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Episode: Part 39 "The Detective"

Author: Harlan Guthrie
Duration: 01:17:23

Episode Shownotes

In the penultimate Episode of Season 4, Arthur & The Entity within seek out Detective Noel in hopes of finding a way into The Order of the Fallen Star. With Oscar in Hospital and The Butcher behind bars, the two consider what loose ends to tie up before departing New

York once and for all. Though answers may finally be within reach, Arthur must ask what he is willing to risk in order to see this mission through...With this being the penultimate episode, look forward to the Season 4 finale of Malevolent which releases end of February, but the story continues weekly through our Patreon. Consider supporting now at: https://www.patreon.com/TheINVICTUSStream Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Full Transcript

00:00:23 Speaker_00
Careful, a man is dumping something. From a bucket to our right. It must have snowed last night while you were sleeping. Are you ignoring me? Huh? No, no, no, not purposefully. Sorry. You're still upset about Oscar? No, I mean, yes.

00:00:53 Speaker_00
I regret having to leave him at the hospital last night without saying anything. He was unconscious. You said goodbye before leaving the farm. Yes, I just... I wish... I wish things were different.

00:01:10 Speaker_00
That I didn't have to sever ties with him just because- You barely know him, Arthur. It's not about that. It's about feeling normal. Like I could have a normal friendship again. One without... without having to cater to me.

00:01:25 Speaker_00
I just... I wish there was a way we could both get what we want. What is it you want? What is it that Oscar offered? It's very human to socialize. It's perhaps one of the most defining characteristics of being a human. It's not about Oscar necessarily.

00:01:47 Speaker_00
Don't you wish for more than me? Don't you wish you could talk to other people? Of course I do. I wish for a great number of things, but my... frustrations around what Oscar signified don't end at him being someone you call a friend.

00:02:05 Speaker_00
They exist because I wasn't given agency. I was completely left out of the relationship. It was no longer about us with this new person. It became you and Oscar. And I was there as an incidental. Trapped.

00:02:24 Speaker_00
Listening in without being able to change the subject or speak. Or be heard by anyone but yourself. And you chose to ignore me half the time. I chose to ignore you because you were trying to kill the man. You ignored me long before that.

00:02:40 Speaker_00
I recognize what I've done. I'm sorry for trying to kill Oscar. And lying about it. I still have a lot to learn. I admit that. Having time now. Last night, things were heated in the rain. There was a lot on our plate.

00:03:03 Speaker_00
The way you confronted me... I realize now. Being the one to pull you back at Larsen's, it made me feel capable of anything. It made me feel like I had my darker, more sinister past under control.

00:03:27 Speaker_00
Like I fully understood what it meant to have compassion, to be human. But I heard you last night, and I understand what you meant when you said that I am like a child. I meant to say that- I know what you meant to say.

00:03:47 Speaker_00
And I agree that I am still growing, just as you are. I felt isolated, Arthur. Having Oscar around made me feel isolated. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry Oscar's friendship was the cost to alleviate that feeling. I know. There was no other way.

00:04:10 Speaker_00
It's why I didn't fight you on it. Maybe, eventually, we'll find a path forward. A way to separate us? Yes, yes. I'm glad Marie wasn't awake last night when we came in. Or this morning. Though I suppose- She's already out for the day. Yes. Look, we're fine.

00:04:38 Speaker_00
I've just been thinking this morning, honestly. It's the one place I'm still alone. I understand that. I had plenty of time last night to think while you slept. Hey, true. At least we're in this together.

00:04:52 Speaker_00
It's easier to understand the frustrations when you can empathize easily, and believe me, I can empathize with you. And I with you. We have that. We do understand each other, for better or worse. So what were you thinking about?

00:05:08 Speaker_00
You first, while I was asleep. Well, I was thinking about... Scratch. Or, rather, the woman who seemed to control him. I don't know who she was, Arthur, I'm concerned about what we've unleashed. Yes, I agree, and it's something to be mindful of for sure.

00:05:29 Speaker_00
But when- Oh, right here. Right, yeah. Oh, thanks. Uh, yes, but when we have a moment, we can sit down and properly study the book.

00:05:40 Speaker_00
We now know that Scratch was indeed a forgotten one, and despite having reunited the fragments, we at least have a better idea of who's behind it. Right, though she is placated for now. Maybe we don't want to poke the bear.

00:05:55 Speaker_00
Perhaps that's the last we've seen of her after all. We can hope. What about you? What were you thinking about? This meeting. Detective Knoll. He said on the phone this morning he had already found something about the Order of the Fallen Star.

00:06:10 Speaker_00
Yes, but what's the mull over? Until we learn what he's found... Right, I just... I guess having already come so close to Larson, through the Butcher, I'm curious about what kind of action Knoll will take if we spill everything about Larson.

00:06:27 Speaker_00
Additionally... What? Well, Noel knows so much about me. In such a short amount of time, I really spilled my guts to him. Mm-hmm. Well, I don't know. I'm worried that he's looked into me, maybe.

00:06:44 Speaker_00
There are some things, including what I've told him, that could land me in hot water if he's not as trustworthy as I believed. I tried to tell you. Yes, but was that because of what you were feeling? The prickling of isolation?

00:06:57 Speaker_00
Or were you actually trying to protect us? I... I don't know. Let's just hear what he's learned and find this order. We have where the Freemasons meet, thanks to... Oscar. Yeah, and we have the ring to show membership.

00:07:14 Speaker_00
So long as he's found, at the very least, some things we can ask about during one of these Freemason meetings, then we have our way in. Right. Right. Sorry, I thought you were agreeing. No, but I do. Either way, it's just along this street. A diner, yes?

00:07:35 Speaker_00
Yes. And you're right either way. Whatever Scratch is, or was, is in the past. For now. The Order of the Fallen Star. That's what we need to be after. And then? And then? And then, and then I don't know. We cross that bridge when we come to it. Okay. Okay.

00:07:58 Speaker_00
Here, the door handle is. Yes. It's a sunny diner facing the street. The counter is decorated with paper trees and angels. Detective Noel is sitting in a booth facing us, just ahead. And remember, Arthur, whoever this man is or claims to be,

00:08:24 Speaker_00
However helpful he wants to be. Please, keep him at arm's length. For my sake. Here. Detective Noll. Morning. I'm glad you called. You okay? Arthur. Hey. Talk to me. Arthur, say something. Detective, no, I have a voice inside my head.

00:08:54 Speaker_00
That is the fractured soul of an alien entity. And it describes everything I'm seeing because I am blind. Possibly because of some magical aura.

00:09:07 Speaker_02
Arthur.

00:09:10 Speaker_00
Oh. And what is this entity's name? John. John? Yes. Arthur. All right then. Look, I know you think I'm crazy. You think I'm... Thank you. You think I don't know that I'm making this up or... Hey, hold on now. I didn't say anything. He's smiling. Relax.

