The Strain (2014–2017): Season 2, Episode 10 - The Assassin - full transcript

Previously on "The Strain"...

(Gunshots)

(Screaming)

People of Red Hook!
This day will go down in history

as a turning point. As the moment
the people of New York

came together and stopped
these bastards.

(Cheering)

This is reputed to be an image

- from the Occido Lumen.
- An ancient book.

If I can find it, it may tell me
how to destroy the Master.

Still chasing it after all these years.



Soon I will have it.
Tell me who has the book.

Rudyard Fonescu.

The boy from the convent.
What happened to your ear?

My father, sir. He held
my head against the stove

to drive off the devil, he said.

- Do you know how to use that thing?
- Simple enough.

I'm guessing the rifle you're carrying

- is not meant only for strigoi.
- No, it's not.

- What are you going to do now?
- I'm going to kill Eldritch Palmer.

I don't suppose you got all this
stuff at the nearest Radio Shack.

Called in a favour.

What did you do for all these
techie criminal weirdos

- that they owe you favours?
- My mother taught me

that cultivating relationships
is just as important



as cultivating skill.

- Especially for someone like me.
- Like you how?

Someone who can't skate by
in life just on her looks.

(Laughing): What?

If I showed you my school yearbook
photo, you'd understand.

Yeah, well, you pulled it
together pretty well.

- (Dutch grunts)
- How's that work?

The laser can read incredibly subtle
vibrations on the window glass.

Isn't that how they found out
where Bin Laden was hiding?

A rudimentary version of it, yeah.

This beauty has an interferometer,

which can convert the readings
back into crystal-clear sound.

Or it will...

as soon as anybody's in there.

So, you wanna to tell me
your life story?

Not really, no.

No, me neither.

(Indistinct yelling)

You have raised your voices, my friends,

and we have answered:

the Safe Streets Initiative is coming

to the Upper East Side!

(Applause)

We're movin' on up!

- (Laughing and talking)
- (Throat clearing)

Uh, and I will now pass the podium

to my fearless co-leader,

Councilwoman Justine Faraldo!

(Whooping)

Thank you.

I remember walking by this very store

when I was a kid.

I was with my mother and my brother,

and my mother said,
"If I worked for a month,

I couldn't afford to buy
a key chain in that place."

(Chuckling)

Well, Ma, now I got keys
to the front door!

(Clapping)

We're going to make all of New York safe,

but we're coming here next.

But the safety and security
that only we can provide

comes at a cost.

All residents of the Upper East Side

will contribute one percent
of their property value

to the S.S.I., payable in gold, silver,

or other approved commodities.

(Muttering)

Across the river in Brooklyn,

the good citizens of Red Hook rose up

and fought shoulder-to-shoulder
with my men.

They paid with their blood.

Something tells me
the Upper East Side would prefer

to pay with their wallets.
Quality, as you people know,

does not come cheap.

So, Captain Kowalski

will now explain to you
in detail implemented.

How the S.S.I. will be implemented.

Thank you.

(Hubbub)

Justine!

You can't do this.

Mayor, I just did.

(Man): Settle down, people.

(Theme music)

- Has anyone ever actually seen this book?
- (Man): I'm not leaving you behind.

Several people have seen it.

None of them, however,
are available to discuss it.

There are strange stories

of the book turning up in India

and Burma, always

presaging massacres, upheavals.

So if we find this, it might hurt us.

You're not wrong, Dr. Martinez.

In 1856, it was listed

as part of an auction in Marseille.

The auction was canceled

when a mysterious outbreak
gripped the city.

Since then the book has disappeared.

It is said to be cursed,
bringing death and disaster

to anyone who reads it.

But I'm willing to take that risk.

(Indistinct talking)

Stay here.

What are you doing here?

You walk up three flights

- every time you come in and out?
- That's how it works.

I, uh...

I...

I've come to apologize.

It's too late for that.

Coco, I've never felt anything like this.

It's like I'm being burned alive.

It's called heartbreak.

And I'm sorry it's unpleasant
for you, but you caused it.

It's not my job to fix it.

All my life my illness
separated me from everyone else.

Over the years while
my classmates all married

and had families, I just sank

further and further into my own bitterness.

All that changed when I met you.

I need you, Coco.

You think you're the only one
who's had a difficult life?

You think that entitles you to something?

Please.

Come back to me, Coco.

I want to...

I love you. I will prove myself to you.

_

I can't believe that there are
this many "R. Fonescu's" listed

- in the phone book.
- Yeah.

A couple generations ago,
some virile, happening Fonescu

must have gotten around, huh?

