Chapter Text
[CLICK]
DAISY
[out of breath] …came through – through the tunnels, out of nowhere. [running, shoes slapping on concrete floor] Where's... where's...?
BASIRA
There – there - I see...!
DAISY
Bloody hell! Jon!
[a shout of pain, a feral roar]
The knife! Hand me the knife!
BASIRA
You shouldn't...
DAISY
I'm not fighting them with my bloody hands, am I? Give it -
[the sound of sprinting, a lunging jump. A struggle. An inhuman screech, violently cut off]
THE ARCHIVIST
[pained] I... I think you got him.
BASIRA
C'mon, there might be more.
DAISY
Can you stand?
THE ARCHIVIST
Y-yeah. I'll manage. [a groan]
DAISY
Take my... that's it, up you get.
BASIRA
We should get to one of the inner offices. Or the overflow room. Somewhere we can properly defend.
DAISY
How did they get in – the Institute's supposed to be protected!
BASIRA
We'll cross that bridge when we...
THE ARCHIVIST
Where's... Where's Melanie? Has anyone...?
[a vicious yell, nearby. The aggressive sound of something being hit repeatedly]
BASIRA
... I think she's fine. Melanie? Melanie! Over here!
MELANIE
[getting closer, breathing hard] Anyone know what the hell's going on?
DAISY
No clue.
BASIRA
Right. We don't know how many more there are, so let's retreat. We got everyone?
THE ARCHIVIST
Martin. We haven't got Martin.
MELANIE
Not much of a surprise. Probably got out, or holed up with Lukas. Bet his stupid bloody disappearing act works on them.
THE ARCHIVIST
[viciously] Melanie.
MELANIE
It's true!
BASIRA
Look, there isn't time...
THE ARCHIVIST
We should find Lukas.
MELANIE
What?!
DAISY
Are you bloody mental?!
THE ARCHIVIST
[doggedly] He's the only one with the power to fend them off!
BASIRA
You tried being any use yourself, Jon?
MELANIE
Yeah, give it a go. Try talking them to death. Compel them to tell you about their holiday plans in Majorca?
THE ARCHIVIST
[bitingly] It's the Hunt, it's not like they're much up for a light of light conversation.
MELANIE
Well excuse me for...
BASIRA
Stop it. Both of you.
THE ARCHIVIST
Well, what do you suggest then, Basira?
BASIRA
Lukas has protected the Institute in the past. I think it's best... [cut off by a thumping run, getting closer, a loudening growl]
DAISY
Fuck me!
MELANIE
Christ!
THE ARCHIVIST
Out! Run!
[fumbling static, the discordant jumble of people shouting]
[CLICK]
[CLICK]
DAISY
Bloody... buggering, ow! Would you be bloody more careful?
THE ARCHIVIST
[testily] You could hold at least try and hold still.
DAISY
I wish you could just know how to dress a wound by using your creepy powers.
THE ARCHIVIST
Wouldn't that be nice. Now stop wriggling about... wrapping the elbow's a tricky bit.
DAISY
[wincing, trying to make light in the circumstances] Bet we won't even... [gasp]... get a bonus for surviving this.
THE ARCHIVIST
Not likely... There. Best I can do.
DAISY
[sarcastically, bit shaky] Delightful. Melanie...?
THE ARCHIVIST
Wanted to skirt the perimeter, make sure Lukas hadn't missed any. Think she needed to cool off.
DAISY
I kind of hoped she'd tear Lukas a new one for dropping his guard.
THE ARCHIVIST
Hmm. Would that life were so kind. Probably a bad idea. We know what he does to people he doesn't like.
DAISY
You mean... [makes a cartoonish 'poof' noise, like a magician's vanishing act]
THE ARCHIVIST
[flatly] Poof.
DAISY
You know what I mean!
THE ARCHIVIST
Hm. Anyway, Basira's with her. [gives a half-sigh] There's still the question of course as to why the Hunt suddenly decided to attack. And you're right, Lukas was... was well within his power to intercede earlier. But it's been – [lets out a heavy breath] it's been one of those days, and we should really...
[The door creaks open]
PETER
Ah. Jon. Daisy. Jon, I was wondering if I might have a word.
THE ARCHIVIST
I really don't think...
PETER
Ms Tonner can see that she gets some rest after today's exertions.
