02x11 - Chapter 22: A Tale of Graceful Ends

[bunniefuu]

[low, solemn music playing]

[wind gusts]

I should never have let him go.

I should never have
gone back to Faerie.

[Matthew] I should have gone with
him. I shouldn't be here right now.

[softly] Matthew.

[Matthew] What's the point
of being here without him?

[Corinthian] Lucienne.

-Our lord has sent me to ask you...
-He's not our lord.

He's asking when you think
our guests will be arriving.

Any moment now.

Good. Then I won't be missed.

You're not staying
for the funeral?

You have to say
goodbye, Matthew.

Goodbye.

[Nuala] Oh...

Ah, he'll come back.

How's Daniel doing? Or...

Do we call him Daniel?
What... what do we call him?

I'm sticking with "my
lord" or "Your Majesty."

-Is he all right?
-[Corinthian] Seems fine.

Considering he was a baby yesterday,
and today he's Dream of the Endless.

He gave me back
my suite of rooms.

Did he?

Me too. Exactly the
way I left them.

How? He's only
just met you both.

I think he might be
a little like me.

How so?

The way I remember parts of
the first Corinthian's life.

-[Cain] Where is he?
-[Corinthian] Who are you looking for?

The little princeling. Where is he? On
his throne, doing nothing, I suppose.

He's not to be disturbed, Cain.

-We'll see about that.
-[Goldie chitters]

[Lucienne huffs]

[Cain] My lord, I
demand an audience.

[Dream] You are... Cain.

[Cain] Yes. And this is my
contract with your predecessor.

With me, Cain.

I am Dream of the Endless.

Your contract is with me.

Very well.

My letter of commission states
that I am part of a double act.

Cain and Abel.

Mysteries and Secrets.

I insist... No, I demand...
that you recreate my brother.

Or I shall be forced to take action
of an immediate and summary nature.

Cain...

I do not believe I
take well to threats.

Inferred or otherwise.

Nor to an excess of
unwarranted familiarity.

Apologies, lord.

But, please.

My brother.

Describe him for me.

Well... he's not as
good-looking as I am.

He is, and I'm being charitable
here, a blubbering half-wit.

No dress sense.

And a very... very vague, but continual
smell of cabbage water about his person.

[Dream] Hm.

Thank you, Cain.

[mysterious music playing]

[Abel gasps]

-[Goldie squeals]
-Goldie!

Brother. I thought I
was over and done with.

Nonsense. Lord Morpheus
brought you back right as rain.

"Lord Morpheus."

I have no right to that name.

I am Dream of the
Endless. It is enough.

Abel?

-You're back.
-I am.

Thanks to his lordship.

Stop sucking up. You'll make
us late for the funeral.

Whose? Is it mine?

-It's for Morpheus.
-Oh.

Come on.

Thank you.

You brought Abel back.

I did.

[gentle music playing]

-The Corinthian said you wished to see me.
-[Dream] Yes.

About our guests.

They'll be arriving shortly,
and I'm ready to receive them.

And am I to attend the funeral?

According to the
Book of Ceremony,

the family may not greet
you until after the funeral.

I see.

The guardians will
remain at their posts,

but everyone else will
be in the great hall.

Unless there's
anything you need.

[takes a deep breath]

This is all very new
for me, this world.

Tonight, I will meet my siblings
for the first time, and I am afraid.

I hope I may rely on you
through all that is to come.

On me?

Did you not advise
Lord Morpheus?

Yes, when he was in
need of me, but...

But I am not Lord Morpheus.

It's only that...

since he's the reason I came here,
and stayed for as long as I did,

I wondered if it might be
time for me to move on.

I see.

Not right away, and not before
finding you a suitable replacement.

Sorry to interrupt, lord.

The guests are arriving.

I should greet them.

Unless you'd like me to stay.

No. I do not envision any
difficulties in your absence.

[sighs]

Go, with my blessing.