00:09:48 Speaker_00
I swear. When we met yesterday, I didn't think I'd meet you. Meet me? Yeah, you could say I've been waiting for you. What? What are you talking about? Milk? Sugar? No, no. What are you talking about? No. Look, I believe you, Arthur. I do.

00:10:15 Speaker_00
I've seen things that, well, Frankly, you and only you would believe. You and I share a great number of truths. Realities you went into great detail about yesterday when we spoke. You've encountered, to put it lightly, yeah.

00:10:36 Speaker_00
But of all the strange and unusual things I've experienced in my long life, I have to say, so far a voice in your head is no. Yes, well, so. Has it been difficult? To say the least. It's like there's another person with me always.

00:10:58 Speaker_00
Sometimes we're in unison, but other times- I appreciate the perspective, but with respect. I was asking John. What? Oh. I- Presumably John can hear me. I can't. He- I can. So, has it been difficult? I feel at times like a prisoner. Voiceless. Unheard.

00:11:33 Speaker_00
I can understand that. Very much so. Who are you? I am a fractured piece of an entity that exists beyond this reality. He... I am a fractured piece of an entity that exists beyond this reality. How did you end up inside Mr. Lester here?

00:12:00 Speaker_00
I was trapped in a book that he unwittingly opened. I was trapped in a book that he unwittingly opened. We were bound together afterwards and through it he lost his sight. We were bound together afterwards and through it he lost his sight.

00:12:16 Speaker_00
This is... That's quite the predicament. How does it feel to be here? On this plane? Strange. Strange? Yeah, I bet. Arthur, I... I don't know what to make of this. It feels... bizarre. He says it feels bizarre.

00:12:37 Speaker_00
I suppose to be heard for the first time in... months? Yes. Months. Noel, I appreciate you wanting to speak with me. But how do you know so much about us? He appreciates you wanting to speak with him. But he's asking how you know so much about us.

00:12:57 Speaker_00
And I'm curious as well. He's pursed his lips. As if thinking. I looked you up. Validated what you told me yesterday. When I got back to the office. Arthur Lester, Arkham PI. Along with a partner. Peter Yang. Unless my records are wrong. No.

00:13:17 Speaker_00
He went by... That's Parker. Ah, I made some calls to Arkham. Seems like some people are looking for you there, for more than one reason. No, listen, I- I- Fuck. Your life, your partner, you really flew the coop.

00:13:33 Speaker_00
I- I understand that, but- No, look, what you're dealing with, I suppose this Order of the Fallen Star, this voice in your head, it's important. More important than anything us mere mortals are dealing with. He... seems conflicted. How do you know?

00:13:51 Speaker_00
I just... I just do. And I'm gonna help you. Why? I told someone I would. I promised someone I would. Someone who helped me. Who? Thanks, love. Yes. Look, I know you have a million questions, and I do too, for you and John.

00:14:21 Speaker_00
But for now, let me help you with what I can, which admittedly isn't much. This order, well, it's... There isn't much on it. Yes. We gathered that much. But it's why we're here. John says it's why we're here. Where have you been staying? Uh, a landlady.

00:14:40 Speaker_00
Uh, above a grocer. Uh, 411 East, um... 83rd Street. 83rd Street. Thanks, John.

00:14:47 Speaker_02
Hm.

00:14:48 Speaker_00
The order. Look, there's nothing on it. Kind of the point of societies like this, but I did find a name. Uh, at least I think it's a name. A name? What name? John asks what name. Karen. Karen. That's it. I don't think that's very helpful. There's more, relax.

00:15:08 Speaker_00
I'm not sure who he is or what he is, but we started a file a few months back. It seems like whenever there's been transportation of illegal goods, ones that especially need to fly below our eyeline, Karen was involved.

00:15:21 Speaker_00
So wait, is this an organization in itself? No, we're not sure. But it's how you find your way into whatever you need. Last year, it was the mayoral candidate's alcohol-fueled parties. This year, it's- Wait, wait, wait. With a C-H, Karen.

00:15:36 Speaker_00
Like, he who carries the souls of those who have been given funeral rites across the River Styx. A ferryman, yes. Oh. Which is why I'm inclined to think it's a name, rather than an organization. One person. What makes you think otherwise?

00:15:50 Speaker_00
John asks, why aren't you sure it's a name? If it is only one person, then they're extremely well connected. We're talking about almost everything from money to people. Some willing and some not.

00:16:02 Speaker_00
Karen has been tenuously connected to almost every trafficking bust that we've made in the last two years. Which I'm ashamed to admit is not very many. That's not counting booze, which is a whole different thing.

00:16:14 Speaker_00
Okay, so Karen is our best hope at getting into the Order of the Fallen Star. But that's not even a guarantee. We don't know reliably that Karen is working with them.

00:16:24 Speaker_00
Yeah, well, this one's a little shaky, but we intercepted one of Karen's rendezvous three months ago, purely by chance. An off-duty cop knocked on the wrong door for an unrelated domestic disturbance and wound up dead.

00:16:35 Speaker_00
But Karen left the place, and we managed to seize a number of items, some of which were branded with this symbol. The symbol on this paper, Arthur. My hopes is that it belongs to this medallion. Yes, Arthur.

00:16:50 Speaker_00
It's the same as the one on the medallion from Larsen's. It's their symbol, alright. I had a hunch when I came across it last night. I wanted to show it to you in case. So that means Karen is connected to the Order.

00:17:03 Speaker_00
but it still means tracking him down may be an issue. With someone or some organization that prevalent in this city, I'm sure I can use their name to turn over some rocks at the Freemasons. The Freemasons? That's our current plan. That's our plan?

00:17:17 Speaker_00
To infiltrate the Freemasons and hope some of the more established members to also be part of the Order. At the Freemasons, we're hoping to find some members of the Order. You have a way into the Freemasons? My father is a member.

00:17:31 Speaker_00
We have his ring, and- Fuck, I think you may have solved your problem about finding Karen. How? John says how. Aldrich Ward. Look, we've had our eye on him for a long time.

00:17:43 Speaker_00
He's an extremely wealthy, well-connected member of the Freemasons, and in his spare time, owner of DB Imports, the largest import and export company in New York, and on the East Coast, just after MGC Holdings. What are you saying? Meaning?

00:17:57 Speaker_00
If Aldrich isn't Cairne himself, then he's at least in bed with them, or helping Shadow run the organization. He's our way to Cairne. He's a Freemason. He's their goddamn treasurer. He's got an office at their building and everything.

00:18:13 Speaker_00
Beyond this connection, he's been linked to all the booze that flowed during Prohibition. He made a ton of money. If he's guilty, why hadn't you taken him in? John asks if he's guilty, then why is he free?

00:18:23 Speaker_00
Because these Freemasons are all connected to the powers that run this city. You have no idea, the mayor is a fucking Freemason, along with the commissioner, the county treasurer's office... Surely, not all Freemasons are guilty.

