"Those are bite marks." "Flesh torn out with teeth." "Argh!" "This was Bennet Drake's seat." "It was." "As I understand it, the doctors have passed you fit, Inspector." " There is a savaged man found." " _" " 'Gustus, I have not." " You have been good, have you not?" "I have." "You will send for a surgeon." " To what end, sir?" " For certainty!" "That is a luxury in my experience, sir." "Two small boys alone and orphaned." "The woman's name, Guluba, was the word he used for dove." "What does Mr Dove's brother do?" "Reid believed him to have been the killer." "I could never hurt you, Nathaniel." "You will live quiet, easy, until all that may harm us will be put to rest." "Thank you, 'Gustus." "_" "_" "Good boy." "Go on." "Steady." "_" " Ah." " Morning, Mr Sumner." "You feeling any better?" "Fat ones today." "Aye." "Oh!" "Mr Sumner." "Um..." "Got some jam." "It's blackcurrant." "I got plenty." "It's time for market, lad." "Morning to ya!" "Left, left, left, left, left." "Hup, hup!" "Hup!" "Come on." "Come on." "Off we go." "Come on!" "Good boy, Fredrick." "Whoa, whoa, good boy." "Keep going, keep going." "Good boy!" "Go on." "Morning, Nathaniel." "Hello, 'Gustus." "I brought you victuals." "Tin peaches... some lemonade..." "Edmund Reid..." "'Gustus, have you..." "Not yet." "He is hunted." " Potted meat..." " _ apples... cheese." "Did I forget something?" "Nathaniel?" "I told you how it had to be." "'Gustus, Abel was not evil." "Beast, golem, scourge of Whitechapel." "Abel was not them things." "No." "Abel was not." "But... we was his boys." "He... he did right by us." "And see..." " how he does right by his boys now." " _" "He has borne your sins for the world, Nathaniel." "How it has to be, brother." "For the victuals, 'Gustus." "You don't owe nothing." "I've nought else to spend on." "Well, that is a high class of problem." "Mr Sumner, he's... he has not called for his eels." "Perhaps he has no want for 'em today." "Told me his cottage was just downriver." "Thought, um..." "I thought to take his eels to him." " He has been poorly, you see?" " Did you now?" "'Gustus... since I've been here, I've not seen a single soul but Mr Sumner." " You've seen me." " Once, and I'm... alone here." "It's... it's not the docks, the noise, the life." "This life here, it is only until Edmund Reid is reckoned for." "But until then, it is the best life I can make for you." "You have done me a kindness, 'Gustus, I know it, but... he will be reckoned for when?" "Reid is hunted and will be found." "But while he puts his snout to the very cobbles of Whitechapel for scent of you and sniffs at who knows what trail beyond... it is best you keep to yourself, is it not?" "I..." "I shall bring books for you." "You might visit with... with the pup." " The pup?" " Yeah, your boy, Connor." "Makes him my nephew, does it not?" "Yes, Nathaniel." "Yes, it does." "Come to the house tonight." "Dinner." "Thank you, 'Gustus." "I..." "I should like to see your home." "I'll collect you." "Mr Sumner shall come for his eels tomorrow." "I have no doubt." "No need trouble him before." "It's good food, 'Gustus... very good." " Here." " No!" "Leave him be, Nathaniel." "The pup needs help is all." "Here you go." "It's like this." "You see that?" "The hunger, 'Gustus... there are days I feel it... abate." "And then it is there... blade catching glint... black in my blood again." "Do you think... do you think someday it will have gone?" "Yes, brother." "I wanna be better, 'Gustus." "And you shall be." "There are doctors of the mind, Nathaniel." "After Reid is done with, we will see the finest." "Thank you, 'Gustus." "_" "Every day we spend imprisoned here... the streets beyond these walls turn fiercer against us." "Every resident of this borough made into Shine's henchman." "Oh, this ain't a gaol, Reid." "Gaol, you get more sunlight." "My playhouse is not your wastebasket, Mr Reid." "And if gaol seems preferable, Captain, do please feel most free to relocate yourself." "Howdy, Thatcher." "Done the knock right, didn't I?" "Three seconds before the last." "I counted two." "You have something?" "Tell