DAISY
I...
THE ARCHIVIST
[softly] It's alright. I'll – I'll catch up with you all later.
DAISY
I – [still doubtful] Sure.
[The door closes and clicks shut.]
THE ARCHIVIST
What do you want?
PETER
[A tutting sound] So aggressive, Archivist. And when I've done nothing but save your lives today.
THE ARCHIVIST
You expect a thank you.
PETER
It wouldn't hurt. But, no, what I'd really like now is to talk. In private.
THE ARCHIVIST
Daisy's not listening in at the doors, if that's what you're implying.
PETER
I mean the tape.
THE ARCHIVIST
[uncertainly] You want it...
PETER
Off. If you don't mind.
THE ARCHIVIST
I really don't think that would be...
PETER
It's about Martin, Jon. I don't want prying eyes listening in.
THE ARCHIVIST
What about Martin?
PETER
Needs your help. You do want to help him, don't you?
THE ARCHIVIST
[cuttingly] That's rather a transparent play, even for you.
PETER
Even so. Shall we talk?
THE ARCHIVIST
…
[CLICK]
[CLICK]
AZIRAPHALE
… You don't mind if I record this, do you?
SIMON FAIRCHILD
I do rather. I'd hoped this would be a flying visit.
AZIRAPHALE
You must forgive me. One gets into these little habits, especially when confronted with such infamous acquaintances.
SIMON FAIRCHILD
You flatter me.
AZIRAPHALE
Not at all. One hears things. Now, how can I help – ?
[ A choked gurgle, the sound of rushing wind]
SIMON FAIRCHILD
That's better. A bit of peace and quiet. Hard to concentrate in the freefall, isn't it? Don't want you peeking, the surprise will be spoiled. I think you'll enjoy what comes after. A bit more peace and quiet. You studious types, you like that.
[The jangling ring of the shop bell, footsteps]
UNNAMED FAIRCHILD
You want...?
SIMON FAIRCHILD
Into the car. We'll drop him off at the Institute. Lukas has plans.
UNNAMED FAIRCHILD
When does he not?
SIMON FAIRCHILD
Long as it gets Beholding out of the way, it's not my concern. You head off. I'll tie up loose ends here.
[a shuffling]
First things first...
[CLICK]
[CLICK]
[Slamming, frantic, muted through a door]
MARTIN
[muffled, his voice ringed with static, difficult to make out his words] Don't... don't do it... don't listen... don't listen to him Jon!
[Slamming continues faintly over the following conversation]
PETER
It has to be your choice, Archivist. We don't take the unwilling.
THE ARCHIVIST
[coldly] No fun otherwise.
PETER
Something like that.
MARTIN
Jon! Put it down, listen, put it down, whatever he's telling, you don't... please, Jon...
THE ARCHIVIST
[steadying himself] What's one more to the collection, right?
[a tense pause and then a wrenching, slicing sound]
[A half-swallowed yell]
[CLICK]
[CLICK]
[the sounds of staggered running]
MARTIN
... shit, shit, shit... oh God [panting] Th-they'll be able to help, they'll know what to do, they'll be able... [almost sobbing] Shit, shit, what have I done...
[continued sound of running, a tight struggling to breathe]
They'll know what to do, they have to...
[The far-off sound of something crackling, a roar of flames]
Jesus, what the – ?
CROWLEY
[distantly] Aziraphale! Aziraphale!
MARTIN
Crowley? What the – Jesus – Crowley, don't go – get out of there! I can't get you... it's too hot, Crowley, get out of there!
CROWLEY
Aziraphale! For heaven's sake, where are you?
[a panicked groan of uncertainty, and then running. The sound of the fire gets louder, and Crowley gets closer]
MARTIN
Crowley, come on, it's going to – [crash in the distance] The building's going to collapse, come on!
CROWLEY
Get off me – Aziraphale! Aziraphale! [coughing, beginning to hack]
MARTIN
He's not in here, Crowley, he's not in here [beginning to cough] Don't... don't, it's not important Crowley, bloody hell, leave it, leave it...
CROWLEY
[coughing, choking] Gotcha.
MARTIN
Now out, out!
[The scattered sound of the tape recorder being jolted. The fire gets quieter. The coughing continues]
MARTIN
Here, here, breathe, just breathe, oh – bloody – look, some-someone will have called the fire brigade, someone...