00:18:36 Speaker_00
Daniel... No, no, no, look, they're just people. Greedy, dirty people, some dirtier than the rest. The law can't touch them, but you can. You got nothing to lose here, kid. An office, you say? He has an office. The Freemasons built it.

00:18:54 Speaker_00
When he's not doing his 9-to-5 at DB, he's at the Lodge. Oscar wrote 23rd Street and 6th Avenue. On 23rd Street? Yeah. A friend gave us the location. The same friend who gave you the ring? No. Okay, okay.

00:19:10 Speaker_00
If Eldrick Ward has an office in the Freemasons' building? The Grand Lodge. That's what they call it. Oh. You should know that if you're heading in. Right. If he has an office there... We'll speak directly to him. You know what?

00:19:22 Speaker_00
Maybe I shouldn't hear anymore. I don't want to be in any deeper than I need to be. He's leaving the booth. Oh, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. I just got places to be. Look, you get him to tell you whatever he can. And then you call me.

00:19:34 Speaker_00
It's Saturday, so no doubt he's there. No, no. Yeah. What's up? How is the butcher? Mr. Collins? Real stiff upper lip type. Hasn't said a damn thing. Really? We already had lawyers calling all through the night trying to get him out again.

00:19:55 Speaker_00
Claiming a bunch of bullshit charges. Don't sweat it. None of it will hold up. He's dead to rights. Lawyers? Yeah. They were all calling on behalf of some- Larson. Yeah. He's part of the Order, Noel. A real and true monster. Stay away from him. Noted.

00:20:17 Speaker_00
Anyway, good luck. Aldrich is a real piece of shit. Thank you. John says thank you. And thank you from me, too. Hey, thank you, too. For two years, I... Two years? Never mind. Look, we'll talk later. Promise. See you later, pal. Well. Well. How did that feel?

00:20:55 Speaker_00
That felt good, Arthur. Thank you. Come on. Let's get a taxi and get to the Grand Lodge. I feel like getting some fucking answers from a rich prick named Alrick. Agreed. When we get there, do we pretend we're Daniel, or someone else? What do you mean?

00:21:23 Speaker_00
We have the ring, but Daniel's a member, not you. If you plan to pretend to be Daniel, they may know he's in hospital. Right. Right. Well, we could just not say who we are. I doubt a secretive society will just let anyone wander in off the street.

00:21:40 Speaker_00
Ring or otherwise? I mean, what are the odds that the front door person or Aldrich's secretary would know Daniel? That's the question. Right. Well, maybe we just say we're Daniel's son. Admit he lent us the ring because we're considering membership. Hmm.

00:21:58 Speaker_00
Thoughts? That may be the best option. We don't know much about the Freemasons and even less about Daniel and how he's lived these past few years. It may be setting us up for failure. Alright, agreed. We'll play it honest. Mostly honest.

00:22:14 Speaker_00
Our taxi is slowing down. Taxi! 23rd Street and 6th Avenue. Thank you. So how do you plan on getting Aldrich to tell us about Karen? Arthur? You recall how I told you, previous to meeting Oscar, how I would try and catch him in a lie? Yes.

00:22:47 Speaker_00
How doing so allowed me to size him up, so to speak. Yes, let him lead the conversation. Do you also recall what I said about Parker's method. Intimidating, physically. Breaking objects and things like that. Exactly. What are you getting at?

00:23:04 Speaker_00
This Aldrich Ward. He doesn't sound like the kind I care to catch in a lie. Look, there's no pulling punches now.

00:23:15 Speaker_00
The Order is within our sights, and I'm not going to play games with some corrupt aristocrat who undoubtedly will refuse to share what we need to know without some serious cohesion. Listen, Arthur, I agree.

00:23:27 Speaker_00
And frankly, I'm excited at the prospect of getting what we need from Ward. But isn't it a bit riskier? He could call the police, or... This is a man who works above the law. You heard Noel. He's not going to call anyone. Well, I hope you're right.

00:23:44 Speaker_00
I know I am. We're here. It's 25 cents. Here. Thank you. It looks like the building is on the northeast corner. It's tall, brown and white stone reaching towards the sky. There's an entrance here on 23rd Street. Okay. Here, here.

00:24:21 Speaker_00
We're in a hallway with rounded ceilings. Elevators lay to the right, four of them. There are stairs at the end of the hallway that turn right as well, and head up. Is there anyone here? No, it seems quiet. All right, well, uh, the stairs, I suppose.

00:24:41 Speaker_00
Here. Everything is very ornate. The banister is black wood topped with gold. The floor is marble and... What? Well, there's a sigil here. The Freemason symbol. And written around it, it says, let there be light.

00:25:07 Speaker_00
A lot of Egyptian iconography and images scattered through some of the depictions on the walls. Egyptian? There are also pictures here of grandmasters. What's on this floor? Uh, the second floor. The elevators, again. And, uh... Oh! There's a directory.

00:25:28 Speaker_00
We're looking for the treasurer. I doubt Ward's name would be here directly, so... Look for something related. Finances, or... Records, perhaps. I'm looking. It's quiet. Eerily so. There didn't seem to be anyone watching the door.

00:25:45 Speaker_00
It seems like anyone can walk in off the street. Yes, but we won't get a meeting with Aldrich without Daniel's ring, regardless of how easy it may have been to enter the building. Executive offices. Bingo. 17th floor. Elevator's to your right. Excellent.

00:26:00 Speaker_00
The button is lower. Someone's entered from the street, the floor below us. The fewer people that see us, the better. Come on. Especially if Aldrich needs some strong convincing. I know. Come on. They're coming up the stairs. Now. The doors are open.

00:26:22 Speaker_00
17, higher. You mentioned this was Parker's approach to dealing with the- Yes. No. Have you... before? Have I what? You know. Gotten into it. What? Have you beaten someone up? Have you gotten into a scrap? Are you asking if I've ever been in a fight?

00:27:01 Speaker_00
I suppose. We've literally fought the Butcher on the train. We defeated monstrous creatures of the- Yes, but those were all together. I mean before me. What do you imply?

00:27:13 Speaker_00
That you... you aided me in some way that... No, just that... well, I helped with many of the... Hold on. You think you aided me so much so that when I had my eyesight back, I was a worse fighter than I am now? Not necessarily. I'm baffled.

00:27:31 Speaker_00
I mean without my ability to call out certain moments to pinpoint a weakness in a combatant that we're facing. You think I couldn't do that if I could just see again? Well, I don't know. That's why I'm asking. What on earth? So have you.

00:27:52 Speaker_00
Make an educated guess. Officers are to the right. Here? Yes. There are a number of portraits on the wall here, similar to the lobby. For what? Grand Lodge Award for Distinguished Achievement. Okay. They seem like a varied group, at least in age.