[Corinthian] Hey.

Hey.

-Am I here because you...
-Glad you came. [clears throat]

-[chuckles]
-[Corinthian] Sorry.

You go.

Where are we?

The palace.

The memorial's upstairs.

So he is dead.

Yeah.

Sorry.

May I just ask, um...

who's dead?

Lord Morpheus, the
King of Dreams.

No.

This is a dream, isn't it?

This is...

It's a nightmare.

It is a dream.

But where else do you hold the
funeral for the King of Dreams?

[Hob] And all these people?

Dreamers and guests.

Celebrants and mourners.

But he can't be dead. He's my...

friend.

Are you Hob Gadling?

[bright string music playing]

Are you Lucienne?

He told me about you.

[voice quavering] He
told me about you too.

Is he really gone?

[Lucienne sighs]

If he is gone, then who's that?

[Lucienne] That is
Dream of the Endless.

But he's not...

my Dream.

No.

He's not.

[Corinthian] Hiding from me?

I didn't come here for you.

[scoffs] No, I know that.

[sighs]

But you knew I'd be here.

A friend of mine has died.

Was he a friend of yours?

I suppose it's easier to admit you
liked somebody after they're gone.

You loved him. Didn't you?

You know, he was
different this time,

when he created me.

So I'm different.

But now that he's gone,

I'm on my own.

We're all on our own.

Maybe so.

But I didn't feel
alone when he was here,

or when I was with you.

[gentle, pensive
piano music playing]

They're just feelings.

Feelings change.

[exhales]

[exhales]

[mysterious music playing]

[sighs]

[energy thrumming]

[music subsides]

Rose Walker.

I remember you.

Oh my God.

Is there something wrong?

It's all right.

He's not the Corinthian you met.

He's the new Corinthian.

He's very friendly.

I'm sorry about what happened.

I don't remember
all of it, but...

we did have some good
times, didn't we?

I'll take her to the great hall.

The ceremony will begin
shortly, if you'll follow me.

Thank you.

[Mad Hettie]
Johanna Constantine.

Hello, Hettie.

How are you?

Well, to be honest,

I didn't know whether
or not I should come.

Why not?

Morpheus loved you.

As much as he loved anyone.

Well, I don't know
about that in the end.

Poor little bugger.

You here with anyone?

No.

Let's go inside. Grab a seat.

[bright instrumental
music playing]

[grunts]

[hesitates] Who the hell
are you supposed to be?

I am Dream of the Endless.

No sh*t.

How did that happen?

I'm not entirely sure.

I was hoping you could tell me.

Just a quick word
to let you know.

The contingent from
Faerie has arrived.

Will Titania make you go back?

Unless, with Lord Morpheus gone,
you were planning to go back.

[Nuala] No, why would I do that?

Will it be different
here with the new Dream?

[sighs] It can't help but be.

But you'll be here.

[Cluracan] Sister.

You look... much as
I expected you to.

I am glad you're
not dead, though.

Hello, Lucienne. My condolences.

Thank you, Lord Cluracan.

I'll leave you to catch up.

-Lucienne.
-Let her go. Tell me everything.

How is the new Dream?

Is he attractive?

He is a child in
an adult's body.

The same could very
well be said of me.

Which one is he?

He is not allowed to join
us until after the ceremony.

Lucky him. Funerals can
be such somber affairs.

-Because someone's died?
-Yes, I suppose that is the reason.

Has Titania said anything
about my coming back to Faerie?

Not a word.

I suspect she knows you
have no love for Faerie.

Or for her.

Congratulations, sister.
You've finally got your wish.

Your home is in
the Dreaming now.

Even without Lord Morpheus.

[sighs] Do you think they're
serving wine somewhere?

Where is Taramis?

Excuse me, my lady.

What are you two looking at?

At you. We thought
you were dead.

I was. He brought me back.

-Who?
-[Merv] His Honor.

