[title music playing]
[chiming]
[footsteps approaching]
[screams]
Ah!
[whistle blowing]
[Inspector] With all due respect, Doctor,
I still can't believe that these sinister goings-on in Whitechapel
are the work of a man in his 60s.
I mean, be serious, Dr. Xavier!
You must believe me, Inspector!
Dr. Nathaniel Essex
is responsible for these crimes!
Every person who has seen this butcher
agrees that he's a younger man.
And I can't credit a man of science
with these inhuman atrocities!
Essex isn't human, Inspector!
Not anymore.
And after tracking him round the world
for half my life,
I begin to think
he never was!
[whinnying]
Whoa!
Hey, move this wagon out of the way!
Now, Doctor, how is it you know this mad doctor, Essex?
I first became aware of his obsessions
in the year of our lord, 1859,
while in the employ of Lord Grey,
his patron and father-in-law.
Essex had been fascinated
with the theories of Charles Darwin.
In particular, the groundbreaking work assembled
-in hisOrigin of Species. -[yawns]
[Darwin] And therefore, I am convinced
that natural selection has been the main,
but not exclusive means
of species modification.
I open the floor for questions.
[audience clamoring]
Mr. Darwin,
while your theory may explain
diversity in the lower animals,
how can your natural selection
account for the human soul?
Were we not created in God's own image?
I have not, uh,
as yet, applied
my observations to mankind.
Though I may do so at some future point.
[man] But, Mr. Darwin,
shouldn't natural selection operate
within any naturally occurring population,
be it animal, vegetable or man himself?
Yes, yes, quite right.
And, given that we have removed ourselves
from the mechanisms of natural selection,
isn't mankind overdue
for the next evolutionary step?
[Darwin] No, no, not at all.
Man is still in direct competition with his fellows,
and thus subject to natural selection.
Uh, yes, you had a question.
Mr. Darwin, I am Dr. Nathaniel Essex.
Ah, a pleasure, Doctor.
Gentlemen, I wanted to speak to you about my own research.
I have made detailed observations
on mutated humans,
incorporating some of your theories.
I must caution you, these are dangerous times
for free-thinking men of science.
I shall very much look forward to reading it
when you publish it, sir.
But I have irrefutable evidence
to back up my claims.
And I'm sure with your support...
In light to the lukewarm reception
my theories received here, sir,
I believe it is I
who am in need of your support.
-Thank you, sir. -Be patient, my boy.
And discreet. [coughs]
[Essex] Oh, Mr. Darwin,
may I present Dr. James Xavier,
family physician to Grey Hall.
So, Dr. Xavier,
do you believe me a heretic
or merely a madman?
I have the utmost respect for your early work, sir,
but natural selection
seems to deny the divine hand in creation.
[chuckles] Heretic it is, then.
[coughs]
Gentlemen, if you'll excuse me.
But I grow weary of this debate.
How is Rebecca faring?
If my wife's condition has changed at all,
it is for the worse.
-Will you be coming by to check on her this evening? -Of course,
[Xavier] Though Essex was qualified
to treat his wife's disorder,
it was considered improper then, as now,
for a physician to treat members of his own family.
James, can you give me any good news
about my daughter?
Not as yet, sir.
But I'm confident my treatments
will prove effective in time.
Treatments? Why can't you admit
you haven't the slightest idea
what's wrong with my wife?
You insult me, sir!
No, I...
Please forgive me, my friend.
My frustration got the better of me.
I understand.
Lack of sleep, I expect.
I bid you goodnight.
It is his work that worries me, sir.
I tell you, his ideas verge on blasphemy.
I understand.
But he is my son-in-law.
And one of the few things that bring a smile
to my daughter's lips.
[Xavier] Though I dared not admit it,
Rebecca's illness confounded me.
Rebecca, darling,
I need another sample of your blood.
Am I your wife,
or your guinea pig?
You are the most precious thing
in all the world to me.
And that is why I must do
everything within my power
to make you well.
[Xavier] Essex's laboratory
was located in an asylum
-for the physically infirm... -[knocking]
...on the west end of the estate.
As director of the asylum,
Essex took in those poor unfortunates
who, through some accident of birth,
could not function in normal society.
Disreputable procurers knew he would pay well.
So they aided him
in seeking out these curiosities
in the traveling carnivals and dumb shows,
where they were obliged to earn their keep.
I shall never forget the day I arrived,
along with Darwin,
to witness the unveiling
of Essex's great work.
You've caught me in good health
and high spirits, Dr. Essex.
We're all most eager to hear of your discoveries.
And so you shall, gentlemen.
Please, step this way.
As you know, my interest lies
not in the gradual mutations
that occur over millennia,
but in the leaps that manifest themselves
in a single generation.
Gentlemen, allow me to introduce you
to the men of tomorrow.
Mr. Fuente.
You will, no doubt,
recognize the electroscope,
a device for demonstrating the effect
of an electromagnetic charge.
Mr. Flannery, if you please.
Dr. Essex, I am speechless.
I came today expecting
some minor breakthrough in biology,
and instead,
you insult these learned men
with parlor tricks and quackery!
But, but...
Now if you'll excuse me, Doctor,
I have no time for such foolishness!
No! Wait!
I have discovered the mechanisms
of heredity!
In time, I shall bring an end
to hereditary disorders
to all disease!
Man shall at last possess
complete mastery over his own body!
We shall become more than men!
We shall be Gods!
Good heavens!
You're quite mad!
Fools!
You blind old fools!
You require proof?
I'll provide you with proof!
In abundance!
I shall show you,
I shall show the world!
But I don't see what that's got to do
with the butchery here in the East End.
[Xavier] That's only half the tale, Inspector.
Please, if you could just...
Well, Doctor, do you still think
this is the work of a slighted scientist?
