Work Text:
Season 1
Episode 12 Relevès
[Starts after the teaser, Hannibal and Bedelia talking, and Will talking to Georgia Madchen in the hospital].
OUT OF FOCUS FACE
The stranger slowly slides into clarity and CAMERA REVEALS
it's Hannibal Lecter. He's smiling. We are –
INT. HOSPITAL - WILL GRAHAM'S ROOM - NIGHT 1
Will opens his eyes, stirring as an aroma hits him. He sits up in bed as Hannibal pops the lid on a second Tupperware container allowing the steam to escape a rich amber broth.
WILL GRAHAM
Smells delicious.
HANNIBAL
Silkie chicken in a broth. A black boned bird prized in China for
its medicinal value since the 7th century.
With wolfberries, ginseng, ginger, red dates and star anise.
WILL GRAHAM
You made me chicken soup.
Hannibal offers a supportive smile. Of course he did. Will attempts to further sit up in bed, and Hannibal comes to his side to help. As Will is assisted, their eyes meet, and Hannibal looks down fondly. He cups Will’s cheek, and Will leans into the touch.
WILL GRAHAM
Thanks.
Will looks suddenly shy and Hannibal offers a smile.
HANNIBAL
Always, Will.
Hannibal removes his hand reluctantly. Will pushes away the covers and swings his legs around, and Hannibal clutches his shoulder to help. He can’t seem to stop his hand from travelling to hold Will’s face again, and their eyes meet once more. Will swallows, and Hannibal leans in. There is a heavy pause as if he is giving Will room to move away, but Will doesn’t. They share a short, gentle kiss.
WILL GRAHAM
Oh.
HANNIBAL
Yes.
ON WILL AND HANNIBAL
They sit silhouetted by the window, reminiscent of the first meal they shared together in EPISODE 101.
HANNIBAL
The nurses tell me you've been wandering, Will.
WILL GRAHAM
I was awake. And wandering with purpose and good intentions.
HANNIBAL
Visiting that unfortunate young woman suffering from delusions?
WILL GRAHAM
She's my support group.
Hannibal pauses mid-spoon and holds Will’s gaze.
HANNIBAL
I hope you don’t think she is the only member of your support group.
Will looks bashful and shakes his head.
WILL GRAHAM
No, I know.
Hannibal reaches a hand across the table, and Will hesitates before taking it. They hold hands for a moment before letting go.
HANNIBAL
I hope you're her's. Nothing more isolating than mental illness.
WILL GRAHAM
I know Dr. Sutcliffe was a friend.
HANNIBAL
She didn't murder Dr. Sutcliffe. Her disease did.
I can't blame her for his death any more than
you can be blamed for shooting Abel Gideon.
WILL GRAHAM
The hallucinations, the loss of time, sleepwalking.
Could that have all just been the fever?
Hannibal considers saying what Will wants to hear or what he wants Will to hear, then simply replies:
HANNIBAL
It's possible.
Not confident enough an answer for Will.
WILL GRAHAM
What else is possible?
Hannibal takes his time to answer, and then…
HANNIBAL
Other illnesses could be to blame.
WILL GRAHAM
Like?
HANNIBAL
Fevers can be symptoms of dementia.
Dementia can be a symptom of many things happening in your body
or mind that can no longer be ignored.
WILL GRAHAM
Does Jack know?
HANNIBAL
That this could be more than a fever?
No. I haven't told him.
WILL GRAHAM
Shouldn't you?
HANNIBAL
Not until we know for certain. What we must do now is continue to
support and monitor your recovery.
(then)
I will speak to your doctor. They can do further tests. Make sure you are fully recovered
before you are discharged.
Will looks uncertain, and Hannibal leans forward.
HANNIBAL
Eat up. Stop worrying. Everything is going to fine.
Will continues to eat and OFF Hannibal looking troubled.
EXT. WILL GRAHAM’S HOUSE – DAY 2
JACK CRAWFORD getting out of a car with flashing lights. The PERIMETER FBI AGENTS and LOCAL POLICE have established a CRIME SCENE. CAMERA pans to a CORPSE on the ground. It is neatly sliced down the middle showing a naked male body with the parted and skin held aside with fish hooks to reveal the heart cavity with the heart still intact. The top of the head has been opened, revealing brain matter. Among the FBI, we can see BRIAN ZELLER, BEVERLY KATZ and JIMMY PRICE patiently waiting.
JACK CRAWFORD
Do we know who it is?
JIMMY PRICE
No, it’s hard to make an ID here. We need to get back to the morgue.
BRIAN ZELLER
Looks like the Copycat.
JIMMY PRICE
Or Ripper. Hard to say.
BEVERLY KATZ
But why Will Graham? Why here?
JACK CRAWFORD
Is there more inside the house?
BEVERLY nods, and JACK walks towards the porch.
INT. WILL GRAHAM’S HOUSE – DAY
As JACK enters, he looks deeply concerned. The living room is a mess with Will’s table of lures turned upside down and smashed. Debris litters the floor. There is blood spatter across the floorboards.
CUT TO BLACK.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
INT. HOSPITAL - WILL GRAHAM'S ROOM – AFTERNOON 2
Will is wearing his hospital robe, and holding his rolling IV stand. He is standing by the window looking out. Will turns, and CAMERA pans to reveal HANNIBAL.
WILL GRAHAM
I have to get out of here.
HANNIBAL
You have to stay here and recover.
There is nothing for you to do but get better.
WILL GRAHAM
My dogs—
HANNIBAL
Have been taken care of.
Will shakes his head.
WILL GRAHAM
I feel useless.
He walks to the bed, and Hannibal steadies him. Will sits and tiredly runs a hand over his face. Hannibal leans in to stroke his hair. Will looks up. He is grateful for Hannibal’s presence.
HANNIBAL
You are right where you need to be,
and I will see to it that your house
is cleaned and put back in order.
Hannibal puts his arms around Will, who closes his eyes and lets himself be comforted. Footsteps approach, and Hannibal's eyes flicker to show awareness. However, instead of stepping back, his lips brush Will’s forehead. A loud cough shows JACK CRAWFORD standing by the door. Hannibal slowly pulls back, a small smile on his lips.
JACK CRAWFORD.
Will, I’ll talk to you in a minute. But Dr Lecter, first a word?
HANNIBAL
Of course.
(…And Hannigram fans can imagine the multitude of possibilities of what happens next…)