00:28:16 Speaker_00
There's a door to the executive offices along the same wall, just a bit further down. Perfect. Okay, well, might as well put this ring on. Look, it may not mean much in the end, but at least it will give us a few ounces of credibility.

00:28:32 Speaker_00
I see no reason to think that he would avoid seeing us. There's no suspicion- Aldric Ward. Yes? No, he's here. I mean on the wall. His picture. Oh. A distinguished member. How does he look? Bitter. Yeah, I can imagine. Well, that's useful.

00:28:50 Speaker_00
We know who we're looking for now. Yes. Anyway, the door to the executive offices. Right. Oh! Someone's come out at the same time! Sorry! No, I'm... Can I help you? It's not him. Oh, no, I'm here to visit with the treasurer.

00:29:10 Speaker_01
I'm the treasurer's secretary. What business do you have with him?

00:29:14 Speaker_00
Dammit! Well, I'm looking to speak with him on a rather personal matter.

00:29:20 Speaker_01
I'm sorry, only large members are allowed up here. Really, you shouldn't be.

00:29:25 Speaker_00
Truth be told, my father is a member. Uh, see? He's looking at the ring. It's a meeting on behalf of him. Or for him, rather. He and Mr. Ward are friends. Well, my father is in hospital right now after an accident.

00:29:42 Speaker_00
And, uh... Well, as I said, it's a personal matter. He's eyeing you up and down. A raised eyebrow.

00:29:52 Speaker_01
Is Mr. Ward aware of this meeting?

00:29:54 Speaker_00
No, no, as I said, well, the accident was sudden. Look, I really just want to speak with Aldrich. He's relenting.

00:30:03 Speaker_01
Mr. Ward is out for the moment, but he should be returning very shortly. Afterwards, I'll speak with him and see about possibly meeting with you briefly.

00:30:12 Speaker_00
I suppose that's enough. Thank you.

00:30:16 Speaker_01
What is your name?

00:30:18 Speaker_00
Saltzman. Arthur Saltzman.

00:30:21 Speaker_01
Very well. Wait out here, please.

00:30:24 Speaker_00
Can I not wait in the offices?

00:30:25 Speaker_01
No, as I said- Fuck.

00:30:27 Speaker_00
Right. Yes. Okay. Thank you.

00:30:30 Speaker_01
Thank you.

00:30:33 Speaker_00
He's gone back inside. Damn it. What was he coming out for just to turn around and head back in? Who knows? Maybe he planned to take an early lunch while the boss was still away. It doesn't matter.

00:30:43 Speaker_00
Look- That may very well get us into the office, but I'm not keen to wait around all day. I'm wondering if there's an angle here that we didn't foresee. Which is?

00:30:55 Speaker_00
Well, if we can get into his office while he's out, maybe there's some documentation on Karen. Something that would allow us to stay completely out of this entirely.

00:31:06 Speaker_00
I'm all for different approaches, but even if that's true, wouldn't it still be better to speak directly to Ward? Two. Ultimately, if he refuses to see us, I think that's the right call. Better than nothing. But until then, I think we're... What?

00:31:24 Speaker_00
Someone is down the hall. Okay. I think it's... Aldric Ward. He's reading the paper and... And? He's just entered the men's room. Well, alright then. What are you doing? Getting answers. He's standing before a washbasin.

00:31:52 Speaker_00
The one farthest right on a counter of three. He's looking at himself in the mirror, adjusting his tie, the newspaper folded under his arm. He's an angry looking man, in a brown suit, with a thick mustache and black hair combed to the side.

00:32:10 Speaker_00
He hasn't noticed us. You're locking the door. What? Oh. Aldric Ward. He stopped adjusting his tie and turned to you. I'm sorry, do we know each other? No. Okay, right. He's gone back to his reflection with a dismissive look.

00:32:39 Speaker_00
But you know someone I need to find. Who might that be? Karen. He's stopped fixing his tie. He's turned to you. A menacing look in his eye. Listen here, boy. I don't know who you think you are, but that will be the last time you utter that name to me.

00:33:02 Speaker_00
Or I'll have your tongue cut out. And so do- You smashed his head into the mirror! Shut your fucking mouth! Oh my god, Arthur, he's bleeding from his forehead! Now you listen to me, you slimy piece of shit.

00:33:16 Speaker_00
You're going to tell me everything you know about Karen right fucking now. Or I'm going to cut your nose off with this piece of broken glass. Jesus fucking Christ, Arthur! Oh, my God, man. Do you not know who I am? I know exactly who you are.

00:33:31 Speaker_00
You're a dead man. Arthur, your heel broke his bottom teeth. Tell me! Alright, alright. Fuck. Tell me everything about Karen and the Order of the Fallen Star. Right fucking now. How do you know about... Arthur, his eyes have grown wide.

00:33:52 Speaker_00
He knows about the Order. Karan is- Fuck Karan. Tell me about the Order. No. Tell me about the Order of the Fallen Star! You have no idea. I can't. If I did, I'd- What are you- Where are you dragging me? The Order!

00:34:13 Speaker_00
The toilet bowl is turning red with the blood on his forehead and mouth. They'll kill me! I'll fucking kill you! Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay! Tell me everything! The Order of the Fallen Stars... It's... Fuck! Talk! My God, Randy, you broke my cheese!

00:34:36 Speaker_00
I will break all of them! Where do they meet? A factory. In Red Hook. Where exactly? The grain terminal. When? When do they meet? I thought you knew. That's why. When? Tonight. Tonight. Ten o'clock. Two days after the new moon. Every month. Will you meet tonight?

00:35:00 Speaker_00
When it, when it waxes? Goddammit. Tonight? Okay. Okay. Arthur, perhaps we should leave. He's bleeding a lot. He could tell us more. And any second someone could start banging on the door. This is our only shot.

00:35:13 Speaker_00
Finding out everything he knows could be the difference between life and death. Fuck it if someone sees! Fine. What else? What do you mean what else? How do you arrive? Is there a passcode or a phrase? Who are the other members? There are no phrases.

00:35:30 Speaker_00
Nothing like that. It's invitation only. Very secretive. Most of us don't even know one another. We wear masks and my- Where is your mask? At home, across town. I don't- What else? Tell me everything. Tonight is special.

00:35:48 Speaker_00
I don't know what for, but something big is happening tonight. Or so we've been told. Everyone will be there. Arthur, that's plenty. Listen to me. If you go tonight, I will kill you. You understand me?

00:36:02 Speaker_00
I don't care who you are, or what connections you think you have. I will kill you and everyone you love. You stay the fuck away from the Order tonight! Fine, fine, Christ! I told you what you want! Leave me- You knocked him out. Good. Fucking cultists.

00:36:26 Speaker_00
How do I look? You don't have any blood on you. Good, good. Let's go. We have what we need. Do we? Yes. We have where and when. Tonight. Let's go. The door. It's locked. Anyone? No. No one is here. Quickly, the elevator. I may have gone a little overboard.

