[sorrowful string music playing]
[Lady Johanna] There is no one to whom I may entrust my story.
Perhaps it is unwise to keep a journal.
A confession
to what my enemies would deem my... sins.
But if I do not write it,
it will be written for me
by those who would burn me at the stake for...
[wind whistles]
- [gun cocks] - Who's there?
[Dream] You are Lady Johanna Constantine, are you not?
Not one step further, sir.
But we are old friends, you and I.
We met in a tavern five years gone.
At the time, you believed me a demon.
[unsettling music rises]
Do you believe it still?
I have learned differently since.
There is a task I need accomplished.
[Johanna] A task that is beyond the King of Dreams?
Something of some value to me has been stolen.
I cannot involve myself in the matter.
It is a family affair.
Is it dangerous?
Yes.
Very much so.
What are you offering me, then?
I will give you what it is in my power to give you.
Where is this task sending me?
[ominous string music playing]
[bells tolling in distance]
Stop right there, citizeness.
You're out very late, are you not?
[in common accent] I have a room at the inn.
At Mont-Marat, citizens.
What do you have in that sack?
Food, perhaps?
I assure you, there is nothing in this sack that would interest you.
We will decide that.
Open it.
[inhales sharply]
- [Johanna] There, my gallants. - [groans]
Satisfied?
- Vile thing. - Whose head is that?
This aristo swine violated my little sister.
When I heard he was being brought to the Committee of Public Safety,
I persuaded the executioner to give me his head.
Which I will take back to my village, and I will show to my poor mother,
and she will spit on his face like this.
[laughs maniacally]
- Let her be. She's a madwoman. - Let her be?
Your eyes are as dull as your wits, Michel.
Come here, good citizeness.
I wish to inspect your head more closely.
[blade slices]
[guard] A thousand thanks, girl.
This will buy many ham-hocks, many cabbages, and many bottles of wine.
[Michel] Guillaume, why do I ever doubt you?
[Guillaume] Because, my friend,
you have nothing between your ears but feathers and chicken droppings. Come.
[indistinct chatter, laughter]
- [Johanna, in normal voice] I am sorry. - It couldn't be helped.
The earring will bring him nothing but misery.
And eventually, it'll come back to me.
It's been stolen before.
And your ear?
Do you mean, will it grow back?
Alas, no.
Or the rest of me would have done so long ago.
In which case...
this might hurt.
[grunts softly, inhales sharply]
My injuries would've been more severe
had it not been for your extremely convincing performance.
I admired yours as well.
Playing dead is easy.
It's actually dying I can't seem to manage.
We should both be so lucky.
No, I wouldn't wish that upon you.
Whoever you are.
I am Lady Johanna Constantine.
And I am at your service.
An aristocrat?
In the people's France?
As long as I can escape Robespierre's guillotine.
I'll be of no use there.
It was Robespierre himself who decided I was a threat to the people of France
and had his men lock me in the crypt in which you found me.
You don't look that dangerous to me.
You haven't heard me sing.
Dancing is out of the question.
[Johanna chuckles]
May I ask you...
what is it you intend to do with me?
I intend to take you home.
To your home?
To the island from which you were stolen,
which I hope will be much better guarded from now on.
You know about the island?
Aye.
Master Orpheus.
Did the priests send you?
[gentle music playing]
Did my father?
I am not at liberty to say.
How is he?
Did... did he seem all right?
At the moment, sir, my concern is for us.
The soldiers will have told their superiors by now.
Word will be out to look for a woman with a head.
With two heads.
The city gates will not be open until morning.
I wish they had not seen you.
Well, they have, my lady.
So, we better think fast, or else we'll both be as good as lost.
Well, they do say two heads are better than one.
[rapping on door]
Good morning, Captain. Officers.
[captain] Check that.
Open it.
Where have you hidden it?
I do not know what you are talking about.
We know that you have in your possession a stolen artifact,
Citizeness Bonchance.
Her name is not Bonchance, Captain.
[unsettling music playing]
Good day, Citizen Robespierre.
Your name is Johanna Constantine.
You are in possession of something which belongs to the people of France.
An object of superstition and decadence.
I want it back, Mademoiselle Constantine.
And what would you do with the head
if I were to tell you where it is?
I would destroy it, utterly.
And I will.
We are remaking the world here.
