her.
Because if she returns to the court,
it will begin all over again.
If she's truly dead,
then other vampires will
eventually take her court over.
And our freedom
will mean nothing.
We need a friend, Alucard.
You need instruction.
Perhaps one
or two new weapons.
Maybe learn a little magic?
Magic?
- Really?
- Magic.
What do we think?
So
what do we think?
It's always the same.
Carmilla always has a scheme.
She's a dreamer, Striga.
No.
It's never, "Gather round, girls.
I have a dream to tell you about."
It's arms waving in the air
and "Vampires and sisters,
I have a scheme!"
- Ah.
- Tell me I'm wrong.
No, you're not wrong.
But she did get us here.
It's because of Carmilla that we got
to fall in love in a fairy-tale castle.
Oh, God, Morana.
You sound like Lenore.
Is it still romantic
if I'm sick on your hair?
Oh, shut up.
It's been amazing,
and you know it.
Yes. I admit it, all right?
It's been amazing.
But I also remember
how hard it was to get here.
You and Carmilla only see
the present and the future.
I can't shake the past.
Neither can Carmilla.
She still has nightmares
about the years
before she killed the vampire
who turned her.
She doesn't forget, Striga.
She just looks ahead.
But taking and controlling
an 800-mile-wide corridor of land
It's big.
Big scheme.
Big dream.
Fucking scheme.
This is what she does,
she pulls this stuff out of the air
and expects the three of us
to make it happen.
But can it be done?
Militarily?
Ahh. Pfft!
In theory?
I need more intelligence
from the territory.
But in theory?
You said it'd be hard to police.
I mean, would we have to throw
a stockade around the corridor, or?
Oh, no.
The border would be entirely notional.
It's a question of putting
rotating sweeper patrols on the border,
building watchtowers,
taking towns,
and forming fortified camps
to concentrate the humans in.
So you know you can do it.
Well, maybe.
Possibly.
But it would be hard.
Anything worth doing is hard.
And just think: if we did this,
you would be commanding
the army of an empire.
What?
We would own and control the land
from here to Braila.
Almost to the Black Sea.
That's not a country or a region, love.
That's an empire!
An imperial army.
Applying all the lessons
from empires of old.
If you can win the war,
I can perfect the machinery of empire.
This is how she does it.
The horrible bitch gets in our heads
and inspires us to make
her madness work.
Yes, it is.
But imagine. Hm?
Imagine.
An empire ruled by four women.
Vampires and sisters.
Vampires and sisters,
we have a scheme!
They may be crazy,
but they're careful.
Time to play the game.
Be masterly, young man.
Prior Sala!
I thank you again
for this opportunity
and this insight into
your fascinating new philosophy.
I wish you'd stop talking to me
like I'm insane,
Saint Germain.
It's not like I am
some demented child
that will wet itself
if you stop
patting me on the head.
Oh, well, um, I'm sorry?
Don't be sorry.
Just be better.
Yes. Of course.
Um thank you.
Lovely place.
Quite lovely.
This suffices.
This is part of the library.
You can start here.
Very original shelving method.
Yes, well
in the grand scheme of things,
they no longer seemed necessary.
But you persuaded me
that there may yet be
something of worth in them.
So have at it.
Might I point out that
your wall hanging is crooked?
It got knocked askew
when our visitor arrived.
It's not something we give
too much thought to.
He may even be pointing
in the right direction now.
Towards Hell.
Where the night creature came from.
Your "visitor."
Why do we call them
"night creatures,"
Saint Germain?
Well, because
they only come at night, I suppose.
Or it's a simple translation
of a very long Prussian word.
But they bring light.
The very name Lucifer
means "light-bringer."
Have you stopped
believing in God, Prior?
Not at all.
God created everything.
God created Hell.
If God is perfect,
then causing Lucifer
to go to Hell is his plan.
The wisdom of Hell
and its night creatures
is God's wisdom.
Don't you see how it all
begins to make a terrible sense?
It is indeed fascinating.