You mean Daniel?

Well, he's not Daniel
anymore, is he?

Is he bringing everyone back?

You'd have to ask him that.

[tense music playing]

{\an8}[gemstone pulsing gently]

[music grows majestic]

[leaves rustling]

What exactly are you doing?

I'm healing you. Giving
you back your life.

Why?

Why?

I am dead.

I was k*lled in what, for me, at least,
were very unpleasant circumstances.

I am dead.

So unless you have a very good
reason for bringing me back...

You are Fiddler's Green.

You are, and always have been,
an integral part of the Dreaming.

No, that's not true.

I started out as an idea
of your predecessor's,

which, over time, took root
in people's imaginations,

as will whatever ideas
you have from now on.

But that's just it.

I have no ideas.

I have no idea how I got here,
or what I'm meant to be doing.

All I have are my predecessor's memories,
and you were always very helpful to him.

[chuckles] I was always
very opinionated.

I'm not sure I was
ever very helpful.

Will you help me?

I can't even help
myself anymore.

I am dead.

Yes.

But you need not be.

I understand perfectly
what you're offering.

But why stop with me?

Hmm? Why not Morpheus too?

Do you think I could? Do you
think he would come back?

My dear boy, do you not see?

If you bring us back,

then our deaths, our lives,
will have no meaning.

I confess I do not understand.

Lord Morpheus died for love,
for his son, for his kingdom,

so that you could be the
kind of Dream he couldn't be.

And if you bring him back,
then his sacrifice, his story,

will mean nothing.

[sighs deeply] I see.

That is, I think I see.

You will in time.

Very well.

Thank you, Gilbert.

-I'm sorry to have disturbed you.
-[chuckles]

There you are, you see? Lord
Morpheus would never have apologized.

You are already a new Dream.

[majestic strings rise]

[music fades]

Is that it? Is that everyone?

-Nearly.
-Who else are we waitin' for?

The family.

[grand, somber
orchestral music playing]

[Delirium] Hello, everybody.

It's me.

Just me.

Not anyone else.

Uh, and me.

And Barnabas.

Hello to you both.

-I thought Destruction would be here.
-[Barnabas whines]

I thought he'd come.

It appears not.

He might still.

I wouldn't, if I
were Destruction.

I'm actually a little
surprised that you're here.

And why is that?

You once swore to make Dream
spill family blood. Remember?

-I do.
-It was not of your doing.

True.

But it was what I wanted.

And are you happy now?

You'd think so.

But...

no.

[Matthew caws]

Hello, Matthew.

I thought you only wore
black, like the boss.

Not today.

I've met you and Delirium,

and you must be... Let's see.

Destiny, Desire, Despair,

and... Dog?

[clears throat] The
name is Barnabas.

He's with me.

Or rather, I'm with him.

[door unlocking]

Oh, good. You're all here.

Well, not all of us.

No. I'm sorry. And
my condolences.

Lucienne, you and our
brother were close.

Will you speak at the memorial?

It would be an honor. Thank you.

And you, Matthew,
will you speak?

I already said
everything I had to say.

And I said it to him.

It's not for you, though,
Matthew. Or for him.

It's for us.

What do you mean?

He was our brother,

but... I can't say that
I knew him very well.

It would be good to hear
from the people that did.

And the birds.

Will you at least
come to the memorial?

I'll go, but... you'll have
to speak for both of us.

[solemn dirge playing]

You have the cerement?

I do.

Then lay it in its
appointed place.

[mournful music dies down]

[somber piano music playing]

[door opens]

[tense music playing]

[mourners murmuring]

May I help you find a seat?

It's okay. She's with me.

Is Daniel here?

He is not attending the ceremony,
but he is in the palace, yes.

[Rose] This way, sweetie.

[sighs]

I am the oldest.

It falls to me to begin.

My brother

performed his tasks to
the best of his ability.

