The Frankenstein Chronicles (2015–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - All the Lost Children - full transcript

The Anatomy Act will ensure
that medicine in this country

is practised only by
qualified professionals.

I think this abomination is the work
of someone trying to put astop to it.

What do you know about the Anatomy Act?

It's costing me my livelihood.

- What would you do to stop it? Murder?
- Murder? I'm a businessman.

Have a look for yourself. Incomings
and outgoings. It's all in here.

I thought we were going to
see your nurse.

Her lodgings are upstairs.

Pritty gave you something
to remember him by.

Now I'll do the same.
Bentley Warburton.



Honourable member for Walthamstow.
I want to know his habits.

Where he goes, who he knows.
Who pays him house calls.

Sir Bentley Warburton? A
fellow Parliamentarian?

And your opponent.

- What else did you talk about?
- Her brother.

Lord Hervey. He runs a hospital
of some kind. In the East End.

Mr Blake said to be sure
you received this.

His latest work.

Should you find no use for it
I would be glad to take it from you.

- Tell me about Alice.
- I saw her.

I liked her dress.
She didn't want to give it up.

Billy forced her.
Next day he took her away.

Where?

They just... go.



Someone's been murdering
to undercut our trade.

What if I could find them for you?

An Investigation into the
Galvanic Reponse of Dead Tissue.

By William Chester,
D.Phil. Christchurch. Name, please?

Sir William Chester.

Perhaps you need a maid, sir.

I already have one.

I can cook. And sew.

I'll look after you
for the time being.

Besides, I need you.

What for?

Help lead me to Billy.
And Alice.

That dress proves he took her.

I've got my uses, then.

As we all do.

I don't have anything for you,
Mr Marlott.

- Do you know that?
- Frankenstein. Who doesn't?

Me. Until yesterday.

- Tell me about it.
- You didn't see the play?

Edmund Peake's Performers.
Three or four summers back.

That season's hot ticket until
Parliament shut it down.

Why's that?

Blasphemy. It's about this madman
who finds a way to resurrect...

I know.

The whole world went twice.

Except you, apparently.

- It set off quite a trend, for a while.
- Trend for what?

Mothers giving birth to serpent children,
people turning into wolves at midnight.

Which came first? Book or play?

Book, of course.

- What do you know about the author?
- Mary Shelley. One of Byron's crowd.

A rum lot. You've heard of him, surely?

No.

The Vampire Lord?

Poet, seducer, traitor...

Traitor?

Speaking up for Boney, as I recall.

Don't know much, do you?

I fought against Bonaparte
at Waterloo.

I know that much.

Your turn now, Mr Marlott.

You said there'd be a story for me
if I was to help you.

Well, I have.
So let's have it.

I'll let you know. In time.

You promised me a story, Mr Marlott!

The gentleman that came in.
Where is he?

- What gentleman?
- I saw him enter not one minute ago.

- Bentley Warburton.
- I'm sorry, young man.

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

- Is there another way out of here?
- Do you see one?

- How could it be possible?
- I don't know, sir.

I didn't take my eyes from him. One
second he was there, the next, gone.

People just don't disappear
into smoke, Nightingale.

No, sir.

Look, I'll keep on him
like a barnacle next time.

Next time?

The girl from Cloth Fair's turned
up. Flora.

- Billy's girl?
- The same.

It was Billy that took Alice,
the butcher's daughter.

It was her dress.
You're to buy Flora a new one.

And bring the old one back
as evidence.

Think you can manage it?

Oh, and Nightingale? She's an
important witness. Don't lose her.

Yes, sir.

- Kentish Town!
- Right you are, sir.

Who shall conceive the horrors
of my secret toil,

as I dabbled among the unhallowed
damps of the grave?

I collected bones
from charnel-houses,

and disturbed,
with profane fingers,

the tremendous secrets
of the human frame.

Mrs Shelley?

Mr Marlott.

I take it you've come to bring me
Mr Blake's work.

Not on this occasion.
May I come in, please?

I will be brief.

You find me at work.
I'm a writer.

I know.

You've met my creature.

Indeed. And was...

unsettled by it.

Some might say
that was its intention.