CROWLEY
[still choked with smoke] Martin? Wh-what are you doing here? What the hell's going on?
MARTIN
It's Peter. It's... Crowley, I need your help, please. Aziraphale, he's not... he's not here, he's caught up in all this, and I need, Crowley, he's got them both, he's got Jon.
CROWLEY
[dazedly] The... the tape.
MARTIN
Bring it with you. We'll go back to mine, yeah.
CROWLEY
Aziraphale- his shop. He'll... god, how can I tell him his shop's gone?
MARTIN
Crowley, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, but there's no, there isn't time, Aziraphale's in danger, they both are, please. I can't do this on my own.
CROWLEY
[a little out of it, slightly lost] I … Right. Yeah. Sure. Where are we going...?
MARTIN
Back to mine. You can listen to the tape there, I mean if the fire didn't melt it. And I-I'll explain, I'll explain everything.
[CLICK]
[CLICK]
[a commotion]
MARTIN
…. Crow –
CROWLEY
I'll kill him, I'll – [a chittering, creaking awful quality in his voice] I'll rend his bones from flesh and encase his corpse in web for the rest of my brethren to feast on, how dare he...
MARTIN
[panicking, clearly terrified] Crowley, please, please, I need you to stay in control ok, please, I-I can't do this... There're things you don't – you don't know...
CROWLEY
[ the chittering sound tones down, an echo remains] What do you know?
MARTIN
I-I'll explain everything, just... Just sit down, I'll... I'll just. The kettle's boiled. Let me get the tea.
CROWLEY
There isn't time for...
MARTIN
[snapping] Well I need it. I'm... I've not exactly been here for a while, so wait unless you want me face-planting on the bloody carpet. [A jostling] And great! Just great! Of course, these stupid things are back, where's the sodding off-sw...
[CLICK]
[CLICK]
MARTIN
… I'm sorry I don't have any biscuits. Haven't been back to my flat in a while, they’ve all gone a bit stale.
CROWLEY
I don't give a d – [stops himself] It's... No worries, Martin.
MARTIN
[the juddering sound of the recorder being moved] I'll just set this here.
CROWLEY
I think it's a bit late for a statement.
MARTIN
[defensively] Jon would want this recorded. F-for when he – he gets back.
CROWLEY
I – Sure. Knock yourself out. [A dull pause] Are you...? You ok?
MARTIN
[clearing his throat] I – er, I mean, I'm... no, not really... [voice thickens]. It was Peter. It was Peter, and I knew I couldn't trust him, I knew it, it was – so stupid, God I was such an idiot a-and now he's got Jon, and he's probably got Aziraphale too, and I – I, god, I thought – he was supposed to be safe, it was supposed to make them safe....
CROWLEY
[interrupting, annoyed] Martin, you aren't making any sense. I can't... I'm not a bloody mind reader, explain it to me. Tell me what happened. Why the avatar of the Lonely has apparently moved against the Eye, why I just watched Aziraphale's shop burn, [ voice regaining that chittering echo, wavering] tell me whose throat I need to...
MARTIN
[a choked, terrified sound]
CROWLEY
Shit... God, I'm sorry Martin. I-I'll calm down. I. I am finding it – difficult to be human at the moment.
MARTIN
… 's fine.
CROWLEY
[tentatively] Sorry... sorry about all the legs for a second there.
MARTIN
[a few octaves higher] 's fine.
CROWLEY
Please. Can you – What happened?
MARTIN
[clearing throat again] I. Um. Yeah. I'll start at the beginning.
CROWLEY
Wherever's best.
MARTIN
Well, um, I haven't seen you in a while. Haven't seen anyone in a while, really. It... it's not been great. I don't know if Aziraphale ever told you – I came round a couple of times, just for someone to talk to. You were out on some business, I think. Basically, Jon was... Jon stopped the Unknowing. But he... he was in a coma. For six months, his body entirely dead but his brain just wouldn't stop, but that wasn't a promise we'd ever get him back. And while he was gone... it was... it was bad. Tim and Daisy were gone, and Elias wasn't there anymore, and no-one thought Jon would wake up. A-and then the Institute was attacked by the Flesh, and if it hadn't been for... [trying to collect himself] God, Jon would be telling me to stick to the story. Telling me how messy my statement was, to get to the point, how I was like all those quacks we get, trying to sell us their two-bit shitty ghost story. Ok. So. T-the thing is, Elias appointed an interim director, to oversee the Archives while he was away. A man called Peter Lukas.