00:36:55 Speaker_00
Aldrich Ward dissolved it. There's no doubt in my mind. Cultists and organizations like this, they've always just... Here. The button is... excellent. If his secretary comes out... He won't, he won't. This elevator will... Any second now.

00:37:26 Speaker_00
The elevator is closing! I really must get on the- I'm dying to hear the end of your story. A story? Arthur! Yes, Charlie, and, well, you can't leave a man hanging. Arthur, we need to leave!

00:37:51 Speaker_00
Percival, I'm so sorry, I really need to- Say, you look like a hound that's just been round the track, my good man. But the devil is wrong. The elevator's closed, Arthur. He's blocking the way. Knock him out! What? What? No, nothing. No. No?

00:38:07 Speaker_00
Well then do something, Arthur. He's blocking the elevator and Aldrich Ward could be coming out of the bathroom any minute, bloody and beaten. Look, Percival, I can't recall how the story ends. Excuse me. What nonsense is that?

00:38:19 Speaker_00
At least give this poor man an ending, will you? Arthur! I will not let you depart without an answer. Fine, fine, yes, please. Please, uh, but accompany me down to the lobby. I'll tell you on the lift. Okay?

00:38:32 Speaker_00
Uh, I, well, really, I have business on this floor. Oh, for fuck's sake. Please. Very well, very well. Back to the lobby. Okay. Come on. Come on! Here. Yes. Right. Why, you look quite relieved. I-I just... I don't want to be late for another appointment.

00:38:54 Speaker_00
The lobbyities. We're moving. So! Your story helped me so on the train. I found myself turning it over and over. Curious for an ending. You spoke of a lone man. Matt was his name trudging through the wilds he arrives at a cabin his ultimate destination and

00:39:19 Speaker_00
One he presumed empty when an old friend is there, Charlie, but he says he cannot stay. Go on, tell me what happens.

00:39:29 Speaker_00
Right, well, his friend Charlie says that he can't stay there, that he has a woman, Moll is her name, with him and she's taking care of him. Fed him, fixed his broken leg, that she saved him, this Charlie. Yes, and? And so Matt leaves. He leaves. Lost.

00:39:57 Speaker_00
His goal was this cabin for so long, so, so long, and now he's wandering alone in the icy wilderness without a goal. He has nothing. Everything he's worked for, everything he's had his sights on, this cabin, everything he had planned for.

00:40:23 Speaker_00
This was his finish line, and now it's gone he's aimless and so he comes to a little snowbank where he can get some shelter from the wind and he makes a small fire he eats a little and lays down in the snow and

00:40:50 Speaker_00
overhead the interlacing branches whispered. Between them he could see the far, impersonal glances of the stars. Past him flowed the wind. But he has trouble making this a passable shelter. He can't seem to keep the firelight and the heat in.

00:41:15 Speaker_00
His blanket won't stop the biting cold. The pale light of the fire seemed to escape him, to radiate far through the night. There was nothing to keep it here. The room in which he slept was the universe.

00:41:35 Speaker_00
His bedfellows, the trees, and their ranks for miles. The mountains on the horizon's rim. The infinitely distant stars. He was no more than a mote fallen from a sunbeam, a speck of dust waiting to be obliterated or swept away. Arthur, how sad.

00:42:04 Speaker_00
Yes, yes, but then she arrives. She? The woman, Maul, that Charlie had with him. She followed Matt out. Why? She puts fresh bowels in the fire, she brings food, and he asks her where Charlie is and she says he didn't need her.

00:42:27 Speaker_00
She has a little kettle boiling and he asks why she came and she says to take care of him.

00:42:33 Speaker_00
And as he drinks the tea, he warms up and he realizes that the shelter she's fixed, the branches she's moved and the fire that she's brought new life to, they no longer escape. The heat and the light no longer leaves to the illimitable universe above.

00:42:52 Speaker_00
It's now reflected from the lowest branches of the trees overhead. The stirring wind went past and no longer dipped into their hollow. He could no longer see the stars.

00:43:09 Speaker_00
And then she took her fur robe, wrapped it around him, and he nestled her warm body. Her coming had driven out the world. It was as though she brought with her a habitation, a haven, a home. And in this home, the man was no longer lonely.

00:43:36 Speaker_00
He slept in her arms, safely and securely. Well, I should say that's quite the tale there. What does it mean? Reminds me of my mother. I gave her quite the time growing up, but if she didn't make our house feel like a home every moment she could.

00:43:58 Speaker_00
Yes, well... Yes, yes, yes. Well, thank you for the ending, William. I appreciate it very much. My wife was equally enthralled by the tale. I'm sure she will be quite fond of the ending's lesson. Nevertheless, I must ride back up.

00:44:16 Speaker_00
It was wonderful to see you again, my friend. You too, Percival. Take care. Yes. Yes, take care. That's quite the story. Yes, well, it's just a story. Why did it stick in your mind? I don't know. I read it years ago.

00:44:38 Speaker_00
But certain lines and... Look, we need to move. Right. The street is straight ahead. All right. All right. Where to now? We need to leave. It's not until 10 p.m. tonight. We have time and we need to tell Noel. Who? Noel. Detective Noel.

00:45:08 Speaker_00
Now who is Detective Noel? John. You were doing so well. What? What? We just met him. Right. He spoke with you. Right. Fuck. I... I know. I-I-I... It's fine, let's... I knew that. I-I just... And... well... Yes, we should tell Noel. Let's just get into a taxi.

00:45:35 Speaker_00
Head back to Marie's for now. Okay. Taxi! 411 East 83rd Street, please. I know I'm not fine, Arthur. I'm... Look, we don't have a solution. We don't know what's wrong. It's... It's what it is for now. Until we can... I don't know.

00:46:09 Speaker_00
Speak with someone or... Or I... I don't know. You're right. I just... I'm sorry. Don't be. Look, we have the Order. That's what's in our sights, right? Right. Right. It hides in plain sight. It hides in plain sight. It hides in plain sight. What?

00:46:32 Speaker_00
Well, that's what Matthew said, remember? About the Order of the Fallen Star. Right. A grain terminal. In plain sight indeed, but... What's on your mind? Well, it's time to figure out what our plan is. What do you mean?

00:46:51 Speaker_00
Look, we have the location of the Order. We even have when they meet. We've been working towards this goal, finding the Order and the Fallen Star, but to what end? To stop them, right? Well, uh... How do we plan on bringing down something as big as this?

00:47:06 Speaker_00
I mean, we're talking about an organization that has connections to the Freemasons. Illegal trade and who knows what else. An organization that has slipped between the cracks for how many years? Yes.

00:47:17 Speaker_00
I don't mean to throw this all on you, but in the car when you asked me to trust you, you talked about stopping Larson. And I'm not pretending that you know what to do here necessarily, but I guess I'm realizing now we've come this far.

