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The Sandman (TV series)

American fantasy drama television series

The Sandman is an American fantasy drama television series based on the 1989–1996 comic book written by Neil Gaiman and published by DC Comics. The series was developed by Gaiman, David S. Goyer, and Allan Heinberg for the streaming service Netflix, and is produced by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television.

I am the King of Dreams … and Nightmares.
See also:
The Sandman (comic book)

Morpheus

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If dreams disappear, then so will humanity.
Also known as Dream, The Sandman, Kai'ckul, and Oneiros
  • We begin in the waking world … which humanity insists on calling the real world; as if your dreams have no effect upon the choices you make. You mortals go about your work, your loves, your wars, as if your waking lives are all that matter. But there is another life which awaits you when you close your eyes — and enter my realm. For I am the King of Dreams… and Nightmares. When the waking world leaves you wanting and weary, sleep brings you here to find freedom and adventure. To face your fears and fantasies in Dreams and Nightmares that I create; and which I must control, lest they consume and destroy you. That is my purpose and my function. Or it was, until I left my kingdom to pursue a rogue Nightmare.
  • I was powerless, trapped by a spell cast by an amateur with no concern for the damage he had done to my realm and to his own.
  • Day after day, he pleaded for gifts that are not mankind's to receive nor mine to give. So I remained silent.
  • I will not have Dreams and Nightmares preying on the waking world. I will bring them all back. I made this realm once, Lucienne. I will make it again.

Sleep of the Just [1.1]

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Lucienne: My Lord, you are coming back, aren't you?
Morpheus: Why would I not return, Lucienne?
Lucienne: I don't know, a presentiment. As powerful as you are here in your realm, Dreams rarely survive in the waking world. Nightmares, on the other hand, seem to thrive there.
Corinthian: There are benefits to keeping one of The Endless close.
Burgess: The Endless?
Corinthian: Did you think Death was the only one in charge? The Reaper has family, you know. Desire, Destiny, Despair-
Burgess: Which one have I got, then?
Corinthian: ...Dream.
Burgess: What's the good of a god who governs dreams?
Corinthian: Not a god. More than a god. And are men not governed by their dreams?
Alex: It's… it's you. You're… you're free.
Morpheus: I am. And do you have any idea what it was like? Confined in a cage for over a century? Do you understand the damage you've done to your world?
Lucienne: You're home, my Lord.
Morpheus: I am.
Lucienne: Forgive me, sir, but … the realm, the palace they are not as you left them.
Morpheus: What happened here? Who did this?
Lucienne: My Lord, you are The Dreaming, The Dreaming is you. With you gone as long as you were, the realm began to decay and crumble.

Imperfect Hosts [1.2]

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Lucienne: I kept a journal for a while. A chronicle of everything that happened in your absence. But slowly, the words began to fade. Sometime after you left, all the books in the library became bound volumes of blank paper. The next day, the whole library was gone. I never found it again.
Morpheus: And yet you remained while others fled, the royal librarian of an abandoned kingdom.
Lucienne: I never felt abandoned. I knew you would return.
Lucienne: You need rest, my Lord. And food and perhaps a bit more rest, and then you'll be back at full strength.
Morpheus: No. Not without my tools.
Lucienne: Your tools?
Morpheus: My sand, my helm, my ruby.
Lucienne: Why? What happened to them?
Morpheus: They were taken from me. By my captors. And then taken from them I know not where. Nor what I am without them.
Corinthian: Do you remember the being Roderick Burgess kept caged in his basement? Hmm? King of Dreams?
Ethel Cripps: You're one of his?
Corinthian: I'm my own man now. With your help, I intend to stay that way.
Ethel Cripps: Why do you need my help?
Corinthian: Because he's out of his cage and he's coming for us. You and me.
Ethel Cripps: Why me? I never did anything to him.
Corinthian: Oh, you did though, Ethel. You stole from him.
Ethel Cripps: When I left Roderick, I traded the sand and the helm for my life in America.
Corinthian: And the ruby?
Ethel Cripps: The ruby … As you know, it does have the power to make dreams come true. But it also makes nightmares come true. My son, John, took the ruby from me and then the ruby took John.

Dream a Little Dream of Me [1.3]

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Johanna Constantine: What are you doing here, Hettie?
Mad Hettie: Same as you, I expect. He's coming, isn't he?
Johanna Constantine: Who?
Mad Hettie: Yeah, well, you know who. Morpheus. The Oneiromancer. You know — the Sandman — he's back.
Johanna Constantine: "The Sandman"? The one who puts the kids to sleep? He's a fairy story, Hettie.
Mad Hettie: He's no fairy story, missy. He's back, and he wants his sand.
Johanna Constantine: Good to know. I'm off to work.
Mad Hettie: You'll see. I know. I'm 280 years old, and I know.
Agilieth: You … talk too much.
Johanna Constantine: Tell me your name and I'll stop.
Agilieth: Why would I do that? When there are far more enjoyable ways to make you stop.
Morpheus: [entering the scene of the exorcism]: His name is Agilieth.
Agilieth: I'm flattered you remember me, Lord Morpheus, after all your time away.
Johanna Constantine: Lord Morpheus?
Agilieth: He is. Though, I confess, I almost didn't recognize you without your helm. I wonder where your helm could be.
Morpheus: I presume it is in Hell, with the demon to whom it was traded.
Agilieth: Yes, but which demon?
Johanna Constantine: My gran used to tell me stories about you lot.
Morpheus: I've known your family for centuries.
Johanna Constantine: Then you know there's not one of us that can be trusted. What do you want with me?
Morpheus: Something of mine came into your possession. A leather pouch filled with sand. I need it back.
Johanna Constantine: Oh, that was yours? Bought it at an estate sale. Didn't even manage to get the drawstrings open.
Morpheus: Where is it?
Johanna Constantine: No idea. Could be anywhere.
Morpheus: We must find it.
Johanna Constantine: Must we? Why is that?
Morpheus: Because without it, my realm will cease to exist, and if dreams disappear, then so will humanity.
Matthew: Where are we going?
Morpheus: Hell.
Matthew: Hell. As in Hell-Hell? Or were you being metaphorical? Because either way, we should probably check in with Lucienne first, right? See how she's feeling about it. I'm gonna go out on a limb, which is something birds actually do, and say she will not be in favor of Hell-going. [As Matthew speaks Morpheus uses his sand to teleport him and Matthew] But I don't get a sense you're listening, so, fuck it, let's go to Hell!