Fulfilled his obligations
as well as he was able.

And he is no longer with us.

We are gathered here to

remember him,

to pay our respects,

and then, ultimately...

to forget him.

[dour music rises]

[guardians growl]

You have a visitor, my lord.

[Dream] Thank you, Wyvern.

Good day to you, sir.

I believe the service
has already begun.

Oh, I won't be going, lad.

I'm merely passing through your
realm on my way to everywhere else.

Do you mind if I get out
of this rain for a bit?

No. Please, come in.

But, Lord...

He means no harm, Wyvern.

He may enter.

[Wyvern snarls]

[light, gentle music playing]

-Well, would you look at this place.
-[Dream] Hm. I know.

Have you never been?

I've never been invited before.

Do you know me?

I believe so.

You are my brother.

More or less.

Come on.

Let's see the rest of it.

[exhales]

[gentle music fades]

My late brother and I...

had we not been siblings...

would probably have
never known each other.

And both of our lives would
have been better off for it.

Instead...

we were family.

And this was, to say the least,

unfortunate.

To Dream...

I was forever the younger sibling,
trying to get his attention.

And to me,

he was arrogant...

and judgmental.

And impossible.

And he was... all
of those things.

But then...

so am I.

So are... all of you.

But we are here.

And he is gone.

He never had the sense to
come in out of the rain.

And I will...

I will miss...
infuriating him...

very much.

That's all I have to say.

[Destruction] I
wasn't gonna come.

And then I thought, "Sod it."

"Stop by and give
you a little advice."

You've never been inclined to
listen to my advice in the past,

but... things
change, don't they?

[Dream] They have for me.

Quite suddenly.

Has anyone told you...

what you're in for?

I had a brief visit...
from Lord Morpheus.

Just before he... left us.

And what did he tell you?

That I was the only human child
ever conceived in the Dreaming.

And that one day
it would be mine.

But that day came too soon.

For both of us.

I never asked for any of this.

No.

But none of us does, do we?

When we're born.

We have to figure it
out as we go along.

He did give me this, though.

His power.

His memory.

No, that's...

that's just a tool.

To help you focus.

You have everything
you'll ever need

in here.

It doesn't feel that way.

I know that feeling.

A long time ago, our elder sister
and I were looking up at the stars.

I told her how small and
insignificant I felt.

How I wished I knew more.

And she said,

"Everyone can know everything
Destiny knows and more."

She said, "Not only
can we know everything,

we do."

"We just tell ourselves we
don't to... make it bearable."

[chuckles sadly]

Did you ever tell Lord
Morpheus that story?

We stopped talking when I left.

So will you miss him?

I have.

For centuries.

[Despair] Dream is the
second brother I have lost.

And it hurts.

He was a creature of hope.

For dreams are hopes.

And echoes of hopes.

And I am a creature of despair.

I think of the first
Despair sometimes.

The one before me.

Must be over 100,000 years since
anyone thought of her but me.

An eye blink...

and she's forgotten.

And you will forget.

Death,

or life,

will take him from your minds.

I know.

But I will remember him.

[whispers] That was nice.

Your turn now.

Oh, I'm all right.

My sister, at this point
in the ceremony, you talk.

Oh. What do I say?

Can I have a look?

But I don't have
anything to say.

Since when?

Go on. It doesn't
have to be very long.

I'll be here.

Okay.

He was my big brother.

He really was.

I was always a
bit scared of him.

Though, I don't think in
the end, he was scary.

Although maybe he was.

But I think he liked it when
people thought he was scary,

because it kept them from talking too
much and asking too many questions.

I used to think... that was because
he thought the rest of us were stupid.

And now, I think maybe he
didn't like questions because...

because he didn't
know the answers.

Well, he did.

And he didn't want to know them.

I think... he was
scared all the time.

And

I was too busy being
frightened of him to notice.