me you have something." "I searched reports of murders, of woundings." "But, there's not so much as resembles the animal method." "He... he's not killed again." "Well, maybe, uh... you know, maybe Dove finally put him in the ground, you know, to... to... to protect himself." "No." "No, the bond between them?" "He would not." "I know it." "She's right." "Even the wharfinger, Croker, who raised them," "Dove slaughtered for his brother's sake." "Wherever he is put, he will show himself again." "You could have warned us about the bounty, Thatcher." "Shine don't... confide in me his stratagems, Captain." "The... the first I heard of it was this." "This is a hell of an informant we have, huh?" "My apologies." "Sergeant Thatcher, your efforts are invaluable and we are grateful for them." "Oh, eternally so." "Best make my way." "Do you imagine making the boy feel an ass will inspire loyalty and diligence?" "Perhaps you should leave managing policemen to me." "If we have need of an informant in a brothel," "I have no doubt your expertise will prove invaluable." "You may not think me ally, but we are nonetheless, for now, cellmates." " Miss Hart, do you not understand why?" " Oh, I understand more than you can know, Mr Reid." "And I have given you my word, I will make it right with your daughter." "I will make it right." "Is this then how it's going to be?" "Slouching and pacing in distant hope of some... some thread, freshly loomed from the very ether to drift down onto your laps that you might follow to the lair of this beast you now seek?" " Miss Morton..." " This playhouse is my future and look at it... paralysed and ruined by the foul poison of your pasts." "Of my past." "Miss Morton... if we have made things excessively difficult, then we shall be gone this night." "Hmm?" "I'm going home." "There is food for dinner and breakfast in my office." "Mr Sumner." "Sorry, um... is he here?" "Uh, my father, he had been poorly for some time." "Oh." "I brought eels." "Yes, you did." " Wanting pay, then?" " No." "Nah." "Money?" "No, nah." "Um, it's just... take the eels." "Caleb, Robin." "Mister...?" "Nathaniel." "Nathaniel fished our eels." "Wishes to pay respects." "Dig, boy." "I can help with that." "Thank you, Nathaniel." "May we offer you supper?" "Nah..." "I must be getting back." "Er, it's no banquet." "Furry stew and potato, full belly for your hard work." "Thank you." "Jasper Sumner, our father, a good man." "You're the man of the house now, Caleb, and of the business." "I'll need help, Prue." "Course." "Family pulls together, does it not, Robin?" "You'll help your uncle, won't you?" " Pour the gin, boy." " Yes, Uncle." "Good lad." "Father used to go upriver for his eels." "Then you appeared overnight, like a toadstool." "Well, I, um..." "I used to live by another river." "How'd you come upon the cottage?" "Was abandoned, I thought." "Uh... my brother." "Brother?" " Does he fish also?" " N... nah, he is, um... he's far away." "He took a ship west." "Our father, see, he, uh... he... he died." "Then let us say a prayer for both our fathers." "May they rest at peace." "Now, eat up, all of you." "Miss Sumner." "'Scuse me lateness, Nathaniel." "Me brother, Caleb, is not well this morning." "Mama, did you ask him?" "Robin, please." "Nathaniel, without Caleb, I..." "Robin and I shall struggle to manage the store by ourselves." "If there was any way you could... uh, I mean to say, there'd be coin in it, of course." "Selling fish?" "Yes, sir." "In Whitechapel?" "I should not." "It's..." " Whitechapel, it..." " No matter." "We shall manage." "Shan't we, Robin?" "Good day, Nathaniel." "Miss Sumner?" "You're a quiet one, aren't you?" "What should I say?" "Most folk talk too much." "The, um... the boy's father?" "The typhus." "Robin was barely born." "I had practised enough mothering though." "Mine died bearing Caleb." "Caleb was my babe before Robin came along." "Caleb wailed when Robin was born." "Think he thought he'd lose me too." "Every boy needs their mother." "Mama, the horse." "Oh, now what?" "Rest the animal." "Rest him." "There." "There." "Yeah." "Is a