Carpenter and Faulkner arrive at Bellwethers - and witness the miracle of the Wither Mark.[2]
| ATTENTION: SPOILERS AHEAD! Beyond this point, major plot spoilers are expected. Continue at your own risk. |
Description[]
Bellwethers[]
Faulkner begins the episode by commenting on the rain. He and Carpenter drive in silence, taking turns driving and tuning the radio, to no success. When the car runs out of petrol, Carpenter tells us they park under a willow tree and get out of the car, continuing on foot in the rain. The landscape is obscure by the weather. After a while, a familiar scent enters the air and river mist clings to them. They arrive at warning tape, and a makeshift shrine to the Riddlespike, the god of boundaries. The police have been here, but they quickly abandoned it. Carpenter rips the tape down easily before crossing the boundary line. They come to an official sign, a last warning, it reads: “A god wounded the land here. Turn back.” Prayer marks are stamped on the edges of the sign. Carpenter feels the weight of what comes next, and Faulkner is thrilled by it. They continue onwards.
The mist parts, and they can see the towers of Bellwethers drift into view. Something about them is different. They are covered in barnacles, malformed. Faulkner and Carpenter gaze across what used to be this town. The church bell sounds, and something stirs. The town has been returned to the water.
Hayward and Daggler find their abandoned car and notice that they have continued on foot. Hayward comments that there is no reception out here. Hayward almost forgets his gun as they leave.
Carpenter and Faulkner wade through the town. Faulkner slips, and Carpenter steadies him. He is distracted by his own excitement. He sees himself bearing the Wither Tide back to the Parish. They glance at each other, and Faulkner believes Carpenter is changing her mind about leaving the faith. Carpenter thinks it's extraordinary, it’s beautiful. She sees this as a chance to reshape the world, as long as they’re willing to reshape it like this. If it were just Carpenter and the Trawler-man she believes she could make excuses for him and continue. Something is walking out before them, with human forearms. It turns towards them, its eyes are distinctly human. It doesn’t seem to care that the duo has visited, perhaps it recognises them as part of the faith, perhaps it doesn’t. It continues on. Carpenter cries out in pain, hurting her leg further. Faulkner finds a piece of driftwood to use as support. Faulkner replies that the image of them is the sort of thing the faith would write about. Carpenter refuses to become an allegory.
Meanwhile, Daggler leads the way to Bellwethers. Hayward curses him as a lunatic.
The heart of the town rises up before Carpenter and Faulkner. It is a stretching park. There are people here, calcified and preserved. Carpenter describes them as a forest of people. The duo are silent and cautious as they walk through them. In the centre of the park, Carpenter and Faulkner arrive at the Wither Mark. Faulkner describes it as beautiful, less like a pattern drawn on the wall but more like cracks in its surface. The painter, Augustus Roake, stands before the wall, frozen. As they approach, his eyes follow them and he gives them his final message: “The river rises.” Faulkner asks Carpenter if she’ll be able to remember it or if they should write down half of it each - Carpenter responds that she’ll remember it. Faulkner wants to look around more. Carpenter tells him that they cannot take this back to the Parish. She doesn’t want to be responsible for this, and she doesn’t want Faulkner to be responsible either. Faulkner grows irritated with her. Carpenter asks if Faulkner really trusts Mason to use this responsibly. Faulkner tells her that this is the weapon they’ve been searching for to get back at “them”, Carpenter questions who Faulkner is referring to. Faulkner reminds her that they killed her parents and Nana Glass, and asks why she doesn’t care. She reminds him that it is not his rage, that it is her suffering and that he doesn’t get to share it with her. They argue. Faulkner tells her to find him something better, she says they can figure it out together. Roake continues, and in her rage she attacks what’s left of him. Faulkner attacks her in response and she falls to the ground. He tells her not to get up, that what hurts most is that she continues not to listen to him. He tells her it is his decision to make. Carpenter asks him to listen to her, but he refuses and leaves. Carpenter attempts to stand, but fails. Carpenter curses the god she used to follow. She asks why it doesn’t make him feel ashamed. In her anger, she questions his purpose.
Hayward and Daggler Face Carpenter and Faulkner[]
Hayward and Daggler find Carpenter. Hayward calls her Sandra still, and Carpenter greets him. Daggler asks if she’s pleased with herself. When Hayward asks where Faulkner is, Carpenter replies that she killed him for not being firm in his faith. Haywards checks her for weapons and replies that she has none. Daggler tries to convince Hayward that it would be better if Carpenter didn’t make it back. Hayward asks what he means by this. Daggler says they can lie, pretend that she ran or resisted, and they had no choice but to kill her. Carpenter asks Hayward if he’s really going to let Daggler kill her. Hayward asks what happens if he tells him no. Daggler shoots. Carpenter asks if he’s insane. Outraged, Hayward replies he could have shot him and Daggler responds that he doesn’t miss. Hayward replies that he just did. Daggler continues lying, promising that the Stink will fall off him if he follows through on this. Hayward is silent in response. Faulkner reappears and wades towards them. He has painted himself with prayer marks in mud. He carries Carpenter’s revolver in his free hand, prompting Carpenter to admit that Faulkner looks his part - like a Prophet of the Trawler-Man. Daggler tells Faulkner to stand down or he will be shot. Faulkner tells Carpenter to run. A hermit crab angel crashes through the wall behind him, and Faulkner stands there for a moment before he turns and dives away into the mist. Daggler shoots the Angel ineffectually, and then the Angel kills him. Hayward calls for him in shock. The town begins waking up. Hayward and Carpenter run from the town.
There are police sirens.
Sid Wright's Radio Broadcast Sends Listeners to Sleep[]
The barrier at the border between the Peninsula and the Linger Straits is down. Paige gets out of the car and goes to ask about it, wondering if they close the border at night.
On the radio, Sid Wright laughs manically yet weakly. He speaks incoherently for a while, it seems painful for him. The producer's voice orders him to be taken from the booth, declaring that he’s gone. The next sacrifice will be brought in soon. This voice appears on the radio, informing listeners that Sid Wright’s finished his shift and his successor will take his place. Before the producer can finish, there is a groan of pain and followed by the distinct sound of their death. Sid Wright begins talking again, claiming to have changed his mind about sleep. He now thinks we could do with a little more of it. He has also changed his mind about being a sacrifice. Between death and dreaming, Sid Wright has witnessed the birth of a “superior god”. He tells his listeners, “Sleep. You’ve done enough. Your work is done. Sleep. Never wake.”
A knock on the door is accompanied by sounds of snoring. Paige continues to knock. She asks if everything’s alright. There is no response.
Trivia[]
- When Faulkner attacks Carpenter she loses a tooth.