- (Buttons buzzing)
- (Escalating sirens)

(Loud buzzing)

(Club music plays)

(Creature snarling)

(Croaking)

(Screeching)

- (Creature growling)
- (Fet grunting)

- (Screeching)
- (Glass shattering)

Gotta respect a guy who, uh, keeps

the party going no matter what, huh?

(Music stops)

I'm not getting a strong
book collector's vibe.

- Two down, two to go.
- (Sigh)

Do you know what bonobos are?

Yeah, they're a kind of pygmy chimpanzee.

Zoos don't want to keep them.
Do you know why?

Because they're constantly
having sex with each other.

Males and females, males and males,

females and females.

It's not exactly family-friendly.

I'm glad I'm finally getting

a window into what's
happening inside your mind.

My point is, they're
completely promiscuous...

and happy.

They resolve all their conflicts
through shagging and don't

feel the need to kill each
other. Maybe monogamy is just

some arbitrary, punishing rule.

Society does not accept the idea
that you can love more

than one person at a time.
You have to make a choice.

And if you don't, you're
a selfish bastard.

You've betrayed someone.

Making choices is part of life.

Be honest with me.

No judgment.

Did you really resist the sultry temptation

of Dr. Martinez 'til after your divorce?

As a matter of fact, I did.

Still wanted her though, right?

You wanted them both.

It's only natural.

Is that why you're here?
Is that why you wanted

to do this with me so badly?
So you could avoid

your little love triangle back home?

Letting go of one of them feels

like cutting off one of my arms.

(Eldritch): See? Your desk
is just as you left it.

Shall I order us some lunch?

I'm not hungry.

Palmer and his secretary.

Looks like you're not the only
one with love troubles.

Screwing the assistant, eh?
Bit of a cliché.

- I shouldn't have come back here.
- But of course you should have.

- You've changed my entire...
- (Phone ringing)

Yes?

What? Of course, send him in.

No, no. I don't want to see
anyone right now.

- It's the Mayor.
- Ugh.

Mr. Mayor. I would appreciate it

if you would call ahead.

There's no time for that.

Eldritch, I need a favour.

Do you have a relationship with
Councilwoman Justine Faraldo?

Uh, no, I can't say I've had the pleasure.

You know she's coming to
the Upper East Side next, right?

Yes, I had heard that.

Well, she jut dropped the bomb

that, in exchange for her services,

she's instituting a one percent parcel tax

on the entire neighborhood.

- She has no authority to do that.
- What are you worried about?

Let her self-destruct over this.

No, she won't. She's too clever.

The only one who's going to be
destroyed by any of this is me,

for suggesting she take on
the Upper East Side next.

What do you want from me?

Talk some sense into her.

Tell her she is not going

to save the city by pissing off

its most influential residents.

Well, it's high time for me
to meet the Councilwoman anyway.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

Coco,

will you tell Joshua to get the car ready?

We'll pay the councilwoman

a little unexpected visit.

Oh, and tip off the press

that we'll be there at 3:00.

We gotta find a perch and get set up.

We need to get moving.

Say good-bye to eternal life,
you son of a bitch.

(Tires screeching)

(Nora): Someone lives here?

Perhaps Fonescu has an apartment

above his place of business, as I used to.

(Distant siren)

Mr. Fet?

- (Bell jangles)
- (Soft violin music)

(Bell jangles)

(Soft violin music continues)

It'll take us a year to get
through all of these.

The book is much too precious
to be kept in a public shop.

Here, Professor,

after you.

(Heavy breathing)

Hey. Knock first.

(Door creaking)

Or be less formal.

Start searching.

My sources tell me the Lumen
is bound in silver

but check every volume
just in case.

It has to be here somewhere.

(Intense music)

It's almost time.

- We good?
- All good.

We'll just need to haul ass
down the fire escape,

get to the bike, and we're good.

And there's nothing blocking our way?

Oh, I thought you might like a rest,

so I put a nice big sofa-bed down there.

Was that not a good idea?

You look pretty cool right now, by the way.

Thanks.

You've changed a lot since
my first impression of you.

Seriously, though.

This is pretty badass of you.

Yeah, well. I won't be
that badass if I miss.

(Clamour)

Your specious proposition

is illegal and unconstitutional.

Do you really want
your clients to go on record

as saying that they refused to
do their part in the war effort?

Who are they more afraid of,

the vampires or pissed-off
fellow New Yorkers?

- There is room for compromise here.
- I could compromise my guys

right out of the Upper East Side,
how about that?

We'll go back to cleaning out Brooklyn!

- You wouldn't dare.
- Trust me,

you don't want to play
"you wouldn't dare" with me.