Tell me
how did you arrive at that symbol
to identify yourselves?
This?
Those of us who bore witness
to the visitor wear it
because he gave it to us.
Do you know what it means?
- It is his mark.
- No, Sala.
It's the alchemical sign
for sulphur.
Used by philosophers to denote Hell.
We wear the mark of Hell?
Yes.
Magnificent!
Indeed.
You are a wise man,
Saint Germain.
I confess I had doubts about you.
But I stand delighted that
you would bring us your knowledge.
Please! Begin!
Find us more treasure
that we may increase our knowledge
of the true way of things.
You will be brought
bread and wine shortly.
But please
restrict yourself to
this hall for the moment.
Much work goes on elsewhere,
and I would not have it disturbed.
- Yes?
- Yes.
Of course. This hall only
for the moment.
Excellent.
What are we doing?
We are gathering information.
Understanding the territory.
You sound like a burglar.
I'm a drifter, Sypha.
I can't roll up in
a cute little wagon
in my quaint speaker robes
and get alms from the locals.
Course I've been a burglar.
We could just ask people
some questions.
Hey.
Oh, good.
Oh, good! Hello!
Move away.
Gladly!
I just have
a few questions for you.
Nobody comes near our home. Move.
Calm down.
We are visitors
to your lovely town.
There was only one Visitor.
OK we are travelers,
pausing here for a few days.
And my idiot servant here, and I,
couldn't help but notice
your pretty priory
and
your armband.
I hadn't gotten
a close look at that before.
Enough. Move away.
We protect this place.
From what?
Prying eyes.
Anyone who tries to interfere.
Anyone who gets
in the way of the work.
Do you know
what the sign on your arm is?
The Visitor gave it to us.
What's the work?
What are you doing in there?
No more.
You're new here.
So, in the interests of a quiet life,
I'll give you this one chance.
Everyone here knows
not to approach the priory.
Everyone here knows
not to ask questions.
You leave us alone.
We have work to do.
Fine.
Thank you very much
for your kindness.
Have your whip ready.
Just one more thing.
Speakers tend to be
natural prey in towns,
because we don't carry weapons.
So we all learn how to spot
when someone's concealing a knife.
Don't you think monks
wearing a magic sign for Hell
and hiding blades in their robes
is a little obvious
even for a small town?
I see you.
Priests with knives.
This is Gresit all over again.
Are you sure
you didn't overplay it?
I mean, you do have a habit of uh
Perhaps.
But quietly confident people
are competent and careful.
Nervous people make mistakes.
I'd rather they were nervous
than happy in their work.
If I thought just rolling up
to the front door
and annoying some mad monks
would do the trick
I would have done it
my fucking self.
That place stinks of magic.
They're doing something terrible inside.
I have one question.
Oh, for God's sake.
I'm only alive because
Carmilla wants a forgemaster, aren't I?
Stop pretending that this is anything
other than what it is.
I'll answer your question.
Yes, Carmilla is keeping you around
because she'd like a forgemaster.
Now you answer my question.
It's not poisoned.
All right.
Good.
What would you like?
- What?
- It's clear enough.
Let's talk about what you would like.
Shoes.
Fair. Did the apple
buy me another question?
Why not?
All right, ask away.
What was Dracula
going to give you?
I I don't understand the question.
You were helping build an army
for Dracula.
You were advising him.
He was going to kill
all the humans
I didn't know that.
I didn't understand that until later.
I thought it was gonna be a cull,
with the human population
controlled and incarcerated.
Really?
That is exactly our plan.
So he lied to you?
He He withheld.
Oh. Well, never mind.
What was he going to give you
for doing this work
that he lied to you about?
What was your reward for serving
a man who lied about his intents?
Ach.
I-I assumed I would live outside
whatever enclosures
were placed around
the remaining humans.
You "assumed."
I'm not sure there was ever
a conversation, as such.
He would have continued
to need night creatures.
He seemed to value my advice,
so maybe I would have
kept a role in his court.
"Assumed."
"Seemed to." "Maybe."