May I ask how it originated?

It came to me in a nightmare.

Hardly seems possible.
A gentlewoman of letters.

Proving how little you can tell
from outward appearances.

But we can't control our nightmares,
can we, Mr Marlott?

The science in this story.
How did you come upon it?

I invented it. I should have
thought that obvious.

- Galvanism?
- Galvani was real, of course.

But his theories have no such
application as they find in my book.

Or certainly not to my knowledge.

- And where did you encounter them?
- Through my husband, Percy.

- A surgeon?
- A poet.

May I speak with him?

I'm a widow these last four years.

Oh, my condolences.

The stitching together of corpses?

- Quite an unusual notion, isn't it?
- You might call it a...

parody of the Resurrection.
What brings you here, Mr Marlott?

You don't strike me as a man
for idle speculation.

- A crime I'm investigating.
- The missing girl? Alice?

Yes. And others, too.

I still don't see how it relates to
my poor creature.

Or, indeed, to the late
Mr Blake's work.

You don't think we're responsible,
do you?

I don't know what to think yet,
Mrs Shelley.

How did you and Mr Blake
come to know each other?

He was a friend of my mother's.
Mary Wollstonecraft.

A novelist, like me.

Until I killed her.

She died at my birth.

- I'm sorry.
- Don't be. Any further questions?

The title. Why Prometheus?

He stole fire from the gods
and moulded human flesh from clay.

Like my Victor.
A symbol of rebellion.

- For you and Blake both?
- For all of us...

who oppose tyranny and oppression.

Tyranny and oppression?
Or the laws of God?

What would he not do
to defeat death, Mr Marlott?

Might we not defy God's laws...

in order to be reunited
with those we love?

Percy!

Percy, there's someone
I want you to meet.

Percy, say hello to Mr Marlott.

How do you do, sir?

My family, Mr Marlott.

Mother, sister...

daughters, husband.

All dead.

If you're seeking to understand
my nightmares,

you probably need look no further
than that.

I wonder at your purpose here,
Mr Marlott.

People like myself and Mr Blake

create things that are strange
and uncanny,

where men may find themselves
reflected.

Sometimes, people like yourself

mistakenly come to us when strange
and uncanny things happen to them.

Rather than looking in the mirror...

and facing what is strange
and uncanny in themselves.

Could I be right?

I'm sorry to have troubled you.
Good day.

Pack some clothes and your school
books. We're leaving immediately.

- Why, Mama?
- Do as I say.

What would he not do
to defeat death, Mr Marlott?

Might we not defy God's laws...

in order to be reunited
with those we love?

It's all right.

I work for Mr Marlott.

- I weren't thieving. Honest.
- I didn't say you were.

- What are you doing?
- Trying to put them in order.

Why?

My Nan used to have cards
like them. Tarot.

If you put them the right way
they can tell you the future.

I'm to buy you a new dress.

Careful! Careful.

Thank you, sir.

Joseph.

Shall I throw it away, sir?

No. No, I'll take it.

Bring it back when it starts getting tight.
I'll put a panel in the sides.

That way she can still wear it
when her time gets close.

Why didn't you tell me?

- I wasn't sure.
- Well, you are now.

Does Billy know?

He thought I was a virgin.

- He was saving me.
- For himself?

For a gentleman.

But he spoiled the deal.

- How?
- Kept upping the price on him.

Billy didn't know, but...

the gent he was trying to cheat
found me in the market one day.

He forced himself on you?

He bought me things.

That print of the lost girl
I had up on my wall.

One day he gave me a drink.
When I woke, he was gone.

- He didn't visit you again?
- Why would he?

Or tell you his name?

- You didn't tell Billy?
- He'd have said it was my fault.

I'm going to get rid of it.

No. You'll do no such thing.

- What do you care?
- It's a life!

What about my life?

Who will take me like this?

I will.

You can't.

I've got lodgings in Borough.
She can come as my maid.

- And when she's due?
- I'll say it's mine.

I mean it.

I have a better idea.

- Lord Hervey.
- What about him?

He runs a hospital of some kind.
In the East End.

I've already looked into him.
And I intend to do so further.

