His Dark Materials (2019–…): Season 2, Episode 1 - The City of Magpies - full transcript

Witches hear the immortal whispers
of those

who pass between the worlds.

They speak of a child who is
destined

to bring the end of destiny.

But she won't walk alone.

Together, they will
change everything.

I set out for the North to try and
discover what had happened

to the Grumman expedition.

Grumman made reference to a certain
natural phenomenon,

only seen in the lands of the North,

in the city in the sky.



Where does that light come from?

It isn't light, it's Dust.

Lyra, this is Mrs Coulter.

She may be of some interest to you.

I'm surprised Asriel doesn't talk
about you more.You know my uncle?

You can't treat me like this.
My uncle won't let you.

He's a failure of a man
and a failure of a father.

She won't stop until she finds you.
She's your mother, Lyra.

Lee Scoresby, I can fight and I can
fly,

and you're going to need all
the help you can get.

Lyra!

Lyra!

You fought for her, and now her fate
is in another's hands.

I'm no use to you now.
She needs all of us.



You're late.I've been busy.

Where?Oxford.

I need to find this man.
Colonel John Parry.

He was lost in Alaska.

He left a wife and a child.

There's probably
answers in that house.

A paper trail.You're just like him.

Your father.

And you're going to follow him,
take up his mantle.

There's a knife in a tower
surrounded by angels.

And this knife, the
boy will lead us to it.

Argh!

Little Lyra!

Hello, Thorold.

I did not send for you.

Asriel.

Roger Parslow,

I am very pleased you came.

If I can see that city
up there in the sky,

then we can build a bridge
and we can cross.

Cross to multiple worlds?

Come here!

Help me create a
new republic of heaven.

Our child is in this world.

Goodbye, Asriel.

We didn't mean this to happen.
But it did.

We need to find Dust.

Find Dust before he does.

We will make sure your
death is not in vain.

Goodbye, Roger.

Lyra?

Lord Asriel
has torn up our sky.

And left the world in chaos.

The witches believe this is
the start of a powerful prophecy.

One that could destroy
all existence...

...or make it anew.

It is time to prepare...

...to draw sides.

I know, I miss Roger,
too, but we can't go back.

Lyra, look!

Asriel's photogram.

The city in the sky.

I don't like this.

Someone left in a hurry.

Where is everyone?

Something's happened here, Pan.

Asriel?

I wouldn't put it past him.

Should we ask the alethiometer
where everyone is?

No. We're not asking
that thing anything.

Not yet.

I think we can trust it.

It's never lied to us.

Without it, would Roger have died?

No. We need to make our own way now.

We have all observatories
trained upon the schism.

All are reporting back the
same thing. One world.

And do they have a sense of
how to block up this hole?

Not as yet.

A new world and Asriel simply
exploded it into being.

Presumably, it was already there.

Heresy!

Cardinal...

..it is hardly heresy any more.

It is visible in the
sky above our heads.

If you would just leave
the vessel to look at it.

I'll not be lectured
by you on this issue.

Nor should you have to be.

Cardinal Sturrock, I simply ask...

..that, rather than focus
on what is in the past,

we focus on what is in the present.

The fuse has been lit,

the bomb has been exploded.

The world is aware.

We cannot ignore what
everyone has seen. We would lose...

Damn you!

Perhaps I may help?

There is a witch on board, caught as
part of our round up of undesirables

following this incursion.

For centuries, witches have
claimed knowledge of other worlds.

This witch may help us
understand this instability.

Good.

Do me the honour
of talking with her.

That is, if you men have...

..finished your discussions.

We have yet to understand, what is
your precise role in all of this?

My "precise role"?

What did you and Asriel discuss
on the mountain on that night?

I never reached Asriel,
Your Eminence.

Why do I doubt that?
I have absolutely no idea.

But you're right.

Asriel needs stopping.

This explosion requires
investigation, not ignorance.

There is one, possibly
multiple worlds out there.

And these witches have always known
more than they should.

Let me find out what.

We cannot allow this
woman to take control!

You know, I look around this room...

..and I see failure.

Father MacPhail, who failed to even
emerge from Asriel's laboratory.

Fra Pavel, who couldn't
read his alethiometer

to see what was happening.

I am not immune from failure myself.

