[suspenseful music playing]
[Dream] It has many names.
Avernus, Tartarus, Hades,
the infernal region you call Hell.
[Matthew] So, Hell does exist?
[Dream] It does. For some.
[Matthew] Does that mean it doesn't exist if you don't believe in it?
[Dream] Did you believe in it? When you were a man?
[sighing] Yeah.
I just didn't expect Hell to be cold.
So, which way do we go?
I suggest we follow the damned.
[ominous music playing]
[Matthew] They make you bring your own fire to Hell?
[car horn honks]
[brakes screech]
[exclaims]
[tires screech]
[woman] Are you all right?
I-I think so.
-Here, let me help you. -[grunts] Thank you.
[sighs]
I'm so sorry.
It's my fault entirely.
I…
I lost my slippers somewhere.
Oh. Here you go.
Oh. You're very kind.
I suppose I'm rather underdressed.
Listen, if it were up to me, I'd never get out of my pajamas.
You live nearby? Or…
No, I, uh…
I've no idea where I am, actually.
Can I… Do you need a ride somewhere?
I'd be happy to take you.
I'd hate to impose.
You're not imposing at all. Honestly.
Where are we headed?
Do you where Mayhew is?
It's on my way. I live in Cumberland. I'm Rosemary.
Hello, Rosemary. I'm John.
Good to meet you, John.
Come on, I'll introduce you to Susie.
-Who's Susie? -My Rottweiler.
[Susie panting]
We're not sneaking in with them?
[Dream] A king may not enter another monarch's realm uninvited.
There are rules, protocols which must be followed.
[caws]
[gong echoes]
[exhales heavily]
[demon] There's one at the door.
At the gate of damnation.
Is it thief, thug or whore?
There's one at the door.
And there's room for one more.
Till the end of creation.
[Squatterbloat chuckles]
Greetings, Squatterbloat.
I seek an audience with your sovereign.
[chuckles]
And who might you be?
I am the King of Dreams.
Ruler of the Nightmare Realms.
Mm. Yes, my clown.
So, where's your crown?
[scoffs]
Guard your tongue, demon.
The Ruler of Hell will not be kind to one who insults an honored guest.
And I am a guest in this realm as I am monarch of my own.
So where's your ruby?
Shall I use it to haunt your dreams?
And your waking hours, too?
Or will you open the gates of Hell and let us through?
-[keys jangle] -[lock clicks]
Now, take us to the palace.
[Squatterbloat] There's one at the door.
There's one at the door.
So, you live in Mayhew?
[John] Not anymore.
My, uh… things are there.
So you used to live in Mayhew?
Uh…
Yes. Few years ago.
My mother's work forced us to move around quite a bit.
Mm. What does she do?
Actually, she passed away quite recently.
Oh, John…
It's only just happened, so I'm, I'm, I'm still a little bit--
Of course.
I'm so sorry, John.
She wasn't a very good person, I'm afraid.
That's an awful thing to say, isn't it? Even if it's true.
No. I have a mother like that, too.
Really? What does she do?
She watches cable news. All day.
That's what she does.
What about yours? When she was alive?
When she was alive,
my mother was a very successful thief.
[chuckles]
-Really? -Yes, I'm afraid so.
What did she steal?
Is that rude? To ask? I'm sorry.
No, not at all.
Uh, she stole anything and everything.
She stole art. She stole jewelry. Other people's identities.
Which is why we had to keep moving all the time.
It's why she lied about everything.
Even to me.
Well, maybe she was trying to protect you.
[scoffs]
Spoken like a woman with children of her own.
Two girls. Samantha, Sarah.
[John] Mm.
Rosemary, may I ask you something?
[Rosemary] Of course.
[John] Do you lie?
To Samantha and Sarah?
Their dad was the liar in the family.
We were married ten years
before I found out he had another wife and another kid in another town.
-Oh, my goodness. -Yeah.
I think lying is maybe the worst thing you can do to another person.
I'm living proof of that.