[soft, tender piano
music playing]

And if I'd known we
were both scared...

we would have had so
much to talk about.

Which of course, he
would have hated.

But I'm not scared
of him anymore.

I'm a bit sad of him instead.

Well, that's everything.

[Lucienne sighs]

I don't want to forget him.

I know we're supposed to.

I know all but a few
of us will, but...

I won't.

I can't.

[crying] He was a part of me.

Sorry.

[inhales sharply]

He was a part of all of us.

Sometimes the best part.

Sometimes the nightmare part.

When we're the most
ourselves we ever are.

Asleep and dreaming.

I've heard it said that
one must change or die.

But he did change.

I watched him change.

So did all of you.

But in the end, perhaps
there were limits

to how much he could
allow himself to change.

His death will
change all of us now.

[sighs softly]

[Johanna inhales sharply]

Brother.

[thunder rumbles in distance]

You never told me
what I'm in for.

Quite a bit.

But I find it helps to remember that
there's no such thing as a one-sided coin.

Our sister defines life.

Despair defines hope.
Desire defines hatred.

Destiny defines freedom.

And what do I define?

[inhales sharply]

Reality, perhaps.

If this ever gets to be too
much, you can leave all this.

It'll carry on without you.

And go where?

Come out and walk
the stars with me.

It's astonishing what trouble one
can get into if one works at it.

And it's astonishing what trouble
one can get oneself out of

if one simply assumes everything
will, somehow or another,

work out for the best.

If that is true, then I have
no wish to leave at present.

I thank you for your
counsel, brother.

You'll meet the
others soon enough.

It won't be as bad as you fear.

[gentle, uplifting
music playing]

Shall I tell them
that I saw you?

Best not to. Black
sheep and all that.

-[chuckles]
-Very well.

You'll make me proud of you yet.

Will I meet you again?

I wouldn't be at all surprised.

[gentle music building]

[Death] My brother
was devoted to,

some would say obsessed
by, his responsibilities.

But privately,

when it was just me and him,

he admitted that he longed

for a purpose
beyond his function.

He would say that although
he's the Prince of Stories,

he had no story of his own.

Which is rubbish, of
course. [chuckles slightly]

His story is over now.

[music grows somber]

[Death] But all
stories come to an end.

If only so a new one can begin.

So, if you miss my brother...

if you don't want
to forget him...

tell his story.

Let it inspire yours.

Everyone loves a good story.

I know my brother did.

[elegant, solemn tune building]

[majestic tune soars]

[echoing reverberation]

[majestic orchestral
tune fades out]

[water flowing]

[gentle string music playing]

[footsteps approaching]

[Death] Mind if I join you?

Hello, Hob.

I'm here to talk.

I figured I owed that to you.

Or to him, maybe.

You want to find
out if that's it?

If I'm ready to call it a day?

That's up to you.

[takes a deep breath]

Suppose I do... chuck it all in.

What happens then?

You'll find out.

If you're ready.

[sighs] It's been 650 years.

I've seen it all.

Done it all. Heard
it all. Felt it all.

Then suddenly, I'm chatting with Death
at the funeral of the King of Dreams.

You never know
what's coming next.

So, no.

I appreciate the offer, but...

I'm not ready to die.

Not today.

Maybe not ever. Is that okay?

That's the deal you
made with my brother.

[chuckles] Yeah, and the
bet you made with him.

[laughs]

He told me last time I saw him.

Shame he's not
here to see I won.

[both laugh]

[wistful music rises]

[door opens]

What are you still doing here?

[Johanna] Looking for you.

I don't like the idea
of you being alone here.

Without Morpheus.

Can't have you going the way of
the first Corinthian, can we?

[sighs]

How would this work, then?

We'd only see each
other in dreams?

Well, why? Are you seeing
someone else while you're awake?

I don't know. Maybe.

You don't mind that
I'm a nightmare?

Every man I've ever
dated was a nightmare.