- Lady Hervey?
- Mr Marlott.

How kind of you to call. Unfortunately
you find me on my way out.

May I walk with you?

Mr Marlott will accompany me today, Lloris.

As you wish, my Lady.

A young girl has come to me
for protection.

A stray.

- I need somewhere to place her.
- As a domestic?

She's with child.

Left to herself, I fear she may harm it.

How dreadful.

When we spoke before you mentioned
your brother's hospital.

Might there... be a place
for her there?

Until her term is out?

You wouldn't play me for a fool,
would you, Mr Marlott?

I don't follow, my Lady.

Daniel's no favourite of
Sir Robert's, as you know.

And you're his agent.
If you were looking

for some means to place him
under surveillance...

I've come to you in good faith,

on behalf of this
unfortunate creature.

And her child.

As a Christian.

I...apologise for doubting you.

It was unworthy.

Will you join me?
Inside?

Of course.

♪ He'll with a giant fight ♪

♪ But he will have a right
to be a pilgrim ♪

♪ Hobgoblin, nor foul fiend ♪

♪ Can daunt his spirit ♪

♪ He knows he at the end ♪

♪ Shall life inherit ♪

♪ Then fancies fly away ♪

♪ He'll fear not what men say ♪

♪ He'll labour night and day
to be a pilgrim ♪

Let us pray.

Dost thou, John,
renounce the devil and all his works?

Dost thou renounce the carnal
desires of the flesh...

so that thou will not follow,
nor be led by them?

I renounce them all.

Poor mite.

I baptise thee, Katherine,

in the name of the Father,

and of the Son
and of the Holy Ghost.

To you, gentle Father
we humbly commit this child,

so precious in your sight.

Welcome her into your presence

where there is no sorrow nor pain,

but the fullness of peace
and joy with you

for ever and ever.

Amen.

Mr Marlott?

Excuse me.

I know how prayer can prompt
unwanted thoughts.

Perhaps it might help you
to share them.

My wife and daughter died...

on account of my carelessness.

How terrible for you.

Worse for them.

Maybe not.

Come.

We can discuss this girl.

You can't make me go.

- You'll do as you're told.
- May I have a word, sir?

I fear that this ain't right, sir.

She's with child. This may be
putting her in harm's way.

I need a place to keep her safe.

And a reason to take a closer look
at this man and his hospital.

- This gives me both.
- What of her safety, sir?

I'll judge the place and the man
when I see them.

If I fear for her safety
I won't leave her there. Swear it?

- What do you mean by do I swear it?
- Sorry, sir.

- Good day.
- Ma'am.

What now, sir?

Go back to Bow Street. Tell
Forrester you're at his disposal.

I've no further use for you.

Mr Marlott has told me
of your condition.

This place isn't like other hospitals.
You'll be looked after.

No-one will hurt you
or do anything against your wishes.

If you don't like it,
you'll be free to leave. We promise.

Isn't that so, Mr Marlott?

Yes.

- I want to withdraw my funds.
- May I have your account details?

I don't have them with me.
The manager knows me.

Tom Pritty of Hatton Gardens.
I've banked here ten years.

If you'd care to take a seat
while we do the formalities?

I'm in a hurry.
We'll be as quick as we can.

Here he is now.

Message from Mr Marlott.
I don't work for him no more.

He's wanted at the bank.
Urgent.

Collier's Bank?
The body snatcher turned up.

- Why's it taking so long?
- Sorry, sir. It's a large amount of coin.

We may not have it all.

Give me what you have.
I'll send for the balance.

I'll just tell my colleague.

- Why are you sweating?
- Am I, sir?

I hope, for your sake,
there's a back way out of here.

Move!

Out of the way!

Move!

Out of the way!

Oi! You want to watch out!

How did you find me?

Your account book gave us
the name of your bank.

You greedy bastard. You had to
come back for it, didn't you?

You can't blame me.
I've got a family to look after.

Get up.
Get up!

Fat lot of good you'll do them
at the end of a rope.

- Good punch. Yeah?
- I ain't going to run again.

- I'll find the killers for you, I swear.
- So why didn't you?

I'm scared of them.