00:47:35 Speaker_00
We need to have something more concrete to bring them down. Or do we think it's as simple as just killing Larson? Arthur, look, I've been thinking about this for a bit now. The Order of the Fallen Star is clearly a powerful and connected organization.

00:47:53 Speaker_00
Right. I have to imagine that they... Look, what do we think this Fallen Star is? I don't know. What is a Freemason? It's just a name, isn't it? Maybe. Maybe not. I have a suspicion that maybe there is a literal Fallen Star.

00:48:14 Speaker_00
An object that potentially possesses a great deal of power. Okay. Cults like this don't just pop up from nowhere. Perhaps this is what set Larson on his path many years ago.

00:48:28 Speaker_00
Perhaps something else did, but what's clear is that there is an otherworldly, perhaps even alien presence surrounding the Order. And we need to consider its cause. So you think this fallen star is what birthed this cult? Very much so.

00:48:46 Speaker_00
Or, I mean, I'm making an educated guess. Right. Well, it's a lot to leave up to chance. Is it chance, though? Think about it. Beneath Larson's estate, the halls with the three soldiers and Matthew.

00:49:01 Speaker_00
Those halls were dedicated to something called the Black Stone. Matthew said the Order of the Fallen Star was in New York, not Addison. Remember? Yes, of course, but maybe it's simply relocated. Moved to a place where more people can easily get to it.

00:49:17 Speaker_00
Maybe. I'm not convinced of that. Regardless, if there is a Fallen Star, Wouldn't that be the source of their power? And if we take it? Take it? We don't even know if it exists, let alone what... let alone what it could do. Just hear me out!

00:49:37 Speaker_00
If we take it, they have no reason to exist. John, I'm willing to follow you so far, at least, in making guesses about what this cult could be about, but this is quite a leap away from what we know. Like we haven't made larger leaps? No, of course.

00:49:52 Speaker_00
You've connected dots more tenuously than this. Scratch was- Scratch was a lot of things we didn't see coming. Right, but I followed you through all your assertions until we were proved otherwise. With a healthy dose of skepticism.

00:50:04 Speaker_00
Unless there are things I don't know, I can't walk into what could turn into a pretty deadly situation. Maybe there are. Are what? Things I don't know? Look, I know it seems quite the ask for your trust right now. Perhaps faith is a better word.

00:50:24 Speaker_00
John, I... After last night, I don't know that it is. I feel confident that there is an object. Whether it's the fallen star or something else entirely that's bringing this orb of power. If we take it, leave with it, I believe they will cease to be.

00:50:51 Speaker_00
How? What am I supposed to- Perhaps it's from my time as king. Perhaps a memory returning. Can we call it that? I suppose so. Trust me. One more time. We're here in New York because I do. Well then, just a little further. Please. All right. We're here.

00:51:22 Speaker_00
Fifteen cents. Thank you. So, if we do manage to take this... object, then what? Leave town? I don't know. I think stopping Larsen is still part of it. but I don't think he would be the same threat if we have the object first.

00:51:52 Speaker_00
Okay, it's a bit bare-bones, but we've worked with much less. We infiltrate the cult, find the object, take it, kill Larson, and leave. Leave town? Yes, I suppose. I suppose we can leave New York entirely after that. There's nothing for us here. Daniel!

00:52:12 Speaker_00
Yes, but I mean, you know, we can come back, visit again. Maybe. So do we head back to Arkham then? No, no, I suppose not. So where? I... I don't know just yet. Okay. But, but if this is... If tonight we leave... We should say our farewells to Marie. Right.

00:52:37 Speaker_00
Let's hope she's home. But the steps are here. Yeah.

00:52:42 Speaker_02
Oh! Arthur!

00:52:44 Speaker_00
What? The house. It no longer has the aura. The dark shadow I saw when we first approached.

00:52:54 Speaker_02
Oh.

00:52:55 Speaker_00
I suppose Scratch is really gone. I suppose so. Marie?

00:53:07 Speaker_03
In here.

00:53:09 Speaker_00
Oh. Afternoon.

00:53:13 Speaker_03
Afternoon.

00:53:15 Speaker_00
You're having your tea, is it... Would you like to sit? Sure, sure, why not. How is, um, Hattie?

00:53:26 Speaker_03
She's doing fine. A little worse for wear, but she'll be all right, thanks to you.

00:53:34 Speaker_00
It was nothing, really.

00:53:36 Speaker_03
Oscar doesn't seem to think so. Oscar is, uh... I visited him in the hospital as well. He told me what you did.

00:53:48 Speaker_00
What I... How much of what we did?

00:53:51 Speaker_03
He was sparse with the details. Including those that led to him losing his arm.

00:54:00 Speaker_00
Look, I... I wish I could explain truly, but... My sister is alive, Parker.

00:54:06 Speaker_03
That is what I asked for. And that is what you accomplished. And for that, I am eternally grateful. Family is important, Parker. I would do anything for family.

00:54:23 Speaker_00
I know, I know.

00:54:26 Speaker_03
Now, how much do I owe you?

00:54:30 Speaker_00
Owe me?

00:54:31 Speaker_03
For your investigative services?

00:54:36 Speaker_00
Oh, no, Marie, really, it's not- Quiet now!

00:54:40 Speaker_03
How much?

00:54:41 Speaker_00
Arthur, if we're leaving, money would be helpful. I don't know. Whatever you can spare, honestly. She's looking around in a drawer by the fireplace. But honestly, Marie, this isn't necessary.

00:54:56 Speaker_03
Cards, Wallop. I won't hear of it. You performed a duty, and... and... She's drifted off. Would you take something of value over money?

00:55:13 Speaker_00
Sure, of course, if it would be preferred.

00:55:17 Speaker_03
Very well. Here.

00:55:22 Speaker_00
She's handed you a locket. A gold locket.

00:55:26 Speaker_03
Oh, Marie, this is far too... My boy, Hattie is worth far more than any trinket. Besides, it isn't going anywhere, sitting in that dusty drawer.

00:55:39 Speaker_00
But surely this has sentimental value, I... Of course it does!

00:55:44 Speaker_03
Too much to sell, but too little to wear. Besides, there is no one to pass along these things to. Eh?

00:55:57 Speaker_00
She's drifted off again. The locket opens in the middle, and... There are two small portraits here. A man and a boy.

00:56:11 Speaker_03
That's Albert there, on the left. And on the right, my... my son.

00:56:19 Speaker_00
Her son? He's very handsome.

00:56:25 Speaker_03
He's dead now. The war, of course. Did you see some action?

00:56:34 Speaker_00
No, no, I was too young when it started. She's studying your face.

00:56:42 Speaker_03
My son, he was nothing like you. Very different sort. Different than me, even. He used to say that I gave him the strong bits of his personality. I know what he meant though. He meant that I was too tough on him.

00:57:06 Speaker_00
I'm sure he... I loved him.

00:57:10 Speaker_03
Dearly. He would often tell me to be more neighbourly. To be more friendly is what he meant.