Did you not want a reward, Hector?
Or were you just expecting one
would be presented?
So what do you want?
I wasn't necessarily
looking for a reward.
I believed in his work.
But obviously
you expected something.
Even if that was only to be spared
from the slaughter.
Or to be kept in a cage.
So that worked out well.
Seriously.
Other than shoes.
Well, this isn't
a serious conversation.
Oh, it is.
Because Carmilla
has commenced her plans
to place the human population
under controls.
Mercy kills,
and if you'll forgive the term,
humane feeding.
This is the same plan that
Dracula presented to you, yes?
Much the same.
Only he was lying
and planned to exterminate
the human race, yes?
Yes.
We're not lying.
And we don't expect you
to work for free.
Or even for shoes.
You're bribing me,
you mean.
Oh, for God's sake.
We're paying you.
Nobody here holds a grudge, Hector.
I'm not saying Carmilla pushed you here
on a wagon filled with feather down.
She was pissed off, yes.
But if she'd left you in Braila,
do you think you'd be alive today?
I might still have my shoes.
So, you would have died
with your boots on.
Hm.
Dracula would have protected me.
- I know he would.
- Oh, I'm sure.
Even though he'd decided to kill
every human being on Earth
because they murdered his wife.
I'm sure you would have been
the only survivor of the human race.
Makes perfect sense.
On the bright side,
after everybody on Earth was dead,
you could have had your pick
of any house you wanted.
Unless he was lying to you.
But what if you're lying to me?
Oh, I don't have to lie to you.
I have no interest in faith.
Faith makes for terrible diplomacy.
This is simply commerce.
In commerce, we don't have
to have faith in each other, do we?
We don't have to guess.
It's simple.
There are rules.
I give you something,
you give me something.
You understand that when
I forge a night creature,
they are bound to my command.
Their loyalty is to me.
Well, maybe we'll talk
about that another time.
Until then I'll get you some shoes.
And what do I have
to give you in return?
Talk to me some more.
About?
Whatever you like.
I like the sound of your voice.
You're interesting.
I mean, look at you.
Beaten down a dozen different ways,
and you don't give up on yourself.
It's nice.
I can't promise a nice pair.
So long as
they don't have holes in them.
Oh, so now you're a fucking aristocrat?
You have nothing to fear from me.
We're just leaving.
No.
No?
No. You will not enter Genoa.
Get back on your ship,
with your monstrosities, and leave.
It seems my ship has already left.
It has a shrewd captain.
It took his wit to show me
that I'd stopped praying.
Can you imagine that?
I stopped praying and devoting myself,
and I hadn't even noticed.
What a monster I have become.
You don't want me to be a monster
right here in your nice port, do you?
Let us pass.
No.
My ship is gone,
and I need to go north.
Let us through.
We'll drive you and your filthy creatures
into the sea if we have to.
We know what's been
happening in Wallachia.
It will not happen here.
Ohh.
I cannot believe
this is happening again.
It's absurd.
I just can't.
Why do I keep doing the same thing
and expecting a different result?
Isn't that the definition of insanity?
Am I mad?
You know one day,
the last one of you will ask me,
"Why did you work with Dracula himself
to murder all the people?"
And do you know what I'll say?
It's because you're all
so fucking rude.
Bring me fresh material!
Don't look at those.
Sumi.
Taka.
Hm. I'm just getting used
to saying names again.
How long have you been here
on your own?
Oh, years.
Or possibly a couple of months.
So
you've seen the parlous condition
of my new home.
It wasn't what we expected.
Well there was a small battle.
It must have been
a legendary battle.
Mostly just desperate and sad.
What exactly happened to the mechanism
that moves the castle?
She melted it.
Never mind.
So you were part of the court
of this vampire you call Cho?
Yes. In northern Japan.
Far from anywhere.
We all lived in her secret fortress.
Trapped in her fortress.
We were given
to Cho's hidden court as children.
It amused her to have
a human honor guard.
Not that she needed guarding.