stone." "Well, Nathaniel, eels and now horses?" "Is there no end to your skills?" "Walk on!" "Nathaniel, can you help with the brazier?" "Fresh strawberries!" "Our fresh flowers... rather delightful." "Flowers for the ladies, see." "Fresh gathered today, fresh strawberries!" "Fresh fish!" "Fresh fish!" "Freshest in Whitechapel!" "Fresh fish!" "Fresh fish!" "Eels and pike and cods and perch!" "Fresh fish!" "Morning, Inspector." "The usual?" "This stall here..." "no eels better, right." "Two portions of eels, if you please, lad." "All right, Mr Thatcher." "I lick 'em, you see, for the eels." "Nicely but ***." "Fresh fish!" "Fresh fish!" "What's your price, lad?" "All well today, Mr Thatcher?" "Yeah, Robin, all well." "It's just, ah, police business is all." "You just keep cooking all these goods, will ya?" "See you tomorrow, Mr Thatcher." "Will you wrap this tail for me, please, Nathaniel?" "Fresh fish!" "Fresh fish!" " Eels, pike, cod, perch!" " _" "Best in Whitechapel!" "Fresh fish!" "Thank you for your help, Nathaniel." "If you have need of a little extra coin, we have need for an extra pair of hands." "Happy to help." "Well, we're both happy." "Walk on." "Let Nathaniel do that." "I always chop for the stew." "I need you out front till Robin's back from the knife sharpening'." "Nathaniel's a quicker blade." "Carp and eels, pike and perch!" "Who wants a good fish supper?" "Right, one of them." "Two?" "Four pence." "Always overcharge the bloody Hebrews." "Carp and eels!" "Carp and eels!" "Mama, I'm hungry." "We're all hungry, boy." "Whining won't fill your belly." "There's a chophouse on the Commercial Road." "It's... it's good eating." "I've got coin." "This is a true kindness, Nathaniel." "Fishing must be good." "Did your old man leave a chunk before he shuffled off?" "Caleb, just thank Nathaniel for your supper." "Seen me brother's boy eat a chop that size." "You've twice his years." "Where do they live now, Nathaniel?" "Who?" "Your brother and his boy." "Um..." "Hackney." "Shipwreck, was it?" "Said he boarded a ship west." "Before." "Hackney was before." "Where, then?" "Far away." "Told you it was good eating, boy." "For flavour." "No, stop!" "He snatched the money!" "Oh!" "Argh!" "Arrrgh!" "This man?" " Money." "Money!" " Argh!" "Argh!" "Argh!" "Argh!" "What's afoot here?" "Oi, back here with ya." "Go on, get after him." "Come back here." "Stop that man!" "Nathaniel." "You left this." "Thank you, Robin." "Here." "Why'd you go?" "I was, um..." "I was afraid, boy." "But... you're strong." "That's silly." "Is this where you fish the eels?" "Mm-hm." "Will you show me?" "Now, you right?" "Hands, please." "Now... there... there you are." "Now, you put the bait in there." "Yeah." "All right." "Whoops." "He's a slippery fella, ain't he?" " Right." " Robin..." "Robin." "Get yourself home." "Robin... thank you for the knife." "Go on." "'Scuse the boy, Nathaniel." "Nah, there's nought to excuse." "Oh, look... take that one home, cook it for your supper." "That's... it's the cooking." "You asked the end to my skills." "Ha!" "Can catch 'em by the dozen, but you can't skin and gut 'em for toffee." "Well, it's time you learned, sir." "My father had me cleaning fish as soon as my hand could hold a knife." "'Ere then." "You have a go." "No, no, like this." "That's it." "When Robin was just born, I was, ah, heating his milk on the stove and... very tired, you see." "I'm sorry for running, Miss Sumner... from the market." "It's none of my business." "You'd already done plenty." "Then, perhaps you'll see fit to call me "Prudence."" ""Prue," if it's preferred." "I like Prudence." "Was it your father who taught you to fish?" "Mm-mm." "The man who raised us, my brother and me, he, um... he was not my father." "Was he kind?" "For a time." "My papa was, before." "He was a farmer, see." "We... we had a farm." "Where was that?" "Another country... far away." "Mmm." "We had tulips, poppies... and yellow stonecrop." "Meadow of pink corn flower." "The bush crickets sang in the mint fields and... leaf beetles was like... like jewels on the corn blades." "I was happy." "I