00:57:23 Speaker_00
Her eyes have drifted down to her lap. She's holding a handkerchief.

00:57:29 Speaker_03
You are done here. You are leaving.

00:57:32 Speaker_00
I am, yes.

00:57:37 Speaker_03
How did... Oscar mentioned your father and you spoke. I suppose you've made your amends and what not.

00:57:47 Speaker_00
Ah, in a... Yes, yes. I have.

00:57:53 Speaker_03
I'm glad for it. Where are you off to now? Home?

00:57:58 Speaker_00
No. No, I don't think I'm ready to return to Arkham just yet.

00:58:03 Speaker_03
I assumed England.

00:58:05 Speaker_00
Oh!

00:58:06 Speaker_03
Well, no, I- It's fine either way, I understand it. My boy was the same in that way. Always aching to leave one place or another. That was half the appeal of the war. You've paid for the week, did you?

00:58:26 Speaker_00
No, no, no, no. This, this is more than enough. Please, keep whatever is left. Please.

00:58:36 Speaker_03
He would always make a mess out there, my boy. Dirty shoes worn right through to the seams. Knees black as if he were crawling down chimneys. Who knew what that boy would get up to?

00:58:58 Speaker_03
But when he would come in, in the late afternoon light, the orange filling the front hall, he would always remark the light. He loved it. A boy talking about the sun, can you imagine?

00:59:21 Speaker_03
the strange look he'd get, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, mostly from me. He'd say, Mama, the sun is just as pretty today as it was yesterday.

00:59:39 Speaker_03
And I'd say something silly to staunch his excitement about taking off his muddy shoes or picking up his ratty coat. And he'd just stand there, right there, bathed in the golden glow. I love the light now. Sometimes I feel him in it. You know,

01:00:21 Speaker_03
if you if you ever wanted to write or well you know I often think about my boy Frederick and what he would say and well maybe he's right maybe I need a little well I I don't want to be a burden. Marie, I... Well, it's not an obligation.

01:00:56 Speaker_03
You don't... I mean, look, if you think that I'm some... Marie.

01:01:02 Speaker_00
I'd love to. I'd be honored to write you.

01:01:08 Speaker_03
Well. Good. I'd really love that. Well, here I am yammering on. I'm sure you have things to see before leaving.

01:01:22 Speaker_00
No. No, in fact, I'm going to use the phone at the grocer, but... I don't have anywhere to be until later. I'd love to spend some time, Marie, together.

01:01:35 Speaker_03
I'd... I'd like that. Of course, I'd have to cancel my evening plans. Oh, well, you don't have to- No, no, it's fine, it's fine. I'd prefer your company to the endless prattling over dinner out with the visiting Mr. Chapman.

01:01:53 Speaker_00
Well, I'll just use the phone. It shouldn't take long.

01:01:58 Speaker_03
Yes. Then when you're back, I'll telephone and leave a message at Seymour's Hotel.

01:02:05 Speaker_00
Excellent. Thank you, Marie. Thank you, Marie, for giving me a place to stay.

01:02:13 Speaker_03
You're a good man. Oh, oh, Parker?

01:02:18 Speaker_00
Yes?

01:02:20 Speaker_03
I nearly forgot. When I was in hospital with Oscar, he wanted me to give you something. It's by the door there.

01:02:29 Speaker_00
Oh. There's a letter here. It's unaddressed. This letter?

01:02:35 Speaker_03
Yes.

01:02:36 Speaker_00
Thank you. It's in a plain envelope. Should we open it? Outside. Thank you. I'll be right back. A letter from Oscar? Do you think he... Oh! What? Hey there, hey! Noel! Noel! I was just about to, um... Oh, one second. We were on our way to telephone you.

01:02:58 Speaker_00
We were about to telephone you. Good timing, I suppose. What's the matter? John says what's up. He's walking on the sidewalk, pacing almost, in a small circle. Let's talk. We should talk. He's started to walk down the street. Sure, sure.

01:03:14 Speaker_00
He looks nervous, uncomfortable. What's going on? What is it that... Nothing. Look, let's sit. Here, there's a stoop, here. Here, here. Yes, here. You're nervous. What do you know about the order? The order? Yes. No, no, this has nothing to do with the order.

01:03:37 Speaker_00
What did you find out? Oh, well, where they're meeting, and when. Tonight, in fact. Ten o'clock. Tonight. Tonight. Okay. Okay, excellent. But we need masks. Yes, but John says we need masks. It's in Red Hook. At Grain Terminal. Of course, always masks. Okay.

01:03:57 Speaker_00
We'll find a place, a quiet place to hide, and we'll wait and we'll watch. And we'll knock out two members before they arrive and take their place. That'll get us in. He seems... distracted. Tell me what's going on.

01:04:10 Speaker_00
Why are you here, if not about the Order? What aren't you telling us? Look... Kid... I... You're wasting our time, Noah. Look, if you're not going to be straight with us after all we've done... Hold on, just... Hey, just... Sit down, please, please.

01:04:28 Speaker_00
Look... I never had to talk about any of this, okay? This part of my life... I buried. I never had to recall certain things. Never had to go back. Cut the cryptic shit, Noel. We need to know what's going on. Tell us what is going on. Everything.

01:04:52 Speaker_00
I knew you were coming. Two years I waited. Because it was two years ago I left the Dreamlands.

01:05:03 Speaker_02
What?

01:05:04 Speaker_00
The Dreamlands? My real name is Charlie Dowd. I grew up in a little place called Hopper's Hill, along with my best friend Noel Finley. We were both policemen until the war started. He didn't come back. I did. They never found his body.

01:05:33 Speaker_00
I couldn't go home after all of it. It felt too familiar. So I found my way to Arkham. I found a spot with a partner who had ties to the law, and together we opened up a PI business. Really? Yes. At 13 Mosby Avenue.

01:05:53 Speaker_00
Wait, wait... My partner's name was Roland Cummings. Roland Cummings? Roland... You took over my old office. How do you... I don't understand. What? Just, just... Wait, there's more.

01:06:15 Speaker_00
After Roland and I started taking cases, sometimes finding people who had come back from the war claiming to be MIA soldiers, you know, changelings, we stumbled upon one case that, well, let's just say touched into these magics you spoke of yesterday.

01:06:32 Speaker_00
That case opened our eyes to a whole world of things we could barely comprehend. And together, Roland and I, we became somewhat specialized, dealing with cases that touched this otherworldly stuff.

01:06:46 Speaker_00
Then, a couple of months later, things got really interesting. A mutual acquaintance of ours heard of an artifact, something very old and very powerful being unearthed in Egypt.

01:06:58 Speaker_00
Unsure of what it could mean for the world, I went and left Roland behind for many, many months. While I was there, I joined an expeditionary team to unearth what amounted to a great find. But that's besides the point right now.