Sometimes,
it was her pleasure
to have us allow a hunter
to pass through her ranks
and into the court.
This was how it was every day.
Some new horror.
Some new punishment.
Some new boastful exercise
of her complete power over us.
Every day was slavery.
Every day was death.
And we had to watch it all.
Cho was ancient and arrogant.
She had lived forever
where no army could reach her.
No superior power could end her.
We just watched.
And learned.
We spent years studying how she lived
studying how she fought.
We learned from her every victory.
Memorized her every weakness.
Our lives became nothing
but the development of plans to end her.
We read her books
and listened to her legend
and wished only for the chance
to free our people from her teeth.
And then she left.
Summoned to Dracula's war court.
We killed all her guards
and freed the people
of the hidden court within days.
But Cho was always
going to come back.
So we left to hunt her.
Because if she returns to the court,
it will begin all over again.
If she's truly dead,
then other vampires will
eventually take her court over.
And our freedom
will mean nothing.
We need a friend, Alucard.
You need instruction.
Perhaps one
or two new weapons.
Maybe learn a little magic?
Magic?
- Really?
- Magic.
What do we think?
So
what do we think?
It's always the same.
Carmilla always has a scheme.
She's a dreamer, Striga.
No.
It's never, "Gather round, girls.
I have a dream to tell you about."
It's arms waving in the air
and "Vampires and sisters,
I have a scheme!"
- Ah.
- Tell me I'm wrong.
No, you're not wrong.
But she did get us here.
It's because of Carmilla that we got
to fall in love in a fairy-tale castle.
Oh, God, Morana.
You sound like Lenore.
Is it still romantic
if I'm sick on your hair?
Oh, shut up.
It's been amazing,
and you know it.
Yes. I admit it, all right?
It's been amazing.
But I also remember
how hard it was to get here.
You and Carmilla only see
the present and the future.
I can't shake the past.
Neither can Carmilla.
She still has nightmares
about the years
before she killed the vampire
who turned her.
She doesn't forget, Striga.
She just looks ahead.
But taking and controlling
an 800-mile-wide corridor of land
It's big.
Big scheme.
Big dream.
Fucking scheme.
This is what she does,
she pulls this stuff out of the air
and expects the three of us
to make it happen.
But can it be done?
Militarily?
Ahh. Pfft!
In theory?
I need more intelligence
from the territory.
But in theory?
You said it'd be hard to police.
I mean, would we have to throw
a stockade around the corridor, or?
Oh, no.
The border would be entirely notional.
It's a question of putting
rotating sweeper patrols on the border,
building watchtowers,
taking towns,
and forming fortified camps
to concentrate the humans in.
So you know you can do it.
Well, maybe.
Possibly.
But it would be hard.
Anything worth doing is hard.
And just think: if we did this,
you would be commanding
the army of an empire.
What?
We would own and control the land
from here to Braila.
Almost to the Black Sea.
That's not a country or a region, love.
That's an empire!
An imperial army.
Applying all the lessons
from empires of old.
If you can win the war,
I can perfect the machinery of empire.
This is how she does it.
The horrible bitch gets in our heads
and inspires us to make
her madness work.
Yes, it is.
But imagine. Hm?
Imagine.
An empire ruled by four women.
Vampires and sisters.
Vampires and sisters,
we have a scheme!
They may be crazy,
but they're careful.
Time to play the game.
Be masterly, young man.
Prior Sala!
I thank you again
for this opportunity
and this insight into
your fascinating new philosophy.
I wish you'd stop talking to me
like I'm insane,
Saint Germain.
It's not like I am
some demented child
that will wet itself
if you stop
patting me on the head.
Oh, well, um, I'm sorry?
Don't be sorry.
Just be better.
Yes. Of course.
Um thank you.
Lovely place.
Quite lovely.
This suffices.
This is part of the library.
You can start here.
Very original shelving method.
Yes, well
in the grand scheme of things,
they no longer seemed necessary.
But you persuaded me
that there may yet be
something of worth in them.
So have at it.
Might I point out that
your wall hanging is crooked?