And most of the women.

[tender music playing]

[Lucienne sighs]

[Nuala] So, what happens now?

Some of us present ourselves
to Dream of the Endless.

The rest go back to
the waking world.

[Matthew] That kid is
not Dream of the Endless.

He is, though, Matthew.

I don't mind him.

I've got nothing against
him. He's just not the boss.

No.

So, are you staying or going?

You would actually leave here?

My place was with him.

I know that, but...

but if you do go,

can I come too?

-Of course.
-What about me?

[Lucienne] Absolutely.

Let's all stick
together. Right, Mervyn?

I kinda like the guy.

[footsteps approaching]

[Lucienne] Rose?

Is everything all right?

I can't find Lyta.

Have you seen her?

[unsettling music playing]

[Dream, echoing] Good
evening, Hippolyta Hall.

[unsettling music subsides]

Daniel?

No.

What was mortal of
Daniel was burned away.

What was immortal...
was transfigured.

When you drove the
Dream King to his death.

I thought he had k*lled you.

So you sought vengeance.

Are you gonna k*ll me now?

I am permitted to take life
only to protect the Dreaming.

But I may punish as I desire.

I only did it for you.

And you lost your son forever.

I didn't lose my son.

He was taken from me.

My husband was taken from me.

My life was taken from me.

Why?

What did I do?

[gemstone thrumming]

Nothing.

It was nothing you did.

Just as it was nothing I did.

But sometimes, life

and death affect us

in ways that have nothing to
do with the choices we've made.

That... is how stories are born.

[somber music playing]

To explain that which cannot be.

We blame ourselves
in these stories.

Or more often, we blame others.

We seek vengeance.

But vengeance is a road
that has no ending.

You have nothing to fear.

You have suffered enough.

And for no reason.

For that, I beg
your forgiveness.

I just want my son back.

[sighs]

[softly] You have him.

I am here for you
whenever you need me.

And I will need you too.

[tender string music playing]

[Dream exhales deeply]

[Lyta inhales sharply]

No one shall harm
you henceforth.

Go in peace.

Live your life.

And you will see
me in your dreams.

[tender music subsides]

That was good of you.

How was the ceremony?

I wish you'd been there.

It is just as well I wasn't.

I see no need to
remember myself.

I mean, I am me, after all.

I know you are.

But are you also him?

I have existed since
the beginning of time.

And I am a newborn.

I contain the entire
collective unconscious.

[chuckles] And I have
no idea what I'm doing.

[pensive music playing]

You are the first of the
Endless who is also human.

And it's that part,
the Daniel part of you,

that will make all
the difference.

And you won't be doing it alone, if
you're still in need of a librarian.

[chuckles softly]

I am in need of
a Prime Minister.

[chuckles] Thank you.

I'll let you know when the
family are ready to receive you.

[pensive music fades]

Before I go, may I introduce...

Hello, Hob Gadling.

You know me?

We've never met, but... yes.

I know you.

You introduced my predecessor
to William Shakespeare.

[chuckles] No, no. I introduced him
to a naff actor called Will Shaxberd.

It was Dream who turned
him into Shakespeare.

But he never told me why.

Why would the King of Dreams
commission two plays from a mortal?

[mysterious music playing]

Shakespeare asked him
the same question.

[Shakespeare] "Now I want

spirits to enforce,

art to enchant,

"and my ending is despair."

"Unless I be relieved by prayer,

which pierces so that it
assaults mercy itself."

[wind whistles]

Is it finished?

It is.

Then we are quits,
Will Shakespeare.

It remains only
for me to thank you

and wish you well in
your life to come.

Sir, I think I have deserved
a little more than that.

For a goodly part of my life,
I have been in your service.

No master would free his apprentice
without so much as a glass of wine

in the master's parlor.

Sir, is this your will?

Sir, it is.

I see.

Then we shall take
a glass of wine...

in my house.