CROWLEY
[makes a dissatisfied noise]
MARTIN
You-You've heard of him then.
CROWLEY
Reputation only. We try to avoid other avatars if possible, your Archivist excluded.
MARTIN
Well, he's the director now. A-and, well, he's been working on… Look, don't laugh, alright. I don't think you're going to believe me.
CROWLEY
It's been one of those days. Try me.
MARTIN
There's... we, I mean Peter, think there's going to be an emergency of a new fear. A fifteenth.
CROWLEY
[beat] ... You're fucking with me.
MARTIN
I wish. A-and well, look, it's not as important now, what's important is that I-I've been trying to stop it and Peter needed someone – an archivist, but you know, not, the Archivist, right – someone touched by the Eye, someone... [bitterly] amenable to the Lonely. A-and Crowley, you have to believe me, there was no-one, and we'd been attacked, the Institute was vulnerable a-and Tim and Daisy were dead and Jon- Jon wasn't waking up, and Peter said, he promised they'd be safe if I... and I didn't... I couldn't...
[sniffling] It doesn't matter now anyway, why I did it. I said I'd help him, I'd let Forsaken claim me, I'd promise to stay away from the Archives, from – from Jon, so long as everyone was safe. [sniffs again, trying to compose himself, voice thick] Only it turns out that he was just another liar and I was just too... stupid to see it. I didn't even suspect until it was too – The thing is, Peter wasn't lying about the Extinction. That was true. But the whole cosying up to Elias, taking over the Institute... taking me. He doesn't care about the Extinction, or at least, that's not his main goal. I think... I think he wants to stop the Watcher's Crown.
CROWLEY
[a gentle scoff]... Martin... The Beholding isn't going to do a ritual, they've never...
MARTIN
No. You're right. They've never. And don't you see, that's made all the other Powers nervous. Especially if you've got avatars of the Eye going around, sticking their nose in, messing up other people's rituals, clearing the way. I think it's why Elias never did anything to stop the Extinction. He hoped he'd be able to enact his own ritual first.
CROWLEY
And Lukas...
MARTIN
Peter's convinced that, even with Elias indisposed, the Eye's moving to do a ritual. That with an Archivist coming into power, it's inevitable. So he thought it would be better if the major powers of Beholding were out of the picture. The ritual can't happen if the players aren't in play. Elias can't do anything in prison. So that left Jon. And, I suppose, Aziraphale.
CROWLEY
But Aziraphale... he's not. He's not on their side – He's not working for the Eye.
MARTIN
I don't think that matters, not to Peter. He's one of the Eye's agents, [Crowley makes a sound to interrupt] that's how it appears, r-regardless of his true motivation. And you're both proactive in disrupting the manifestations of the other powers, so the logic goes. If Peter didn't want to avoid getting any other Powers involved, he'd have probably gone after you too.
CROWLEY
And you helped him. You helped Peter Lukas do this.
MARTIN
No – no! Of course not! How can you say –
CROWLEY
Only you know quite a lot about all this, Martin, for someone...
MARTIN
[suddenly blisteringly, furious] I found out when Peter Lukas set the Hunt on the Institute, alright! I found out when I had to watch my friends nearly die, again, when I couldn't... I couldn't get through the fog to help them, I couldn't reach them, Lukas made damn sure of that. He only interceded after his point had been made. And then he went, and he told Jon everything, about how the Hunt was a demonstration, a warning of how vulnerable we were, how he'd kindly asked Simon Fairchild to take care of that bothersome agent in Soho. And I still, t-the door was locked, and Jon couldn't see me, couldn't hear me, and I couldn't get the fog to... A-and then Peter told Jon that if he didn't go with him, if he didn't cede his claim to the Crown, he'd let them take the Archives. That it didn't have to be all bad, they could come to some kind of arrangement that everyone was happy with. And then Jon looked at him, and he was so full of fury, and he asked Peter what the hell the Lonely could offer that he could possibly want.