Creating an age of pure reason.
So I will not have an imagined oracle at large in my country.
If anything threatens France, it is my duty to destroy it.
So I have seen.
You will save France...
if it means killing every child, woman, and man in the country to do it.
We will find the head, woman.
And you will help us.
You have tonight to think further on this.
Or in the morning,
the guillotine will still your tongue forever.
Take her away.
[uneasy music fades]
[Lady Johanna] Thus it was I found myself immured in the palace of Luxembourg,
where my death awaited me at the edge of a weighted blade.
[dramatic string music rises]
[gentle, ethereal music playing]
[Dream] You're having problems, I see.
[Johanna] Putting it mildly, don't you think?
Will you help me?
I may not be seen to intervene in the matter.
Then might I suggest you give the matter some thought, sir?
Your son's head is valuable to you.
And I am rather attached to mine. Hitherto we have been inseparable.
Now it appears both heads might be lost.
How is he?
He asked me the same about you.
- And you said nothing, of course. - I didn't answer, of course.
He says he wishes to die.
He once said the same to me.
I suppose I cannot blame him.
After all he's suffered.
But even in his current state, he is...
He's more alive than anyone I've ever met.
He jokes at his own expense. He's curious.
He asks questions, and more remarkably, he listens to the answers.
He even offered to sing for me.
Did he sing for you?
He did not.
As at the time, the severed head and I
were trying not to draw attention to ourselves.
Is he able to sing in the place where you have hidden him?
Yes.
Although I don't think he'll feel much like singing.
He will if you ask him to.
[ethereal music swells, fades]
[indistinct, distant shouting]
- [bell tolling] - [mouse squeaking]
[lock rattles]
[Robespierre] It came to me in a dream.
It was so obvious.
So blindingly obvious.
Where do you hide a book? In a library.
Where do you hide a flower? In a garden.
Where do you hide a severed head?
You tell me, Citizen Robespierre.
[Robespierre] You hide a severed head amongst other severed heads.
With the corpses that have not yet made their journey to the lime pits.
[tense, rhythmic music playing]
Now, Mademoiselle.
Will you do me the courtesy of introducing me to your friend?
[Johanna] Citizen Robespierre,
it is not too late.
You can let me go.
I will take what I came for,
leave France, and...
never bother you again.
[Robespierre] Neither you nor the head will be leaving France, mademoiselle.
In which case, remember this...
I offered you one final chance.
[Robespierre] Your attempts to threaten us are laughable.
Bring me the head.
This is the head of Orpheus,
whose song was powerful enough to sway even the hearts of Hades and Persephone.
Do you take us for peasants, Johanna?
The myths are dead.
The gods are dead.
There is only the State and the people.
No, Citizen Robespierre.
There is much more than that.
Enough! Bring me the head!
Now, Messiah Orpheus, sing to them.
[singing in Greek]
[Johanna] He sang of freedom, of liberty.
A song so powerful that even the dead joined him to sing it.
[haunting chorus joining in]
A song which cast a spell upon the listener,
such that Robespierre and his men stood and listened like statues.
It is my belief that Orpheus's song
was sung and heard throughout all of France.
For the next day,
Robespierre's reign of terror was cut short...
[crowd clamoring]
...by the fall of the weighted blade.
[loud thwack]
[crowd cheering]
[meditative music playing]
[Johanna] The Dream King's instructions
took us to a small, uncharted island off the coast of Greece.
We climbed to the island's summit.
Where the sacred Temple of Orpheus,
and the priests who guarded it,
were hidden from the world beneath a bank of clouds.
Feels odd
just leaving you here.
You sure it's all right?
The priests will take care of me.
I was on this island for centuries before I was stolen.
Centuries?
Just you and the priests?
My mother comes by from time to time to visit.
That's nice.
Do you think my father might come by to visit?
I'm sure I couldn't say.
He must care for me though, don't you think?
Or he wouldn't have sent you to rescue me?
There is a logic in what you say.
I trust that he will repay you adequately
for your time and trouble in assisting me.
They say virtue is its own reward.
But then I wouldn't know anything about that.
I wish there was something I could give you to... thank you properly.
I...
travel widely.
Perhaps in a year or so I could return.
See you again.
What do you think?
[gentle music playing]
I do not think that would be a good idea, Johanna.