(Inaudible muttering)

Excuse me. I'll return momentarily.

This time tomorrow

I'm gonna be back here with
a court order to stop this extortion.

Bring it. In the meantime,

does anybody else have any intelligent

questions to ask me?

(Scoffing)

Where is he?

(Distant voices)

He's here. You ready?

Okay, this is it. Just remember to breathe.

(Siren)

(Security guard): We're good.

Mr. Palmer, what message do you intend to
deliver to Councilwoman Faraldo?

Do you believe what the Councilwoman
is doing is illegal?

I think she's doing a marvelous job,
and I'm here

to offer her my encouragement
and assistance.

- Shit.
- We'll get it;

just be patient.

(Heavy breathing)

I think I can get him, if he'd
just stop moving for a second!

Just wait.

Mr. Palmer, is Stoneheart
contributing financially

to the Councilwoman's Safe
Street Initiative?

We're gonna lose him.
I'm gonna take the shot.

No! If we miss, he'll be on lockdown.

We'll never get another chance.
You need a clean shot.

- Come on, move!
- Wait.

Wait...

- Now! Do it!
- (Gunshot)

- (Crowd yelling)
- (Woman): Oh, my God!

We gotta go!

- Move it, Doc!
- Oh, my God!

C'mon! There's no time!
Move it! They're already coming!

- (Screaming)
- (Policemen shouting)

(Man): Guys, who's got eyes?

- What happened?
- You're all right, sir.

(Reporter): I'm not sure
what's going on right now...

All units at the perimeter.
Find me the shooter.

Coco!

(Escalating sirens)

Shit!

Here!

(Man): Stairs, it's really important.

(Voices chattering)

- (Sirens)
- (Radio): Attention all units,

shots fired at the patrolled area.
Look out for anyone suspicious.

Copy that. We're heading south
right now, proceeding on foot.

Hey! Hey, you!

- Run!
- I got 'em! Madison and 56th!

(Heavy breathing)

Ah! Ah!

- Go!
- (Sirens)

(Car horns)

- Freeze! Get your hands up!
- (Police radio chattering)

- You find anything?
- Uh...

Nothing about the strigoi,

but I did find

Fonescu's secret stash of
vintage girly magazines.

- Rrr.
- Charming.

(Reporter): We have breaking news.

There has been an assassination
attempt on philanthropist

Eldritch Palmer. Mr. Palmer was arriving

at Councilwoman Justine
Faraldo's new headquarters

at Neuman Vogel's when
a single shot was fired.

We are receiving unconfirmed
reports that the suspects,

a man and a woman, have
been taken into custody.

We have no word on Palmer's
condition. Stay with us

for updates on this important
story, right here at WHXV

New York, where we bring you the news...

- You know something.
- It's Eph.

The suspect.

And the woman is Dutch.

Jesus Christ.

We should be commending him. He may
have just struck a significant blow.

And he'll probably be executed
for it. They both will.

I'm sure they understood the consequences.

Nearest precinct that would be
holding somebody would be, uh...

the Downtown South at
20th and 8th. You coming?

Wait, you can't leave! We
have more searching to do!

- This can wait!
- Nothing is more important

than the Lumen. We must find
it before somebody else does!

That's not true, Professor. They
are more important than this.

(Bell jangling)

- (Car honking)
- You could've told me,

you know? What Eph was planning.

I have an aversion to rats.

What would you have said anyway?

I would have said crossing
this line would change you

forever... you don't murder people.

And then he would have done it anyway.

(Heart monitor beeping)

(Man): Make sure the IV is running well.

Scalpel?

(Other man): I think we got major
damage to the right side of the artery.

(Man): Suction?

(Woman): Attaching another saline.

(Sighing): Horrible.

She took a bullet meant for you.

(Man): Suction. Pumping.

Tell the Master I need
to see him immediately.

The Master is aware of the situation.

You listen to me! If the
Master doesn't save her...

If she should...

If she doesn't make it through
this thing, I am finished.

No more help.

Everything that He has been working for,

it will all fall to pieces.

You understand me?

Yes,

I think I do.

You are demanding that the Master come here

and release His own divine
and invaluable essence

just so you can continue

fornicating with your secretary.

I will pass along the message.

But what the Master does...

or does not do...

is determined only by Him.

And matters of the heart
are not a high priority.

- (Man): I need more suction.
- (Woman): Suction.

(Sucking)

- Attention with this.
- Got it.

15 blade's loaded?

(Heart monitor beeping)

- She's stable.
- When will she wake up?

- When can I speak to her?
- Uh, Mr. Palmer,

there was a lot of damage.

She also was in pulse-less
arrest for nearly four minutes.