He has altered nature itself.
I believe the creature responsible for this outrage
to be the result of this man's
sinister experiments.
Inspector, I implore you
to accompany me to Mansell Street!
This may be a chance to stop
the most diabolical madman
the world has ever known!
I shall finish the tale as we ride.
After his expulsion from the Royal Society,
Essex became even more obsessed with his research.
But still he met with failure after failure.
As time passed,
he grew more reclusive.
Eccentric.
A fanatic.
Stories of strange goings-on
at the Grey Hall Asylum
circulated around Parliament
and made their way into the papers.
Essex and Lord Grey
became estranged,
while Rebecca's condition worsened.
Even the most advanced techniques of medical science
were to no avail.
And though Essex still fought to save Rebecca,
his growing fascination
with human mutation
became all consuming.
Yes!
I've done it!
[laughing triumphantly]
Mad, am I, Darwin?
Fool!
You are a mere spectator to creation,
while I,
I have become
the creator!
[laughing maniacally]
Excellent.
I feel like a new man!
What... what are you doing to us?
Have no fear, my friends.
With these transfusions,
you shall become more than men!
Much more! [gasps]
Remarkable!
Not even a blister!
[laughs]
[Xavier] I don't understand it.
Other than a slight pallor, your daughter is making
quite an amazing recovery, Lord Grey.
[giggles]
What is it, my dear?
He made me promise not to tell you.
I-I suppose it doesn't really matter now.
Nathaniel has been giving me treatments!
He's been what?
What kind of treatments?
No professional jealousy, James.
You said yourself my recovery was amazing!
How dare he!
That arrogant, insolent little jumped-up pipsqueak!
Sir, I think we'd best
not disturb Rebecca
at this critical stage.
[Lord Grey] James, you must speak with Essex.
Perhaps he'll listen to you!
We must learn what that madman has given to my daughter!
Essex! It's Xavier.
Please, I must speak with you.
Very well, James.
Do come in.
Dr. Essex, I--
I am no longer a doctor, James.
Tell me, do they speak of me still
at the Royal Society?
Indeed. They speak of...
sinister experiments
you are rumored to perform.
Sinister.
I'll have to remember that
when Queen Victoria knights me.
After you.
[all moaning]
This is your asylum?
Ah!
Thus out of small beginnings,
greater things have been produced.
Please, sir, no more!
Good lord, man!
Even animals don't deserve such treatment!
And the treatment they'd receive outside these walls
would be better?
Release these poor creatures!
At once!
They are unfinished, Doctor.
[Essex] I cannot allow you to do this!
Ah!
[grunts]
You truly have gone mad.
I am not mad!
[all clamoring]
[grunting]
I won't let you stop me, James.
[grunts]
[all shouting]
It is over, Nathaniel!
No! My work!
My subjects!
-What are you... -[Essex] Don't go!
My children! No!
[all shouting]
[whinnying]
Demons!
Spawn of the Devil himself!
They appeared from the darkness,
demons spewing the fires of Hades!
[stammering] I didn't mean to.
Flannery, Vochek!
-My children! -[whinnying]
[people clamoring]
[Man] Get him!
[Flannery] I'm frightened, Lord.
Why do you forsake me so?
If you truly have mercy,
deliver me from this.
Oh! [crying]
Please don't hurt me, sir.
The lord cares for all his creatures.
Why do you believe he has forsaken you?
I only wanted to find work
so I could send money back
to my family in Ireland.
The... the famine. We... we... [crying]
I'm not going to hurt you.
My name is James Xavier. I'm a doctor.
No! No, no, t-that's what the other one said!
I'm nothing like that madman!
I want to help you.
What's your name?
Flannery, sir. Thomas Flannery.
[people clamoring]
There's one of them! Demon!
Stay where you are!
Listen to me!
That's Dr. Xavier!
Let him speak!
This man is no demon!
He's a monster!
No! He is different, true!
Born with abilities that may frighten us.
But he had no choice in the matter.
Any more than we choose the color of our eyes.
The true monsters
walk amongst us undetected.
There is your monster.
Nathaniel Essex!
Essex!
That madman at Grey Hall!
Butcher!
-Heretic! -No! Stay away from me.
What in blazes!
Fools!
Who are you to judge me?
[people gasping]
[all shouting]
What is going on?
The noise!
My dear, we must flee at once to the continent.
What is this all about? Ah!
You're hurting me!
Ah!
What have you done to yourself?
The treatments.
[gasps]
What have you done to me?
Do not fear, my darling.
Together we shall be the Adam and Eve
of a new genesis.
[all shouting angrily]
Rebecca! Rebecca!
[whinnying]
[Xavier] The mob's justice was swift.
Nothing would spare their vengeance.
Essex was gone.
His laboratory and notes destroyed in the fire.
All I could find in the rubble
was the madman's journal.
Lord Grey spent his remaining years
quietly working on behalf
of the mutant humans of London.
Most of whom disappeared into the sewers.
Rebecca never spoke another word.
[thunder rumbling]
As for myself,
I traveled the world
in search of Essex,
chronicling the carnage
left by his terrible experiments
by his unfortunate "new men."
And here my search has ended.
I've tracked Essex
to the upstairs flat.
Let's go, men!
I got the samples you wanted, Dr. Essex.
Jack, you fool!
I told you I wanted this one alive!
I gave you life, Jack.
Do you doubt I could undo my own creation?
Sorry, Dr. Essex.
Essex is no more.
From this day forward,
you shall address me
as Mr. Sinister!
I do not understand.
[Essex laughing maniacally]
A final taunt.
I fear now
I shan't catch him
in my lifetime.
But if I cannot,
then I pray that someone else can.
[Essex laughing maniacally]
[theme music playing]