And Peter, he laughed, because of course he did, and then he said that... that the Lonely needed a sacrifice, needed feeding, but it didn't have to be me. That it would be better for both of them if the Archivist was taken out of the picture, and that surely that was a fair exchange. Beholding could have me back and Forsaken could have the Archivist, and wouldn't he want that, to see me safe. And Jon – [slightly hysterical] of course, of course, he bloody took it because that's the type of stupid stupid idiot he is – and when he's not throwing himself into – I don't know, bloody, people-eating coffins or letting some horrific golem-man take his sodding ribs out – he agreed, just said yes in that quiet way like his own life – like it meant nothing to him, and I never wanted that, I would never have ... [swallows a sob]
CROWLEY
[softer, awkwardly] Martin. I'm sorry. I didn't – I know you wouldn't. D-did he say anything else? About Aziraphale? That was Simon Fairchild on the recording, I know it was, but what's he to do with it all?
MARTIN
[composing himself] If he got a few hunters into the Archives on the promise of a chase, I guess he told the Fairchilds he was making a play for the Eye, and they wanted in?
CROWLEY
And Aziraphale - has he trapped him in the Vast, is he falling?
MARTIN
He said something about putting him somewhere he couldn't interfere. That he might be useful to keep, in case...
CROWLEY
What?
MARTIN
In case you came round, causing trouble. 'Good collateral against the Web' he said.
CROWLEY
[a sharp coldness]... I see.
MARTIN
I mean, th-that means he's not dead, right? That's something.
CROWLEY
It has to be. [beat] So, what happened? To Jon? Is he...?
MARTIN
I don't know. Peter gave him – this knife, and I thought – I thought he was going to stab himself with it, and I tried to get inside, I did, but the door was locked, and I wasn't... They weren't listening to me, or they couldn't hear me and the fog was so thick I could barely... And Jon took the knife. And t-there were these things around him. Like... like you know that candyfloss you get at funfairs? I went with my dad once, before, well, before... And it was all around Jon. Wispy, stretched out like sinews. And Peter – I could barely hear him through the buzzing in my ears – I heard him explain to Jon that they were his... connections, if you like. How he was anchored to the world. Each one a person he knew, someone you see on the same bus as you who shows up as a flimsy whisper of a line, or a work colleague, or s-someone you love, a thick tendril trailing outwards. And he told Jon he'd – he'd been unspooling mine for months now, thread by thread, getting me – getting me ready. That he couldn't afford to be that gentle with Jon, that there wasn't time to do it gradually. And then Jon – god, he looked at me, right at me, he saw me, and it's been so long, since I was there, since I was present, since I was seen, and he gave me a look – he looked so sorry, so tired – and then he gathered those few lines of candyfloss and h-he had the knife, and he just – severed them. Like shearing corn. And he – it hurt him. I remember I was surprised, and then I was angry at himself, because of course it did, it always does. And Peter just... just smiled, told him what a good job he'd done, how perfect he'd be for Forsaken, how it would savour him, such a treat for his empty god. Then the fog swept in, and static got louder... and Jon – I couldn't see him anymore. By that time, Melanie had heard me shouting, and when we got the door open, they, well, they were gone.
CROWLEY
Maybe Aziraphale... Maybe he's with him. Wherever they are.
MARTIN
Yeah. [sighs] Yeah. A-and I don't know what to do, Crowley. I don't know how I can fix this.
CROWLEY
[cautiously] Me and Aziraphale, we... we've not exactly been out to make friends. It’s not like the Powers are much in the business of comradeship. More like forming momentarily beneficial alliances. But... the Eye has allies. Allies that could help us get them back. I – I have an idea. But I don't know if you'll like it. It's not... it's not safe. I can't... I don't think I can protect you, if it doesn't work. A-and if you survive, I can't promise you'll be the same person as you were.
MARTIN
Is there any other way?
CROWLEY
Not that I can think of.
MARTIN
Then tell me.
[CLICK]
[CLICK]
[a shush of tide, distant]
[shuffling sounds, indeterminate]
THE ARCHIVIST
[flat, dry-throated] Oh. Hello. I guess Lukas missed you, huh. Or maybe he left you behind. Wanted you to witness what happens next, I suppose.
[voice echoing, like he's in somewhere cavernous] I should really save the tape.
[another long silence]
I hope they're all safe. I wish I could know that. I wish... Martin, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for – for a lot of things. But I'm sorry I left you. Guess it won't be the first time.
[CLICK]