I didn't reach Asriel in time

and I vow now never...to fail again.

This witch, you believe you can
find an answer to what Asriel did?

Well, I believe that I am more...

...persuasive than most.

Test me on what I discover.

And if I discover nothing...

..then, do your worst.

It's a cafe.

Maybe we could find
something to eat in there.

You're hurting me! Ow!

That'll teach you
for sneaking around.

I'm sorry I scared you.

You didn't scare me.

SorryIscared YOU.

Please let me go.

Who are you?

Lyra Silvertongue.

Is this your house?

No. I'm Will Parry.

Finally, someone else to talk to.

That's Pan.

Where's your demon?

How's it talking?

He does know not to touch me, right?

That's a talking animal.

No, it's not a talking animal.
That's my demon.

Your what?

You don't have a demon?

I can't see one.

That's impossible.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

No.

Come on, Pan.

Lyra Silvertongue...

..wait!

Don't make assumptions.

He seems kind. He could be helpful.

Fixed my heater yet?

Heater's still busted.

Compass, too.

Compass has got fritzed
by the storm.

Lee, you're being strange.

I'm not being strange.

The whole world is talking
about that tear in the sky.

The witches will want us
to join the fight.

We're not here to talk about the
fight, we're here to talk about Lyra

and see if the witches can help us.

They might know this weapon
we're looking for.

Lee, look.

Well, isn't that something?

Lyra, we need to think sensibly.

If your father was here, he's gone.

So, we need a new plan.

But we're going to
need friends and...

We had a friend, he died.

Please, think.

Perhaps he's our only chance to...
Hi.

Hi, Will.

Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you.

It's just...
I've never seen a demon before.

To me, "demon"
means something evil.

Er...thanks?

You're not from here, are you?

From this world?

Me neither.

How did you get here?

I crossed through a window...

..that my father made.

You?

Er...

I, er, followed a cat
through a hole in the air.

It sounds mad!

So, there are three
worlds and two windows?

All connected to here.

Look, I know this world
doesn't make sense.

And I don't know whether
I'm odd for not having a demon

or you're odd for having one.

But, maybe, we could
look around together?

The three of us.

That's the best idea I've heard all
day.

Strange new times.

It must be hard to be separated
from your sister witches?

Now I am trying to help you.

Not out of any...generosity of
spirit but, rather, pragmatism.

Such an underrated quality.

You know that you're trapped?

You and your demon.

All you have is the
information you carry.

Share that information

and we can become productive.

And productive people...

Well, they are generally treated...

..very well.

I'm looking for a child
last seen with an aeronaut

and one of your kind at Bolvangar.

I can tell you nothing.

Hm.

A witch's cloud-pine.

Is it true that within it
is your ability to fly?

Your ability to use magic?

What is within me is vaster
than anything you can imagine.

Someone must be able to tell
us how these worlds are connected.

There's millions of worlds.
My father saw this one - why?

I think it has to do with Dust.

I think that's why I'm here.

Dust?You don't have Dust?

No, we have dust.

I'm just guessing my dust
is not the same as your dust.

Well, some people think it's sin.
"Sin"?

I actually think it's more
complicated than that.

I think, if bad
people think it's bad,

then, maybe it's good.

Did you hear that?

There's someone there.

Wait!

I just want to talk to you!

Stop!

Come on!

Hey! Get off!

Get off! Leave me alone!

Who are you and why
were you running from us?

Who are you and why were you
chasing us?Because...

..you're the only other
people we've seen here.

We just want to know about this
place.

Nah, I'm good.

Don't worry, we're good at snuffling
the safe stuff, aren't we, Paola?

The bread's still fresh.

Where are the grown-ups?

The clever ones have run.

Since the attack.

Spectres are everywhere.

What are Spectres?

Is that why no-one's here?
You don't know what Spectres are?

They're bad, these Spectres?

You're safe yet.

You're still a girl.

He's close, though, to the change.

What change?

When you're a man

and the Spectres can get you.

Just like Tullio.

Who's Tullio?

No-one.

We've got to be careful, that's all.

So, if Spectres are everywhere,
then why can't we see them?

Only adults can see Spectres.

What do they do?

It's awful.

They take your insides out.

You're still alive,

but everything that
makes you human...

..that's gone.

Our parents, it happened to them.