I'm sure your mom loved you and was proud of you.
She did forgive me in the end.
-For what? -Stealing from her.
-What did you steal? -A ruby.
Unlike no other. Like nothing you've ever seen.
She had me arrested, of course. And thrown in prison.
-For stealing the ruby? -And arson.
[intense music playing]
And murder.
General mayhem. Among other things.
You see, the problem with having this ruby
was that everyone was always trying to take it from me.
And so, I just did what I had to do.
You murdered people?
They weren't good people.
Not like you and Susie.
Isn't that right, Susie?
Isn't that right, my sweet girl?
[John chuckles]
Any idea where we are?
The landscape is subject to the whims of the Morningstar.
The morning star?
We have to spend the night in this literally godforsaken--
Lucifer Morningstar.
[Matthew] As in the Devil?
The Ruler of Hell is no mere devil.
So, you two know each other?
We've known each other for a very long time.
When we first met, Lucifer was the angel Samael.
I forgot the Devil used to be an angel.
Not just any angel.
The most beautiful, wisest, and most powerful of all angels.
Saving only the Creator, Lucifer is, perhaps, the most powerful being there is.
More powerful than you?
By far. Especially now.
[Matthew] Why now?
The last time I was here, I was an honored guest.
An envoy from my own kingdom.
This time, I have invited myself,
and I lack my symbols of office.
But you're still Dream of The Endless, right?
You got your sand.
[ominous music playing]
What's wrong?
Squatterbloat. He's gone.
[Matthew] All right, don't panic.
I'm just gonna fly up and see where we are.
Nope, nope. Not doing that.
[people groaning]
[branches creaking]
[moaning and wailing]
[Squatterbloat growls softly]
This way.
[Squatterbloat grunts]
[Matthew] Does this seem like the way to the palace to you?
A demon has a hundred motives for anything he does.
All of them malevolent.
Demon.
[Squatterbloat growls]
This is not the way.
[chuckles]
[woman] Kai'ckul?
[woman breathing heavily]
Dream Lord?
[gasps]
It is you.
I greet you, Nada.
Kai'ckul.
How I have prayed for this day.
I knew you would come.
It pains me to see you like this.
Then, free me, Lord.
Only your forgiveness can free me.
Do you not still love me?
It has been 10,000 years, Nada.
Yes. I still love you.
But I have not yet forgiven you.
Come, Matthew.
Kai'ckul, I will not give up hope.
I will never give up.
[snarls softly]
[John] Yes. I admit that in the past I may have done some things
that are morally… ambiguous.
But it taught me about human nature
and the secret of real understanding and compassion.
Do you want to know what it is?
I do.
This is going to sound rather odd,
but the secret to having compassion for people
is knowing that they are fundamentally selfish.
And I say this without judgement.
It's how human beings are built. It's how we're made.
But if you know that going in,
if you understand that we are operating
out of the biological congenital selfishness,
then life begins to make a lot more sense.
[tires screeching]
Are you all right?
Uh, sorry. The phone slipped.
You were saying?
[John] I… I was saying,
knowing that people are selfish
sets you free from having to take their actions, their lies, personally.
People lie because they're selfish.
They lie because they are human.
They lie because they're scared.
People will say anything.
Do anything to keep from being hurt.
That's what I think, anyway.
You're very good, Rosemary.
[Rosemary] I don't know what you mean.
I mean I experience people as basically selfish
and you experience them as afraid.
Which they are, we all are. You're absolutely right.
And good.
Thank you.
Do you mind if we stop for gas?
No, not at all.
[Matthew] So, that woman back there.
Anything you wanna share with your friend Matthew?
Her name is Nada.
She was the ruler of a tribe that call themselves the First People.
We were in love.
So what did she do? How'd she end up here?
She defied me.
Wait. You put her here?
The Morningstar is letting me know that Hell has prepared for my visit.
Why are we stopping?
[Dream] We're here.
[dramatic music playing]
[caws]
Hello.
Hello, Dream.