01:07:15 Speaker_00
Look, within that excavation, they found a stone. This was almost a year and a half since I had first arrived in Egypt. I was ingrained, you know, entrenched in the goings-on there.

01:07:28 Speaker_00
So when I stole the box that contained the stone, I knew I would be killed if they ever found me. Is that why you took Noel's name? Partly, but that's not the full story. I sent the stone home first. I never looked at it or touched it.

01:07:42 Speaker_00
I sent it straight to the office. However, when I finally did get home, I learned that Roland had been missing and presumed dead for quite a while. That's when he came for me. She? Who? The King in Yellow. What?

01:08:05 Speaker_00
Look, the King in Yellow is this great old one who reigns over the Dreamlands. He is a master manipulator and liar. He whispers in your ear, he infects your thoughts, your dreams. This great deceiver, this inhuman being, this bringer of madness.

01:08:27 Speaker_00
Sorry, sorry, I get a little carried away. It's all right, continue, continue, please. This king, he has considerable power, even here in our realm. The ability to interact with the dead, whisper into people's ears.

01:08:42 Speaker_00
Usually those who have touched the alien world. You know, those whose minds have already encountered otherworldly horrors, you know. And he can even inhabit the dreams of those who he chooses to seek out. And he sought me out. At first in dreams.

01:09:00 Speaker_00
And then... He took me to the Dreamlands. Arthur! Do not tell Knoll who I am! Yes. The Dreamlands. He couldn't manipulate me into telling him what he wanted. Too used to the horrors of the world, I suppose. So he tortured me there. For what felt like years.

01:09:24 Speaker_00
I think time moves differently there, though I... I didn't age the same way for those years. He will not help us if he knows the truth! He cannot know! What? What did he want? He asked me questions about Roland.

01:09:38 Speaker_00
who he was working for, what he'd been doing, where they planned to be. Of course, I didn't know anything. I was away, but it didn't stop him from asking.

01:09:51 Speaker_00
He thought up cruel, unusual forms of torture that would change the landscapes of the Dreamlands to reflect places from my memories, my apartment, Egypt, the prison cell.

01:10:02 Speaker_00
He would change his appearance to take on the physical presence of people I had known. He was a master manipulator. But you never told him anything. I wouldn't. Not even the small bits I knew. Not even when he pulled out Roland himself. Roland?

01:10:20 Speaker_00
Roland was alive in the Dreamlands. At first I thought it was another mask the King wore. He had pulled off so many clever characters that tricked me. But this... This was the real Roland. He was trapped in the Dreamlands.

01:10:36 Speaker_00
A prisoner of the King, like me, but more so. No longer part of our world. That's when I knew he had died. At least, on this plane of existence. You can die here, but be alive in the Dreamlands. In a manner of speaking.

01:10:51 Speaker_00
Roland, in his time dealing with the cult, must have anchored himself in the Dreamlands somehow. So when he died here, he had a place to go. He could come back, back to this world. Not anymore.

01:11:04 Speaker_00
When it became clear to the king that Roland would never tell him what he needed to know, he turned to me. And I guess my pitch wasn't convincing enough because he killed what existed of Roland in the dreamlands as well.

01:11:19 Speaker_00
Then the King, I suppose, gave up on trying to fish information from me and decided to let me stew. For a long time. The prison pits. Where? The prison pits. Arthur, listen to me. And do not repeat this to Noel. I did not do this.

01:11:38 Speaker_00
This was after I was trapped in the book. Was that what the King was looking for? Is that why he tortured Roland? And no, for the book. And you never knew what the King was looking for. It was something important to him. Very important.

01:11:55 Speaker_00
The King must have known Roland was connected to my book somehow. Through 58 Pelican Lane. Roland must have been there in some manifestation. So when the King was separated from his other half, he sought out Roland. And anyone Roland was connected to.

01:12:12 Speaker_00
But you're here. How did you escape? A smile is creeping on Gnorl's face. Our mutual friend. Lorik. Lorik! The Cana! You were the one he helped escape. He told me he was your friend. And that I would encounter you.

01:12:35 Speaker_00
A man without sight, holding the lighter that my partner once possessed. With a familiar voice in his head. Does he know I'm the king? My lighter. This too shall pass. That lighter was famously my partner Roland's.

01:12:49 Speaker_00
He must have left it behind before shuffling off this mortal coil. That's right. Your voice. Does the name Adam Fry mean anything to you? It's one of the many characters the King would take on to manipulate me.

01:13:03 Speaker_00
He sounded just like my childhood best friend. It seems like the King takes many voices to sell his characters. The more authentic the better, I suppose. Adam Fry was the King using Knowles' mannerisms. Just like he did with Frank Underhill.

01:13:17 Speaker_00
That's what you recognized his voice from. The canner also told me that I would have to help this strange, interesting character. That I would meet one day. One fateful day. Fuck. And on a goddamn Saturday too. Yes, sorry about that.

01:13:41 Speaker_00
So that's the whole story. For the past two years since escaping, I've managed to take on my old friend Noel's persona and get a job as him here in New York. Some days it's easier to forget where I've come from. Other days... not so much.

01:13:56 Speaker_00
You said... you said we had a few mutual friends. Who was he talking about? That sounds stupid now.

01:14:04 Speaker_00
But after what the canister said, I had thought for a moment, before speaking with you and John, that maybe, just maybe, it was Roland in there with you. Oh, it's not, is it? No, no, I'm sorry to say it isn't. Fair enough. Fractured soul of an entity.

01:14:32 Speaker_00
Would have been a small world, I suppose. He's standing up. Well, I suppose that's it. That's the whole thing. I can't believe it. Me neither some nights. Some nights I wake up in a cold sweat thinking I'm back in those pits. I can't imagine.

01:14:51 Speaker_00
It would be easier to just leave this behind. I can do this on my own, Noel. I truly believe that. I know you can, kid. But I made a promise. I'll swing by tonight, pick you up. You said it goes down at 10? Yes. I'll pick you up at 845, okay?

01:15:11 Speaker_00
We'll head up to Red Hook, get us some masks, and two tickets inside. It ends tonight, kid. Thank you, Noel. Now, I gotta go walk this off. Take care, both of you. Knoll. Or...Dowd. That's who the canner let out. Are you okay?

01:15:44 Speaker_00
The king tortured him for years. He lost years of his life. All because the king was trying to find you. The king would have done anything. But now you're back and there's no...repercussions? He's just...disappeared from my head, never to be seen again.

01:16:03 Speaker_00
I don't know. That man has been through almost as much as us. It sounded like it. Lost his partner. Lost years. And now we're roping him back in. After he's just gotten out. He wants to help. He has no choice. We do. Do we? England. What?

01:16:35 Speaker_00
That's where I want to go, when all this is done. I want to go back to England. I haven't been there since I was 17. I want to go home. Okay. Tonight, we get the fallen star, and we head straight to the docks. We take the first boat home. Agreed.