I'm sure you're right.
When you see my father, will... will you tell him I miss him?
I haven't seen him for so long.
Not even in your dreams?
Not even in my dreams.
[ethereal vocals singing Orpheus's theme]
[ethereal tune fades slowly]
Will you visit him?
That is none of your concern.
He misses you.
There is still the matter of your fee to be discussed.
Anything that is within your power to give me.
[Dream] What is it you want?
Perhaps a bit more time with Orpheus.
[gentle tune rises]
[Delirium] So this is it? Where Orpheus lives?
[Dream] Along with the priests that attend him.
[Delirium] Dream!
Have you ever spent days and days and days
making up flavors of ice cream no one's ever eaten before?
Like chicken and telephone ice cream.
My sister...
Green mouse ice cream was the worst. I didn't like that at all.
I get things wrong sometimes. Lots of times.
Like this whole thing was me getting it all completely wrong.
- That's not true. - It is.
What if things didn't get bad when Destruction left?
What if Destruction left because things were bad?
We will ask him.
I don't want to.
I only wanted to because I missed him.
But I don't miss him when I'm not by myself.
If you spill family blood, you'll bring the Kindly Ones down on your head.
And I'll be all alone again.
- So can we please just go? - [man] Hey! You two!
[tense music playing]
How did you get up here?
We walked the path.
There is no path that leads here.
There are many paths that lead here.
I have been avoiding all of them for some small while now,
but I must speak with my son.
Your son?
[intriguing music playing]
Are you Apollo?
I am your charge's father.
Hello, Orpheus.
Hello, Father.
You look...
just like yourself.
[tender music building]
You needn't describe what I look like.
You look like my son.
Father, I am so sorry.
[Dream] Mm.
It is I who am sorry.
No. You were trying to protect me. I know that now.
I abandoned you.
You never abandoned me.
You sent Andros
and his father
and his father's father
to look after me.
You sent Johanna Constantine.
And you're here with me now.
I am not worthy of you, my son.
[Orpheus] Why would you say that? What's happened?
When last we saw one another, you said we would never meet again.
So something must have happened.
Many things.
Where even to begin?
Why not the beginning?
I have nowhere to go. [chuckles]
Do you?
[tender music fades slowly]
Are they eating your ice cream?
Well, they did seem hungry.
Don't worry. I let them pick their own flavors.
Did you talk to him?
[sighs] I did.
Did he tell you where our brother is?
Yes.
Did it cost you anything?
I owe my son a boon.
[somber music playing]
Is it a long way to our brother's?
No.
Not far.
[delicate string music playing]
[Delirium, gleefully] Wait for me!
A change of scenery, my lord?
[Orpheus] Thank you, Andros.
[ethereal choir singing Orpheus's theme]
[somber tune fades]
[Delirium] Destruction lives next door?
Seems our brother chose to live
in the one place he knew I would not dare to go.
Well, he doesn't know you very well, then. [gasps]
A doggy!
Hello, doggy.
Hello.
You are a very lovely doggy, aren't you?
Yes, you are.
I think doggies mostly always are the best people, don't you?
[dramatic string music playing]
Sir.
[Delirium gasps]
[gentle music playing]
- [Delirium gasps] - [laughs] Hello, lass.
Let me take a look at you.
Ah, as pretty as you ever were, by my troth.
And yes, I do believe you've grown.
- Maybe. - [laughs]
And you, my brother.
You also seem different.
Perhaps you too have grown.
Stranger things have happened.
Shall we go inside?
I've made dinner.
Dinner!
- [music fades] - [Destruction] Take a seat.
And help yourselves.
You were expecting us.
I'm afraid so.
Try the meatballs.
I'm pleased with the way they turned out.
Retsina, anybody?
- Have some salad at least, Dream. - I did not come seeking food.
No, you came here seeking me.
It was me that thought of it.
Not Dream.
He was the only sibling who would come with me to find you.
It was me because I...
I missed you.
Very muchly.
Then I remembered those words coming out of your mouth
when you told us you were leaving.
How we shouldn't follow you or ask where you think you're going.
Which I didn't.
But then all of a sudden, you weren't there anymore.
You were gone.
And I didn't know why.
You never really told me why you left.
Or maybe you did, but I didn't understand.
Or I wasn't being a very good listener.