Greetings to you, Lucifer Morningstar.
And to you, Mazikeen of the Lillim.
Greetings, Dream Lord.
You look well, Dream. Are you well?
And your family, Destiny, Death, Despair, and the others?
I presume the Ruler of Hell knows this is no social call.
Have you come to join forces then?
To ally your realm to ours?
To acknowledge the sovereignty of Hell?
You know my feelings on that, Lightbringer.
Feelings change.
Especially when one has been caught and imprisoned by mortals.
We expected better of you, sweet Morpheus.
I have come because my Helm of State was stolen from me.
I believe one of your demons has it.
I should like it back.
Now.
Dream, if only it were that easy.
But there are rules, you see.
Protocols which must be followed.
Which demon has your helm?
Name it and we will bring it here.
I confess I do not know the name.
Then we will have to summon all of them.
[demons clamoring]
[Lucifer] There, now, Dream, you may inquire.
Which demon has your helmet?
Shall we interview them one at a time, or…
That won't be necessary.
It surprises us how easily you would give up, Dream.
We know how you relied upon your tools.
But tools are the subtlest of traps.
We become reliant upon them
and in their absence we are vulnerable,
weak, defenseless.
Not entirely.
I have recovered my sand.
It brought me to Hell
and now it brings that which is mine in Hell to me.
Tell me your name, demon.
Do I have to tell him?
That is Choronzon. A Duke of Hell.
Choronzon…
The helm is mine. You must return it to me.
No. It's mine now.
I traded it from a mortal for a paltry thing.
It was a fair trade. I've broken no laws.
And if the Dream King wants his helm back,
he will have to fight me for it.
Very well.
I challenge you, Choronzon.
[Choronzon chuckles]
You know the rules, Dream Lord.
If I win, you will return my helmet.
And if you lose,
you'll serve as my slave in Hell for eternity.
I accept the terms.
[caws]
And whom will you choose to represent you in the battle?
I shall represent myself.
Choronzon, whom will you choose to represent you?
Hmm…
I choose you, sire.
Apologies, Dream, but the laws of Hell demand that I become his champion.
But if you would not fight me.
I have accepted the terms.
Let the challenge begin.
I won't be five minutes.
-Oh, we'll be fine. You take your time. -[Susie panting]
Looks like I have to pre-pay inside.
Do you want anything? Are you thirsty?
No, thank you. I'm fine.
I won't be a minute.
Actually, uh, Rosemary…
Uh…
I could use a drink, if you don't mind.
Sure. What would you like?
I don't know. I haven't been out in the world for 30 years.
You've been in prison for 30 years?
No, uh, psychiatric hospital.
Uh, the beverage options were extremely limited to say the least.
After you.
Whatever you want, my treat.
Are you sure?
Absolutely.
I'll just give the guy my credit card.
[whispering] I need you to call 9-1-1 for me.
[normally] I'm sorry. What?
[whispering] I need you to call 9-1-1 for me.
The man I'm with is an escaped murderer.
-[normally] You fucking with me? -[whispering] Please just call 9-1-1.
[normally] All right.
I'm calling them right now.
Yeah, hi.
I'm calling to report an emergency.
This is the filling station out on route seven.
That's right.
Yeah. That's right.
Wanna send somebody down…
Rosemary, we need to go.
[gun cocks]
Let go of her.
And we're gonna wait here, the three of us, for the police.
Young man, I assure you, you don't want to point that gun at me.
Sir, if you don't stay where you are, I will shoot you.
Please don't.
You'll only be hurting yourself.
-[gunshot] -[Rosemary screams]
[car engine starts]
[John] You shouldn't have done that.
It's my fault for trusting you.
Are you gonna hurt me?
Are you taking me to my ruby?
Then I have no reason to hurt you.
Until you give me one.
[Choronzon] Welcome, ladies and gentlemen.
Today for your entertainment and delectation,
a formal challenge.
[demons cheering]
The challenger is Dream.
Once the Master of the Realm of Sleep.