Sir,

do I dream?

[enchanting music playing]

Indeed.

For this, I thank you, but...

why this play?

Why did you not want a tragedy,

a tale of a noble hero
with a tragic flaw?

I wanted a tale
of graceful ends.

A play about a duke
who drowns his books,

breaks his staff,

and leaves his home.

About a magician
who becomes a man.

About a man who turns
his back on magic.

But why?

Because, unlike your Prospero,

I will never leave my island.

You live on an island?

I am an island.

Well, that can change.

All men can change.

I am not a man...

and I do not change.

[music grows unsettling]

[Hob] Shows how much he knew.

[silence falls]

He did change.

He just had to leave
his island to do it.

-[sighs]
-[Lucienne] My lord.

It is time to meet the family.

Oh, don't worry. You'll be fine.

[sighs] Have you met them?

Well, your older sister's
been pretty good to me.

She is going to love you.

And I tell you what,

in 100 years, if you feel like
telling me about it over a drink,

I have a feeling
I'll still be around.

[spirited string music playing]

They await you in your
private dining room.

I've spoken to
Taramis about food.

Although I don't expect
anyone will eat anything,

but it will give you something
to do with your hands,

if there are any awkward pauses.

And from what I
know of your family,

the awkward pauses will
probably be the good bits.

Or...

you might actually
enjoy them this time.

[excited chatter]

Oh, there he is!

-My, aren't you lovely?
-Welcome to the family, brother.

-It's a lot, isn't it?
-It's good to finally meet you.

-[Delirium] Do you like dogs?
-We're gonna have so much fun together.

-[overlapping chatter]
-[Desire] Look at him, Despair.

-Don't laugh at him, Desire.
-[Despair] It's all gonna be fine.

[Destiny] Please, take
your seat. Join us.

[uplifting, spirited
music building]

Here, sit down next to me.

-[chatter fades]
-["A Thousand Thoughts" playing]

♪ A thousand thoughts ♪

♪ And considerations ♪

♪ For you ♪

♪ My dear ♪

♪ Although I know
we can't be close ♪

♪ It's you that I
think of the most ♪

♪ I'd give infinity ♪

♪ To turn "you're there"
Into "here with me" ♪

♪ Every storm runs out of rain ♪

♪ I know in time,
there will come a day ♪

♪ We'll be to one another ♪

♪ The world entire once again ♪

[singer holding note]

♪ Oh ♪

♪ So how can I show you ♪

♪ What you mean? ♪

♪ Right now ♪

♪ All we have ♪

♪ Is memory ♪

♪ It's only made love ♪

♪ More clear to me ♪

[vocalizing]

[gentle, uplifting song ends]

[match strikes]

[The Maiden] So, it's finished?

-Yes.
-[The Maiden] What did we make?

What was it in the end?

[The Mother] What it always is.

A handful of yarn, a little
weaving and stitching.

A few loose ends, but
that's only to be expected.

[The Crone] It's
always the same story.

Whatever you
originally undertake

to spin or knit or weave,

keep it going long
enough, and in the end,

it's always a winding sheet.

It's like I told
that young lady.

Hippolyta Hall?

I told her, I said,

"You've made your bed,
and now you must eat it."

[The Maiden chuckles]

Now, I've got a Florentine, a
fortune cookie, and a ship's biscuit.

-Who wants what?
-I'll take a fortune cookie.

I'll have the Florentine.

[chuckles]

Well, what is it?

Well, it's not what I'd
call a proper fortune.

Maybe you can make it out.

"Flowers gathered
in the morning"

"Afternoon, they blossom on"

"Still are withered
by the evening"

"You can be me when I'm gone"

[chuckles] It's not
even very good poetry.

It's more of a motto
than a fortune.

Well, at least it's not a moral.
Morals are worse than beginnings.

[sighs] I've got no time
for them. No time at all.

There.

For good or for bad,

it's done.