But it was such a long time ago, I thought,
"What if he's changed his mind?"
"And if he has, then how would I even know?"
So I thought if I could find you, then I would ask you.
And even better than knowing why
would be not having to miss you anymore.
Because you'd be here. [chuckles]
Which you are. So...
It was me.
Um...
That's all.
It is as she says.
We've been searching for you for some small time now.
[sighs]
I see.
How did you know we were coming?
I set up certain... mechanisms when I left.
I mean, nothing fancy.
There's a scrying pool in the shed out back.
It lets me know if people have been looking.
These mechanisms...
might they have harmed those who helped us to find you?
[unsettling music rises]
I'm afraid so.
There was nothing I could do once you started looking for me.
Not without resuming my function once more.
But the people who died...
some of them were your friends.
One of them was once my lover.
Ishtar.
You never cared for her.
You seem to care now.
I care that you continue to hurt those you claim to love.
Who has not done that?
I care that innocent people have lost their lives
simply because we were looking for you.
It was not just that they should die.
[scoffs]
Three hundred years ago,
you would have told me that they were simply mortal.
And would have died later had they not died then.
You've changed, Dream.
I doubt that.
I still perform my responsibilities, after all.
I don't.
But you know that.
And how do you justify that?
Leaving us?
Killing your friends?
Abandoning your realm?
For this?
[unsettling music crescendos, fades away]
[Destruction] Well...
If no one's eating,
I suggest we go outside.
It's a warm evening, after all.
[bright, meditative music playing]
Will you return with us?
No.
Of course not.
I'm sorry, lad.
And what of your realm?
I'm sure it's still there.
People and things are still created, still exist, they're still destroyed.
Things still change.
The only difference is that no one's running it anymore.
[sighs]
They can make their own destruction.
It's not my responsibility.
And it's not my fault.
You know, I think I knew that it was time to leave this place.
Even before you started looking for me.
Life was... comfortable.
[gentle piano music playing]
Unchanging.
And you know what they say...
You change or you die.
Plus...
can't have Mum and Dad and the rest of the family turning up,
guilting me into going back, can I?
Not that I haven't loved seeing you both.
Come on.
You can help me pack.
You retained your gallery.
Don't even know why I held onto it so long.
Habit, I guess.
Or sentiment.
What will you do now?
I will make the most of whatever time I have left.
I'll need to take the sword, of course.
Can't have it falling into the wrong hands.
[intense music resonates]
Why don't you stay in my realm?
You can live with me and make me laugh,
and I'll do little dances.
[Destruction sighs]
You won't, will you?
[softly] No.
But if you go, then I'll be alone again.
That's not true, is it?
You didn't come here on your own, did you?
No, I came with...
Oh.
But Dream has his bird and his librarian and his dragon thingy.
- He gets very busy. - [Destruction] Yeah, you're right.
You've given me an idea.
My friend,
answer if you wish.
Will you go with the Lady Delirium?
Walk beside her?
Tread the path that she treads also?
Protect and lead and guide her?
Can't I go with you?
You would not survive in the places I'm traveling to, friend.
Oh. Um, I see.
Well, she shouldn't be allowed out off a leash,
but, uh, I'll do what I can.
My brother,
when you leave here, then where will you go?
I have matters left unresolved with my son.
Yes, for thousands of years.
Why now suddenly?
We needed an oracle to find you.
You went and...
spoke to your son
because of me?
[Orpheus's theme rises]
Not just because of you.
I suspect you have grown more than you know.
I regret there is... nothing I can offer you, save this.
My advice.
Remember what I did.
Remember that I left.
Remember how hard it was for me to leave.
But that I did it...
out of love.
Love?
For humankind.
For this world and...
all others.
And I know you think I'm weak...
selfish for leaving, and...
and maybe I am.
But in my experience,
love is the only good reason to do anything.
That's your advice?
Indeed, it is.
I like the stars.
They give the illusion of permanence.
I mean, they're always flaring up and caving in and going out.
Worlds end.
Gods come and go.
Mortals flicker and fade.
From here...
I can pretend things last.
My brother,
there is no one like you.
My sister, I've loved seeing you.
[chuckles warmly]
[whispers] You were always my favorite.
[giggles]
[Barnabas whines]
Be good.
Look after her.
I'll miss you.
[softly] Oh yes.