- More than the drop?
- Aye. Maybe.

Come on.

Mittram Abbey. My family bought it
from the Crown

when King Henry dissolved
the monasteries.

In the days when we had money.

Appearances can deceive, Mr Marlott.

Daniel's work is funded by what
remains of our inheritance.

The rest comes from charity.

What are you doing here?

Don't fret, brother.
I've brought you a patient. Flora?

What's wrong with her? Her guardian
wants her safely housed.

Till her confinement.

Peel's man? Here?

Mr Marlott wanted to see
where she'd be staying.

This is not a hostel.

He's come to us for help, Daniel. Please.

There is a spare room in the tower.

Thank you, dear brother.
I'll settle her in. Flora?

- Child's yours, I take it?
- Would it matter?

I noticed your condition
when we met.

It's hereditary.

- The child's not mine.
- Then what's your interest in her?

She's an important witness.
I'm from Bow Street.

- I thought you worked for Sir Robert.
- I do.

And your decision to bring her here
purely fortuitous, I suppose?

No. I heard about your work
from Lady Hervey.

I'm on my rounds.
Come, if you wish.

You can see what I do here.

Why did they forbid you to speak
in Parliament?

Because I would have exposed them.

As what?

Liars. Hypocrites. Monsters.

- Sir Robert?
- And Sir William.

He was my teacher when I was 17.

You studied surgery?

For a term.

- Then abandoned it.
- Why?

I don't believe one can discover
the secrets of life

by cutting up the dead.

Or by artificially animating them
with electricity.

- You mean galvanism?
- Charlatanism.

How long have you had
your condition?

Several years now. On and off.

Are you treating it?

Mercury?

That will send you mad
before the syphilis does.

I have a natural remedy.

Experimental, but promising.
Derived from...

I'm not here to discuss my ailment.

As you wish.

Cave baestiam.
Beware the Beast.

The monks who ran this place
kept a menagerie here.

I use it as a hospice.

She has a tumour.

The surgeons would take a knife to it.

And your method?

Using natural remedies
to ease her agony.

You can't cure her?

No more can they.

There is very little we can do
that nature can't, Mr Marlott.

This one might interest you.

Syphilis. Tertiary phase.

Shh. There, there. Shh.
It's all right.

It's all right, it's all right.

Good.
It's all right. Shh.

You often get these fits
in the final stages.

Your treatment didn't work, then.

Too late, in this case.

And in mine?

Maybe not. Though you might
want to act quickly, Mr Marlott.

If Sir Robert's Anatomy Act passes

I shall be forbidden from charging for
my practice and have to shut down.

How much do you require
for the girl's accommodation?

As much as you think it worth.

I'll make provision
with Lady Hervey, if I may.

I take it then that you are
satisfied with our level of care.

My thanks to you and Lady Hervey.
I must get back to London.

People like myself and Mr Blake

create things
that are strange and uncanny,

where men may
find themselves reflected.

Sometimes, people like yourself

mistakenly come to us when strange
and uncanny things happen to them.

Rather than looking in the mirror...

and facing what is strange
and uncanny in themselves.

To you, gentle Father
we humbly entrust this child,

so precious in your sight.

Welcome her into your presence

where there is no sorrow nor pain,

but the fullness of peace and joy

with you
for ever and ever.

You missed a bit.

Long way from home, ain't you?

Saints preserve us!

At least my goods is warm. Ha!

That's what I wanted to talk to you
about. Warm goods.

Do you remember what you told me?

No.

- Will three kings help you remember?
- Five? Maybe.

The murderer you're looking for,
Mr Marlott?

I think I've found a way
to get to him. How?

A puer gatherer, Edward Barkis.

He says he can set up a meet
with him tonight, ten o'clock

at the Fortune of War.
Billy the child catcher?

That's my guess.
What reason did you give?

Trade, of course.
I said you was a surgeon.

It'll cost you.
How much? Ten guineas.

- How do I know he'll deliver?
- You don't. But it's the best I've got.

Lock him up.

My pleasure.

Oi! Look here, Mr Marlott. I've done
what you asked. I've got family.

I'm sure they'll survive
another night without you.