So, it's just us now.

And we're happy. Aren't we, Paola?

Can run around the city now.

Do what we like.

And so can you.

See you around.

What are you doing?
Paying for the food we ate.

Paying who?Eating without
paying for it is stealing.

If you start behaving
like a grown-up,

the Spectres will get you.

What do you think of her?

I don't trust her.
Nor do I.

They didn't have demons either.

Yeah, looks like you're
the odd one out.

You're going to have
to keep him hidden.

I'm not hiding!

Sisters, the child
we have expected has vanished.

I have invited Mr Scoresby
here to share his thoughts.

Speak, Lee.

Since losing Lyra,

I have concerned myself with
a man named Stanislaus Grumman.

Has anyone heard of him? No?

Well, various rumours surround him

but people say he knows the
whereabouts of some kind of object

that gives magical protection.

Knowing Lyra, and
the trouble she's in,

I thought I might find this item
for her and take it to her.

Get her that protection.
Thank you, Lee.

This protection will be of
use to her wherever she is.

You think so?

Take this with you.

And whenever you need my help,

hold it in your hand and call to me.

I shall hear you wherever you are.
Thank you, ma'am.

Lord Asriel has opened the way
from this world to another

and the child of the prophecy
is on her path.

Lee can help her.

We must decide our part to play.

Queen Skadi?

Queen Serafina Pekkala,
that man does not belong here.

He is here at my
reckoning, as are you.

Ruta Skadi is angry.

Everyone should be angry.

Sisters!

Katja Sirkka has been taken
prisoner by the Magisterium.

I have word they are rounding up
anyone

who questions their authority.

The way those animals in the
Magisterium have cracked down

upon the world since the opening.

Towns tightly controlled by armies.

We're out of our depth here.

Shut up, Hester.

So, the time has come to act,

to show the Magisterium that their
actions have consequences.

And I am here to beg you,
Serafina Pekkala,

and all the sisters here.

Join me in rescuing Katya.

I believe we have no choice.

The prophecy was clear,
we must find the child.

The prophecy is not all there is.

You risk too much.

The Magisterium
has thrived under your indifference.

Ruta Skadi will show them
we are indifferent no more,

with or without your clan's help.

Lyra!

Are you hungry?

I made an omelette.

If you have omelettes in your world.

So, you're a kitchen boy, then?

What?

In your world, you're a kitchen boy.

No.

What's in this?

Egg.

I'm guessing you don't use
cutlery in your world either.

Very funny.

It's good, the "ommalat".

Does Pan need to eat, too?
Some cheese or...?

No.

He's a demon.

But thank you for the offer.

I've never had to
explain a demon before.

It's a part of me.

He's me and I'm him, I guess?

You'll soon understand.

How long have you been here?

Couple of days.

You?Three days.

I was thinking....

..maybe we are better off

sticking together from now on.

You want me to stay?

To set up camp here?

I meant, we should explore together.

I didn't mean you should move in.

Probably easier, though, isn't it?
Now that we're sticking together.

Every house here is deserted,
you don't have to move into mine.

YOUR house?

First, you attack me,
and then you run away.

And now you're trying to stay here.

You move at 100 miles an hour!

"Hundred miles an hour"?

It means fast.

Oh, I do move quickly,
I always have.

But you said we're
better off together,

and so I guess you're stuck with me.

I'll take the small bed if you want.

I was sleeping there.

OK, OK, fine. Yeah,
I'll find somewhere downstairs.

Hm.

Finally, you make a good decision.

A very good decision.

I will ask once again.

Are you witches
travelling between worlds?

What did you tell Asriel
of what he'd find?

Please, no more.

Come on, Katja.

I know he had a witch lover.

He boasted of it to me.

Asriel is not even your concern.

That's more like it.

Who is my concern?

The prophecy has begun
and you cannot stop it,

however powerful you think you are.

What is this prophecy
that I cannot stop?

The prophecy is
about a girl named Lyra.

What do you know about Lyra?

She is known by another name.

But I will not betray
the child of the prophecy.

Tell me...

..who Lyra Belacqua is!

Yambe-Akka! Come to me!

She is ready!
She has called for death.

Be at peace.

Stop her!

Get in here now!
The witch is escaping!

What is going on?