You'll miss the poetry readings,
the paintings, the late-night flamenco guitar recitals.
That's right. Go on. Try to make me feel better.
[laughs]
Bye.
Where will you go?
Out there.
Somewhere.
Up and out.
Remember what I said, Dream.
Good luck.
And you.
[Destruction inhales sharply]
[majestic orchestral music playing]
[barks]
[whines]
[crickets chirping]
I can't believe he's really going.
He left 300 years ago.
I thought he'd come back to us.
I know.
Hey, cheer up.
I mean, life's too short.
That's better.
I'm sorry we came all this way for nothing.
It wasn't for nothing.
We don't have to wonder anymore why he left.
Or if he's ever coming back.
Plus, you got some advice,
and I got a doggy.
So, uh, now what?
Um, I don't know.
Dream?
What next?
Now I return to the temple.
Oh.
I forgot.
I owe my son a boon.
[meditative woodwind music playing]
[exhales softly]
My son.
Hello, Father.
Thank you for coming back.
I gave my word.
How was my uncle?
He was...
I don't know.
He has gone...
from that place and from this world.
So, much the same, I suppose.
We do not always accomplish what it is we set out to do.
[Orpheus] When looking for your brother,
did you believe that he would come back with you
and return to his realm?
I hoped he would, but I think perhaps I knew he would not.
Yet, you came here
to me
anyway.
You asked me where your brother was, knowing what I would ask of you.
You asked for a boon.
And I am here to grant it.
It's strange. For...
many a thousand years, I've prayed for death.
Prayed to all the gods for peace and relief.
I prayed for an ending.
I never thought you'd be the one to grant it.
Do you remember what you said to me?
You said...
"Your life is your own."
"Your death, likewise."
"Farewell."
"We shall not meet again."
Do you know why I said those things?
Because I did and said many things I now regret.
It's because I was scared.
I was scared to live in a world without you in it.
I should have died long ago.
Perhaps.
I wish I'd listened to you.
And Aunt Teleute.
I wish things had been otherwise.
As do I.
I am ready.
[somber rendition of Orpheus's theme playing]
[Dream] My son...
[muffled blow echoes]
[wings fluttering gently]
Our journey is at an end.
All debts are paid.
My sister...
Barnabas...
I will take my leave of you now.
Dream, thank you for coming with me.
I don't think I could have done it all by myself.
[sighs] Come on, doggy.
We're going to my place.
It's very interesting, and I think you'll like it.
Unless maybe you don't.
[Dream] Lucienne.
You're back.
I am back.
It is at an end.
Are you all right?
I shall be retiring to my quarters for the rest of the day.
I do not wish to be disturbed.
Tomorrow, I shall resume my duties.
I've neglected them long enough.
Can I...
help in any way?
Yes.
Some time ago, I created a priesthood to tend to my son.
To guard him from harm.
Their responsibilities are now at an end.
I only have one last thing to ask of them.
And that is to bury him.
Safely.
And to leave no marker.
[voice breaking] When this is done, they may remain in the temple or do...
whatever it is they may please.
Of course, my lord.
The rest can...
wait.
[shuddering softly]
[weeping quietly]
[stirring piano music playing]
[thunder rumbling]
[woman 1] Is it ready yet?
[woman 2] Nearly there.
There we go.
[woman 1] That's my darling girl.
[woman 3] Who's ready for tea?
Still going with that scarf, are you?
I confess I rather like this one.
It is a fine yarn.
And I don't doubt that it'll suit.
Go with anything, this will.
- Who wants what with their tea, then? - I'll have a ginger snap, please.
I'll take a fortune cookie, I think, my petal.
Read me the fortune, will you, Poppet?
I do love to hear fortunes.
"A king will forsake his kingdom."
"Life and death will clash and fray."
"The oldest battle begins once more."
- [thunder crashes] - We've had this one before, haven't we?
It's definitely familiar, deary.
Right.
I think that's gone on long enough.
[woman 1] Do you think so?
I thought maybe it could be a little longer.
Well, you're too soft.
Much too soft, both of you.
The Dream King killed his son.
The boy asked him to.
He spilt family blood.
All good things, eh?
Got to finish sometime.
[cat purrs]
[metallic ringing]
[thunder rumbles]
[ethereal choir voices singing]
[haunting music subsides]