It got knocked askew
when our visitor arrived.
It's not something we give
too much thought to.
He may even be pointing
in the right direction now.
Towards Hell.
Where the night creature came from.
Your "visitor."
Why do we call them
"night creatures,"
Saint Germain?
Well, because
they only come at night, I suppose.
Or it's a simple translation
of a very long Prussian word.
But they bring light.
The very name Lucifer
means "light-bringer."
Have you stopped
believing in God, Prior?
Not at all.
God created everything.
God created Hell.
If God is perfect,
then causing Lucifer
to go to Hell is his plan.
The wisdom of Hell
and its night creatures
is God's wisdom.
Don't you see how it all
begins to make a terrible sense?
It is indeed fascinating.
Tell me
how did you arrive at that symbol
to identify yourselves?
This?
Those of us who bore witness
to the visitor wear it
because he gave it to us.
Do you know what it means?
- It is his mark.
- No, Sala.
It's the alchemical sign
for sulphur.
Used by philosophers to denote Hell.
We wear the mark of Hell?
Yes.
Magnificent!
Indeed.
You are a wise man,
Saint Germain.
I confess I had doubts about you.
But I stand delighted that
you would bring us your knowledge.
Please! Begin!
Find us more treasure
that we may increase our knowledge
of the true way of things.
You will be brought
bread and wine shortly.
But please
restrict yourself to
this hall for the moment.
Much work goes on elsewhere,
and I would not have it disturbed.
- Yes?
- Yes.
Of course. This hall only
for the moment.
Excellent.
What are we doing?
We are gathering information.
Understanding the territory.
You sound like a burglar.
I'm a drifter, Sypha.
I can't roll up in
a cute little wagon
in my quaint speaker robes
and get alms from the locals.
Course I've been a burglar.
We could just ask people
some questions.
Hey.
Oh, good.
Oh, good! Hello!
Move away.
Gladly!
I just have
a few questions for you.
Nobody comes near our home. Move.
Calm down.
We are visitors
to your lovely town.
There was only one Visitor.
OK we are travelers,
pausing here for a few days.
And my idiot servant here, and I,
couldn't help but notice
your pretty priory
and
your armband.
I hadn't gotten
a close look at that before.
Enough. Move away.
We protect this place.
From what?
Prying eyes.
Anyone who tries to interfere.
Anyone who gets
in the way of the work.
Do you know
what the sign on your arm is?
The Visitor gave it to us.
What's the work?
What are you doing in there?
No more.
You're new here.
So, in the interests of a quiet life,
I'll give you this one chance.
Everyone here knows
not to approach the priory.
Everyone here knows
not to ask questions.
You leave us alone.
We have work to do.
Fine.
Thank you very much
for your kindness.
Have your whip ready.
Just one more thing.
Speakers tend to be
natural prey in towns,
because we don't carry weapons.
So we all learn how to spot
when someone's concealing a knife.
Don't you think monks
wearing a magic sign for Hell
and hiding blades in their robes
is a little obvious
even for a small town?
I see you.
Priests with knives.
This is Gresit all over again.
Are you sure
you didn't overplay it?
I mean, you do have a habit of uh
Perhaps.
But quietly confident people
are competent and careful.
Nervous people make mistakes.
I'd rather they were nervous
than happy in their work.
If I thought just rolling up
to the front door
and annoying some mad monks
would do the trick
I would have done it
my fucking self.
That place stinks of magic.
They're doing something terrible inside.
I have one question.
Oh, for God's sake.
I'm only alive because
Carmilla wants a forgemaster, aren't I?
Stop pretending that this is anything
other than what it is.
I'll answer your question.
Yes, Carmilla is keeping you around
because she'd like a forgemaster.
Now you answer my question.
It's not poisoned.
All right.
Good.
What would you like?
- What?
- It's clear enough.
Let's talk about what you would like.
Shoes.
Fair. Did the apple
buy me another question?
Why not?
All right, ask away.
What was Dracula
going to give you?
I I don't understand the question.