Nightingale, when you're done,
come back.

I may have a use for you, after all.

Yes, sir.

She's gone.

- Mrs Shelley? When?
- Yesterday.

- Her and the boy.
- Did she say where?

- Not so much as a fare thee well.
- Any idea how long?

Some time, though, by the looks of it.

Why's that?

Two trunks. Big ones.

Obliged.

My Lady says you may bring the boy's
things round the servants' entrance.

Quickly, before Lord Shelley
returns.

I don't want to stay here, Mama.

I told you... I have important
business to attend to.

You must stay here
with your grandparents.

What business?

It concerns my book.
And the gentleman who came to call.

You must leave. Now!

Is your book more important than me?

Nothing is more important than you.

But it has caused great misery
in this world.

And... I must make sure
it doesn't cause any more.

Great misery, indeed.

Thomas.

Our family name brought into disgrace.

Brilliant young lives snuffed out.

What next for your accursed
masterpiece, I wonder?

- Thank you for taking Percy in.
- I shall...

Before this
I was not unacquainted

with the more obvious laws
of electricity.

On this occasion
a man of great research

in natural philosophy was with us.

And, excited by this catastrophe,

he entered on the explanation
of a theory

which he had formed on the subject
of electricity and galvanism,

which was at once new
and astonishing to me.

Sir William.
I took the liberty

of acquiring your address
from Bow Street.

- You called on me while I was away.
- Yes, sir. Thank you.

What was it exactly you wanted
to speak to me about?

The people who supply you with subjects
for dissection, the resurrectionists.

I believe they may be the link I need
to track down whoever made that thing.

Surely those children were murdered,
not resurrected?

Seems there are resurrectionists
who murder, sir.

We've all heard these rumours.

You should speak to my porter,
Pirkis, about such things.

- He deals with that sort of thing.
- Yes, I already did, sir.

Frankenstein?

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Do you know it?

Heard of it.

Arrant nonsense, by all accounts.

Why?

It concerns references to galvanism, sir.

- Galvanism?
- Yes, sir.

Do you know much about it?

Not my subject, I'm afraid.

But I doubt you'll find
anything of value

in a book like this.

What's your interest?

Curiosity, sir.
I attended a lecture on the subject.

Given by your cousin.

Garnet? Yes, he has his idiosyncrasies.

But, surely you've no time now
for such idleness,

given the urgency
of your investigations?

As it happens, I intend to
make an arrest very soon, sir.

Tonight, in fact.
Billy Oates.

A man who abducts children.

Someone who could have made
that monstrosity?

Or supplied whoever did.

- Well, I won't keep you, then.
- Thank you for calling, sir.

We're all fighting to the same end.

The book, sir?

Oh! I'll show myself out.
Thank you. Goodbye.

Do you like them?

- I was only looking.
- Go ahead.

They're pretty.

They do wonders.

Like what?

Stop you going blind,

put you to sleep,

help you breathe.

Almost anything, if you know how.

Is there one
for getting rid of babies?

Is that what you want?

Yes.

I have promised Mr Marlott
that I will look after you.

It's not his, though, is it?

Give it to the parish
it's as good as dead.

I've seen it happen.

It might as well be finished now.

It would be kinder that way.

Please help me.

Have you found her?

No.

But I know who took her.

I'll bring him in.
When?

Tonight.

Smile. You're meeting a friend.

Mr Marlott, Mr Barkis.

Delighted.

But I'm not here
to speak to Mr Barkis.

Where's my man?

- In the tunnels.
- What?

That's what I'm to tell you.

Said he'd know.

Do you?

Show me.

This is where we keep the goods.

Oh!

Will Murray's. He's doing well
for himself.

Here you are. Barkis?

Doesn't bother me none.
I smell worse every working day.

This goes down the tunnel
under the market.

It's how they used to transport the
bodies from here to the hospital.

Is that where he is?

That's what I was told.

You know the way?

Well, I've been down there, but...

When we get back.
I'd like it now, if you don't mind.

Here.

The balance on our return.
If we return.

Well, we don't know
who's down there. Or what.

- We'll be all on our own.
- We'll have each other.

After you.

Go on.