It's likely there was neurological injury.

But she will wake up?

I can't say for sure. Her
injuries were very severe.

We won't know for a while.

Please, let her rest.

In fact, the best thing
that you can do right now

is get some rest yourself.

(Police chatting)

Hey, guys, do me a favour?
Could you give me five minutes?

- (Man): Oh, OK.
- Thanks.

Aw, come on, Doc,

we did it!

We took out Eldritch Palmer!

And now we're in here. I
don't see any version of this

that ends well for us.

Hey guys, why
don't you go have a cigarette?

What?

Just go have a goddamn
cigarette, would you?

(Radio chattering)

(Keys clinking)

- Ah!
- Wait! What the hell's going on?

Hold on a second!
I'm the one that you want!

- (Groan)
- Keep talking, buddy.

(Dutch crying out)

Hey! You'd better not hurt her!

Hey!

(Receding footsteps)

(Radio babbling)

Yes, I'm alive.

You failed.

If I didn't hit you, then who did I hit?

You shot an innocent woman.

- Is she alive?
- She's possibly brain dead.

I'm sorry for her.

But am I sorry that I fired that bullet?

Did Abraham Setrakian send you to kill me?

It was my idea.

It's odd that a man as smart
as you should follow him.

You must know that all this will
be settled in a matter of weeks,

if not days.

The die is cast.

We've won.

Why do you continue to resist?

You're not obviously insane.

Megalomaniacal, certainly.

Sociopath? Probably.

I persist because I
understand the salient facts.

Civilization is in free-fall.

Our world is about to change,

violently and forever.

With you selling out the
human race so you can live

as one of these monsters.

The dominant species ravages the land

and makes it its own.

This is a fact beyond

morality or conscience or sentiment.

Recognizing change

is the key to survival.

Is this what you came here to tell me?

Because I don't give a shit

- how you rationalize this evil.
- (Crash)

(Scoff)

The Master couldn't have
hoped for a better lackey.

- I'm sorry... disciple.
- We are partners.

(Laughing): Partners?

Is that how he treats you?

Huh? Fifty-fifty?

Total respect?

Why would he share

his great kingdom with anybody?

Ask yourself that.

God, I wish I had succeeded in killing you.

- The world would thank me.
- But you didn't.

And the world will not even notice

when you die.

(Slow footsteps)

(Hissing)

(Screeching)

Rudyard?

(Sizzling)

(Heavy breathing)

(Distant sirens)

(Heart monitor beeps)

(Whoosh)

- (Loud fluttering)
- (Indistinct, foreign whispering)

Master.

You are here.

(Hissing and whispering)

(Reptilian purring)

(Snorting)

Eldritch, what's happening?

You are being saved.

(Snarling)

Oh, my God.

Was that...

Bolivar? What did he do to me?

That was the Master.

I am his partner.

The Master?

There is so much to tell you.

I hated lying to you.

But now you have experienced

- His power for yourself.
- What are you talking about?

Coco, I helped Him because
I wanted Him to save my life.

And He did. And now

He has saved your life too.

(Faint police radio)

Pretty soon I'm just gonna be eating gum.

(Distant crash)

I'll go check it out.

(Low hissing)

- (Distant crashing)
- Holy shit!

- (Man): What's going on?
- (Distant gunshots)

(Distant shattering)

(More gunshots)

- (Growling)
- Oh, God!

(Man): Behind you!

(Other man): They're all over the place!

- (Gunshots)
- (Creatures snarling)

(Creatures screeching)

(Creatures sucking and croaking)

Hey! Let me out!

I can help you!

Thank you.

- You gotta be kidding me.
- Shut up.

(Snarling)

(Growling)

- (Creatures screaming)
- (Whipping sounds)

(Growling)

(Gun clicking)

(Policeman crying out)

(Creatures screaming)

(Man grunting)

(Sizzling)

You okay?

Where's Dutch?

They dragged her out of here hours ago.

- They didn't tell me anything.
- (Keys clinking)

Dutch! Dutch!

Jesus Christ!

We're getting out of here.
I suggest you do the same.

Now, tell us, where's Dutch?

Where?

My buddy, Reynalds, took her. He was
supposed to deliver her someplace.

Where?

Mayfield Hotel.

_

(Sirens)

(Car honking)

(Distant men yelling)

(Sigh)

What have you done with it?!

- (Grunting)
- (Sword swooshing)

(Sword clattering)

(Creaking)

(Continuous creaking)

(Intense music)

- (Footstep)
- (Thud)

(Groan)

(Shaky breathing)

(Whimpering)

(Screaming)

(Groaning)

(Screaming)