You were helping build an army
for Dracula.
You were advising him.
He was going to kill
all the humans
I didn't know that.
I didn't understand that until later.
I thought it was gonna be a cull,
with the human population
controlled and incarcerated.
Really?
That is exactly our plan.
So he lied to you?
He He withheld.
Oh. Well, never mind.
What was he going to give you
for doing this work
that he lied to you about?
What was your reward for serving
a man who lied about his intents?
Ach.
I-I assumed I would live outside
whatever enclosures
were placed around
the remaining humans.
You "assumed."
I'm not sure there was ever
a conversation, as such.
He would have continued
to need night creatures.
He seemed to value my advice,
so maybe I would have
kept a role in his court.
"Assumed."
"Seemed to." "Maybe."
Did you not want a reward, Hector?
Or were you just expecting one
would be presented?
So what do you want?
I wasn't necessarily
looking for a reward.
I believed in his work.
But obviously
you expected something.
Even if that was only to be spared
from the slaughter.
Or to be kept in a cage.
So that worked out well.
Seriously.
Other than shoes.
Well, this isn't
a serious conversation.
Oh, it is.
Because Carmilla
has commenced her plans
to place the human population
under controls.
Mercy kills,
and if you'll forgive the term,
humane feeding.
This is the same plan that
Dracula presented to you, yes?
Much the same.
Only he was lying
and planned to exterminate
the human race, yes?
Yes.
We're not lying.
And we don't expect you
to work for free.
Or even for shoes.
You're bribing me,
you mean.
Oh, for God's sake.
We're paying you.
Nobody here holds a grudge, Hector.
I'm not saying Carmilla pushed you here
on a wagon filled with feather down.
She was pissed off, yes.
But if she'd left you in Braila,
do you think you'd be alive today?
I might still have my shoes.
So, you would have died
with your boots on.
Hm.
Dracula would have protected me.
- I know he would.
- Oh, I'm sure.
Even though he'd decided to kill
every human being on Earth
because they murdered his wife.
I'm sure you would have been
the only survivor of the human race.
Makes perfect sense.
On the bright side,
after everybody on Earth was dead,
you could have had your pick
of any house you wanted.
Unless he was lying to you.
But what if you're lying to me?
Oh, I don't have to lie to you.
I have no interest in faith.
Faith makes for terrible diplomacy.
This is simply commerce.
In commerce, we don't have
to have faith in each other, do we?
We don't have to guess.
It's simple.
There are rules.
I give you something,
you give me something.
You understand that when
I forge a night creature,
they are bound to my command.
Their loyalty is to me.
Well, maybe we'll talk
about that another time.
Until then I'll get you some shoes.
And what do I have
to give you in return?
Talk to me some more.
About?
Whatever you like.
I like the sound of your voice.
You're interesting.
I mean, look at you.
Beaten down a dozen different ways,
and you don't give up on yourself.
It's nice.
I can't promise a nice pair.
So long as
they don't have holes in them.
Oh, so now you're a fucking aristocrat?
You have nothing to fear from me.
We're just leaving.
No.
No?
No. You will not enter Genoa.
Get back on your ship,
with your monstrosities, and leave.
It seems my ship has already left.
It has a shrewd captain.
It took his wit to show me
that I'd stopped praying.
Can you imagine that?
I stopped praying and devoting myself,
and I hadn't even noticed.
What a monster I have become.
You don't want me to be a monster
right here in your nice port, do you?
Let us pass.
No.
My ship is gone,
and I need to go north.
Let us through.
We'll drive you and your filthy creatures
into the sea if we have to.
We know what's been
happening in Wallachia.
It will not happen here.
Ohh.
I cannot believe
this is happening again.
It's absurd.
I just can't.
Why do I keep doing the same thing
and expecting a different result?
Isn't that the definition of insanity?
Am I mad?
You know one day,
the last one of you will ask me,
"Why did you work with Dracula himself
to murder all the people?"
And do you know what I'll say?
It's because you're all
so fucking rude.
Bring me fresh material!