think I..." "I always would have been happy." "Why'd you leave?" "Men came with fire." "Burned the farm, burned our home, the village." "Why?" "Well, they came to kill all our people, 'cause we was... we was different to 'em, you see." "Papa's blood was still on the tulips and... and the men, they was... they was laughing." "Mama ran with us to the cart... put us on the burlap." "It was dark." "Just screams and hooves." "Who did this?" "My brother is... he's protective." "Caleb?" "He cares for his family, but... when he drinks, it's his temper, it..." "Caleb blames himself for mother." "When I fell pregnant, he held me arm to the stove and... it's only because he was scared he'd lose me too." "He's a good boy, Nathaniel." "He's a..." "he's a good boy." "He loves me and..." "I love him." "I've had to..." "I'd best get back." "Thank you for... your company, Prudence." "We are a small family, but the door is always open to you for an hot meal or a little company." "You are... very kind." "You do not need to be so alone, Nathaniel." "Would you care for a biscuit with your tea, Mr Dove?" "No, thank you." "And I apologize once more for the hour, but I felt this was a matter best not delayed." "Miss Reid, when you chose to give me that letter from your father, you performed a noble act for the policing of this borough." "Please excuse my question, but do you regret that noble act?" "Regret it?" "Well, a fugitive he may be, but Mr Reid remains your father." "He does, but I did what I felt was right, even though it... what is right is not always what is easy." "I would just like to know the truth Mr Dove, once and for all." "Thank you, Miss Reid." "You will perhaps understand the necessity of my questioning and my satisfaction at your answer, when I explain the purpose of my visit." "Mr Drummond, I wish to offer you a promotion." "Oh, Mr Dove, I..." "I don't know..." "I mean, to say thank you." "No gratitude required." "It would be dereliction of my duty to permit abilities such as yours to go undernourished and unrewarded, Inspector Drummond." "Miss Reid, a toast." "Yes, of course." "I see great things ahead for you, Samuel Drummond." "Mr Shine may the present of Leman Street, but you are its future." "I expect the Yard itself shall be calling before long." "In fact, I shall see to it." " Well, ah..." " Of course, there will be a raise in wage commensurate with your new standing, which I expect may come useful for young sweethearts perhaps considering their own home and, well..." "To your future." "Demotion?" "Sir, Mr Shine...?" "Oh, it is, Thatcher." "It very much so is." " Bloody desk, sir?" " Hold your tongue Desk Sergeant." "The good Commissioner Dove has high hopes for Drummond." "And the good Inspector Shine has low, very low, hopes for you." "So, get out of that peacocking ponce frock and into that there tunic." "Get to it, Desk Sergeant!" "One too many." "Got freezing, innit." "Load the bloody thing." "Bring the dragon, quick!" "The pain is..." "Oh, yeah." "Yes." "Right." "Thank you, 'Gustus." "I would not have you without entertainment." "Though, perhaps you have not been so without entertainments as I supposed." "Miss Sumner." "Miss Sumner?" "Miss... fish-seller's daughter." "Mr Sumner is dead, 'Gustus." "No, I..." "I never... he was... he was poorly, is all." "And sh... sh... she was kind." "Kind is she?" "How often has Miss Sumner afforded you a kindness and what have you afforded her in return?" "Nought, 'Gustus." "I..." "I swear it." "Uh, only helped her with the, uh, with the fishes is all." "You... you went to market?" "No, um..." "I mean..." "Do not lie to me!" "Forgive me, 'Gustus." "This life, however... it is a kind of prison." "Should I instead have let Abel give you the blade, Nathaniel?" " No, 'Gustus." " You talk to me of prison?" "I swear you will never know a true prison." "Because if you are found and caught for what you've done, your feet shall scarcely scrape a cell room floor before they dangle through the noose man's trap." "And what do you think would become of me?" "!" "Would you cheerily see me on a rope beside you, when