There's no point in just
sitting there looking at it.

At some point, we need
to start using it again.

We tried it your way
and haven't gotten answers.

Be honest, what do you want to know?

I'd ask if my mother's
still following me.

Or where my father was.

Or what this place is.

Whether Roger would forgive me.

Or what should I do now.

So ask it.

Lyra, you can read it for a reason.

No.

We've come here to find out
about Dust and we need help.

I've got the shower fixed.

Shower?

Washing?

You wash?

Yeah, at a sink.

Or in a bath.

Showers are like baths,
but standing up.

Hmm.

Well, at least, consider it.

And if you change your mind,
you've got towel and soap.

I'll take the first shower.

I don't need a stand-up bath.

Do I?

That's one question you don't
have to ask the alethiometer.

No, I'm fine as I am.

Whoa, watch out!

See?

It's easy.

Thanks.

Don't thank me.

You're the one who
taught me how to do it.

You seem to have added
your own twist to it.

What do you think's in there?

Over here, look.

Go on.

It must have
been the Spectres.

Lucky they can't attack us.

Until we're old enough.

She said I was close.

Those screams aren't human!

Stop!

What would you hurt this cat for?
You aren't from here.

You aren't from Cittagazze.
Get out of my way.

Maybe I don't want to
get out of your way.

Then I'll make you get out the way.

Angelica, was it?

Go home, Angelica.

Come on.

Good job at staying hidden!
You needed my help.

He's no better?

No. We need to dock
as soon as we can.

I shall find the finest
physicians to attend to him.

Or you couldn't.

What are you proposing?

If he lives, it's clear
the Authority wants him to lead.

If he dies, then a
choice has been made.

The Magisterium
needs strong leadership,

not a bloated man who never knew how
to turn down a glass of wine.

Mrs Coulter, why should
I trust you after what happened?

I explained what happened.

I made sure you were safe
and I continued up the mountain.

But this is not about trust.
This is about faith.

You heard the man,
he'd seal up the world.

He'd try to persuade
people that this never happened.

And you and I both know
the Magisterium cannot survive that.

It needs you.

And in return for this counsel,

or this support?

I give this counsel
because I believe in the right path.

And, yes, with you in place,
I can pursue other interests...

What interests?
That is not your concern.

I will tell everyone on
the ship that the Cardinal

has specifically requested
to be left alone in prayer

and I will personally
tend to his wounds.

Murder?

I will make it my sin.

As a first act...

..of service.

You know it's strange
that everyone's gone,

but the anbarics still work.

The what?

The anbaric, those lights.

Oh!

We call them electric.

Electrum's a stone.

I mean, it's a jewel which
grows in the gum of trees,

and it gets insects stuck
in it sometimes.

Oh, you mean amber.

So, your world's like my world,
but with the words mixed up.

Or your world's like my world,
with all the words mixed up.

The experimental theologians in
Oxford would love this place.

Did you just say Oxford?!

In my world there's
a place called Oxford.

That's where I come from.
I'm from Oxford.

That's where my window is.

Two Oxfords?

Worlds apart.

There's an Oxford in your world,
too?

Has it got scholars?

I mean, there's a university, but...

Maybe I can find one who can
tell me about Dust?

Lyra, you're...you're from Oxford!
Will, we need to go now!

Please!

Show me the window.

No-one will talk about Dust
in my world, but maybe in yours,

they can give me answers.

Answers to what?

I wouldn't ask you,
if it wasn't important.

I need your help.

I'm not safe in my Oxford.

And I'm not safe in my Oxford.

I mean, it's risky for me to return,

but there are things to
check on back home.

Fine. First thing tomorrow morning.

Thank you.

You know,

you do have a demon...

..even if you don't know it.

Can you see it?

Not yet.

But I will.

It didn't lie to us, Lyra.

It helped us find Billy Costa.

It told us the truth
when we asked it.

Exactly.

It told us about Billy.

It didn't tell us what my
father planned to do with Roger.

So, it tells us the truth but...

It just doesn't tell us everything.

He trusts me.

I need to know whether
I can trust him.

So, ask it about Will.

He's a murderer.

He's a murderer?!

The good kind.

Just like Iorek.

But there's something
else about him, too.

He's connected to this place.

He's got something to do here.

I think we both do.