[caws]
As the challenged, I've selected my champion,
Ruler of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar…
[demons cheering]
…to represent me in a contest of skill, confidence and transformation.
The oldest game.
Matthew, I need you to return to The Dreaming.
What? No!
It's the only reason I allowed you to come.
So I could leave you?
If I should not be able to leave,
I would not have Lucienne left alone with no word of my fate.
Not again.
-The sand will take you back. -I'm not going back.
Morpheus, am I interrupting a preliminary bout of some kind?
Just a ringside pep talk, Your Majesty.
We came here for the helm and we're not leaving here without it.
We shall see.
[cheering continues]
[Lucifer] As the challenged,
I set the meter and take the first move.
Very well.
Make your move.
I am…
a dire wolf.
Prey-stalking, lethal prowler.
[growls]
I am a hunter.
Horse-mounted, wolf-stabbing.
[snarls]
[grunts]
[breathing heavily]
I am a serpent.
Horse-biting…
-[neighing in alarm] -…poison-toothed.
[gasps]
I am a bird of prey.
Snake-devouring, talons ripping.
[Lucifer gasps]
I am a butcher bacterium.
Warm-life destroying.
[Dream grunts]
I am a world.
Space-floating, life-nurturing.
I am a nova.
All-exploding, planet-cremating.
[screaming]
[Dream groans]
[weakly] I am a universe.
All things encompassing, all life embracing.
[Lucifer] I am anti-life.
The Beast of Judgement.
The dark at the end of everything.
What will you be then, Dream Lord?
[breath trembling]
[groans weakly]
I…
I …
[Matthew] Boss?
Hey, boss!
Still with us, Dream?
He is and it's his move, Your Majesty.
There are no more moves.
What can survive the anti-life?
Hey, boss. Listen to me. You know what can survive the anti-life?
You.
Dreams don't fucking die.
Not if you believe in them,
and I believe Dream of the Endless would never leave his raven here alone,
in Hell with Lucifer.
I…
am…
[caws]
hope.
Hope.
[Dream] Well, Lightbringer?
It's your move.
What is it that kills hope?
Choronzon, give him his helm.
[Choronzon] No.
I won't.
It's mine. Please.
[Choronzon grunting]
[demons cheering]
[Choronzon screams]
[demons cheering]
Thank you, Mazikeen.
Thank you, Lightbringer.
The Ruler of Hell is honorable, indeed.
I will not forget this.
Honorable?
You joke, surely.
Look out there, Morpheus.
The billion Lords of Hell stand arrayed about you.
Tell us.
Why should we let you leave?
Helmet or no, you have no power here.
After all…
What power have dreams in Hell?
You say I have no power here.
Perhaps you speak truly.
But to say dreams have no power in Hell…
Tell me, Lucifer Morningstar,
what power would Hell have if those here imprisoned
were not able to dream…
of Heaven?
One day, Morpheus…
we shall destroy you.
Until that day, Lightbringer.
[cheering continues]
[Matthew] You think Lucifer will come after you?
[Dream] Why?
[Matthew] Because you just publicly humiliated the Ruler of Hell.
Can you even see in that thing?
[Dream] I can.
I can see the ruby.
Something's wrong.
Someone's altered it.
[Rosemary] This is it?
Yes. Thank you.
-[door creaks shut] -[Matthew groans]
[lock clicks]
What are you still doing here?
I know I'm gonna regret this but…
Do you need a ride somewhere?
Do you really want me to get back into that truck?
The truth. No lies.
I wanna go home.
You're a good person, Rosemary.
Unfortunately, good people seldom survive in this world.
Just don't hurt Susie, please.
I don't care what happens to me but…
Here.
Take it.
Wear it.
From now on, no one will be able to hurt you.
Not even me.
There's no need to be afraid or tell a lie ever again.
Don't you need it?
No. I have my ruby.
Boss. Boss!
[John] The ruby makes dreams come true.
And I'm going to use it to save the world.
[theme music playing]