all I sought was to keep my brother safe?" "!" " I only wanted..." " If you want a girl," " I can get you a girl!" " No, it's not..." "But you talk to me, not some scale-fingered barrow-wailer." " No, 'G... not that." "Prudence is not..." " I asked you for little... for so little." "Is even that too much for you to afford me while I endeavour to clean up the blood with which you spattered Whitechapel?" "To keep you safe is all." "Don't you see that, brother?" "I see it, 'Gustus." "Mama!" "Nathaniel, did not expect to see you again." "Well, I've been waiting for ya." "Do you mean to harm us?" "No." "Why would..." " why would you...?" " Policemen came here, Nathaniel, looking for ya." "The police?" "Said not go near your cottage in case you came back." " Go inside, Robin." " What's he mean "came back?"" "Said you were a fugitive, a danger, that you'd done things, that you'd killed." "Prudence." "He said you'd fled." "That's why he came looking for you." "Get away from here!" "Police Inspector said you'd pissed off from these parts." "Should've stayed away." " Caleb." " You leave us be." "You hear me?" "Don't come back here!" "Nathaniel, please!" "Go." "Please." "No." "Would you like a cup of tea, sir?" "Thank you, Miss Chudleigh." "Where is the boy?" "He's at play in the garden with his animal, sir." "Connor!" "Miss Chudleigh, Miss Chudleigh?" "!" " Take Connor inside." " Of course, Mr Dove." " I had no idea he was here." " Leave us!" "Do you remember the cornfields after summer rain, 'Gustus?" "When the sun returned, everything shining, all the glittering blades." "And I would cry at harvest to see 'em all cut down." "How did you get in here?" "Came up a towpath through the hedge rows." "I thought to visit ya." "And I found the boy alone in the garden." "To see how you looked at us." "The fear." "As if I'd ever have it in me to harm him." "He was helping me choose some blooms, is all." "Blooms for Miss Sumner." "And what you done, 'Gustus... that was unkind." "It was for your own good, Nathaniel." "And yours." "There is no difference." "Always was, 'Gustus." "Always was." "You stopped Abel's blade from my throat... but you'd cut already with something worse and deeper when we was boys." "And while you took your lessons, I was..." "I was hoarding crates." "And while you got your shiny copper badges," "I was slopping' out wharf latrines." "Abel saw me no better than a beast of burden." "I am not Abel." "Nah... you see me as beast of prey, a beast to be caged." "But I can be more than beast, 'Gustus." "I know it." "I feel it." "You are my brother, but you are not my keeper." "And I will stay away from Whitechapel, but you, 'Gustus, you will stay away from Prudence Sumner." "She is... she is my friend." "All I ever did was for protection of you." "Thank you for the blooms, 'Gustus." "Prudence will like 'em." "I didn't think you'd come." "Nor I." "Your brother?" "Yeah." "Why would he say those things about you?" "To keep me away from ya." "Keep me away from anyone." "Keep me alone." "My brother, he is also... protective." "And he wants to protect me, to protect us both, but... he thinks me animal." "And that I will always be... animal." "Is it true, then?" "What he said?" "I'm not an animal." "It's 'Gustus, he just..." "he wants to keep us safe." "I don't see an animal, Nathaniel." "I see a hurt, lonely boy." "I did not come here to judge." "I do not want Caleb to hurt you no more." "And what if we left this place?" "Robin as well?" "I c..." "I can't leave Caleb, Nathaniel." "He was my baby boy, and... and Robin, he needs him, and..." "Caleb is a good soul." "Sometimes, we... we can just love someone too much." "Take off your shirt." "Okay." "See." "Stand for me." "Beautiful boy." "Oh, yeah." "Here." "Here." "It's all right." "Here, just..." "Shhhh." "Just lie with me, yeah." "Come." "That's it." "Yeah." "Shhhh." "_" "Ah, yes?" "Mimi?" "Ah..." "I don't know where to start me, even." "From the beginning, I would suggest." "All right." "I'm sorry, for this, for all of it, um..." "I never thought... if I'd even imagined... that we'd be holed up thus, I'd have never knocked on your door." "I'll never be able to..." "You've been so goddamned kind, and it's a kindness" " that I never deserved from you." " Mm." "If only we'd always agreed on so much, Captain." "We'll be gone soon." "I'm sure of it and I just wanted you to know that." "You are a funny trio, you, Mr Reid, and your..." " Miss Hart." " Ah... you oughta put us on the stage." "There's blood on their hands." "Black in their hearts." "But you..." "I remember these hands... and the colours of your heart." "I ain't no saint neither, Mimi." "Have you thought, I wonder, what your life will be the day you stop running?" "Um..." "I've been running so long, I can't remember what it's like to stop." "Do you know what makes me angry, Captain Jackson?" "I mean truly... an incandescent furnace of fury?" "It is, that for all your uncountable faults, deviancies, downright failings as man and... and human being... when you knocked on my door... whenever knock on my door..." "I feel the best and most precious part of me leap." "I feel it turn cartwheels in sunlight." "And the abject grotty truth I must contend with is that I'd rather see my theatre in ruins with you here than have it a glittering and ecstatic stage, with you far and gone." "I hate you, Homer..." "Matthew... whatever your cursed name is, I hate you!" "I hate you." "'Cause when you're in my life, my life seems electric." "And then you go." "And you will go." "Of that, if nothing else on this earth, I'm certain." "And when you go... those sunlit cartwheels will fall once more still and dim." "Leave me to my work, Captain." "One day, this theatre will open its doors... and I shall try to live at peace with knowing you shan't knock on them again." "This tastes very good, Prudence." "Will you show me more fishing, Nathaniel?" "I'm sure Nathaniel's busy, boy." "No, I, um, yep... of course." "Of course, Robin." "Said he was busy." "You stay clear." "Will Nathaniel be helping on the stall again?" "I prefer not to go up to Whitechapel." "Why?" "Do not care for it." "Is it the Jews?" "Don't say such things, Caleb." "Prue tells me you're from abroad." "You're not one of them, are ya?" "No." "I am not." "'Cause I'll tell you one thing about the Jews... they won't buy your bloody eels." "I taught Nathaniel how to cool eel, just like father used to." "What else have you taught him?" "Flowers are beautiful, Nathaniel." "You're very welcome." "Robin, fill your uncle's cup." "To the top, boy." " Don't waste it!" " Caleb." "Go to bed, little one." "No, leave that." "There you go." "You've had plenty." "Why is he here?" "Nathaniel is our friend and our guest." "Welcome, friend." "Nathaniel... forgive him." "Forgive him." "He is... he is a good boy." "He will sleep soon and I will come to you, okay?" " Ugh!" "Take him to your tit, did you?" " Please, no." "No more!" " Oh!" "Oh!" "Oh!" " Nathaniel!" "No, Nathaniel, no!" "Caleb!" " Stop it!" "No, no!" " Not any words, Prudence!" " What he does, it ain't right." " No, Nathaniel..." "Shhhh, shhhh." "Shhhh, I know." "I know." "Please, listen to me." "He... he is... he's my... he's my brother." "He's, uh... he... he's Robin's father." " Wh... what?" " Yeah." " No." " Who cares, please... please." "You... you of all men would not wanna see a little..." "little boy lose his father." "Please." "Please." "No!" "No, Nathaniel, stop it, please." "No!" "Please, please." "No!" " Argh!" " No!" "No!" " Argh!" " Argh!" "Prudence." "Come here!" "Could have been a guilty suck." "Stop." "Stop." "Stop it." "Stop!" "No." "No, no, no, no." "Robin." "Robin!" "Prudence, Prudence, wake up." "Mr Dove, in the garden." "Nathaniel." "Brother, Brother?" "Who did this?" "Nathaniel, no." "No, Nathaniel!" "You was right, Augustus." "You and Abel both." "Just let me bleed here, please." "Please, just let me bleed." "Let me bleed." "You're my brother." "Miss Chudleigh?" "!" "Miss Chudleigh?" "!" "You're all right." "You're all right." "Miss Chudleigh?" "!" ""Wolves, a body in the snow, had two sons..." ""fight the animals, youngest son..." ""clutching at her cold body..." ""her name, Guluba.""