A Hope in Hell [1.4]

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Morpheus: It has many names. Avernus, Tartarus, Hades, the infernal region you call Hell.
Matthew: So, Hell does exist?
Morpheus: It does. For some.
Matthew: Does that mean it doesn't exist if you don't believe in it?
Morpheus: Did you believe in it? When you were a man?
Matthew: Yeah. … I just didn't expect Hell to be cold.
John Dee: I think lying is maybe the worst thing you can do to another person. I'm living proof of that.
Rosemary: I'm sure your mom loved you and was proud of you.
John Dee: She did forgive me in the end.
Rosemary: For what?
John Dee: Stealing from her.
Rosemary: What did you steal?
John Dee: A ruby. Unlike no other. Like nothing you've ever seen. She had me arrested, of course. And thrown in prison.
Rosemary: For stealing the ruby?
John Dee: And arson. 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.
Rosemary: You murdered people?
John Dee: They weren't good people. Not like you and Susie.
Morpheus: The landscape is subject to the whims of the Morningstar.
Matthew: The morning star? We have to spend the night in this literally godforsaken —
Morpheus: Lucifer Morningstar.
Matthew: As in the Devil?
Morpheus: The Ruler of Hell is no mere devil.
Matthew: So, you two know each other?
Morpheus: We've known each other for a very long time.
Morpheus: When we first met, Lucifer was the angel Samael.
Matthew: I forgot the Devil used to be an angel.
Morpheus: 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.
Matthew: More powerful than you?
Morpheus: By far.
Nada: Dream Lord? It is you.
Morpheus: I greet you, Nada.
Nada: Kai'ckul. How I have prayed for this day. I knew you would come.
Morpheus: It pains me to see you like this.
Nada: Then, free me, Lord. Only your forgiveness can free me. Do you not still love me?
Morpheus: It has been 10,000 years, Nada. Yes. I still love you. But I have not yet forgiven you.
John Dee: 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?
Rosemary: I do.
John Dee: 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. Are you all right?
Rosemary: Uh, sorry. The phone slipped. You were saying?
John Dee: 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.
Rosemary: They lie because they're scared. People will say anything. Do anything to keep from being hurt. That's what I think, anyway.
John Dee: You're very good, Rosemary.
Rosemary: I don't know what you mean.
John Dee: 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.
Lucifer Morningstar: Hello, Dream.
Morpheus: Greetings to you, Lucifer Morningstar. And to you, Mazikeen of the Lillim.
Mazikeen: Greetings, Dream Lord.
Lucifer: You look well, Dream. Are you well? And your family, Destiny, Death, Despair, and the others?
Morpheus: I presume the Ruler of Hell knows this is no social call.
Lucifer: Have you come to join forces then? To ally your realm to ours? To acknowledge the sovereignty of Hell?
Morpheus: You know my feelings on that, Lightbringer.
Lucifer: Feelings change. Especially when one has been caught and imprisoned by mortals. We expected better of you, sweet Morpheus.
Lucifer: I am … a dire wolf. Prey-stalking, lethal prowler.
Morpheus: I am a hunter. Horse-mounted, wolf-stabbing.
Lucifer: I am a serpent. Horse-biting, poison-toothed.
Morpheus: I am a bird of prey. Snake-devouring, talons ripping.
Lucifer: I am a butcher bacterium. Warm-life destroying.
Morpheus: I am a world. Space-floating, life-nurturing.
Lucifer: I am a nova. All-exploding, planet-cremating.
Morpheus: 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?
Morpheus: [fallen to the floor, dying] I … I … I …
Matthew: Boss? Hey, boss!
Lucifer: Still with us, Dream?
Matthew: He is — and it's his move … Your Majesty.
Lucifer: There are no more moves. What can survive the anti-life?
Matthew: 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.
Morpheus: I … am … Hope. [rises, and stands]
Lucifer: Hope.
Morpheus: Well, Lightbringer? It's your move. What is it that kills hope?
Lucifer: [despairing] Choronzon, give him his helm.
Morpheus: The Ruler of Hell is honorable, indeed. I will not forget this.
Lucifer: 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?
Morpheus: 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?
Lucifer: One day, Morpheus … we shall destroy you.
Morpheus: Until that day, Lightbringer. [Leaves]
John Dee: What are you still doing here?
Rosemary: I know I'm gonna regret this but … Do you need a ride somewhere?
John Dee: Do you really want me to get back into that truck? The truth. No lies.
Rosemary: I wanna go home.
John Dee: You're a good person, Rosemary. Unfortunately, good people seldom survive in this world.
Rosemary: Just don't hurt Susie, please. I don't care what happens to me but …
John Dee: [holds up his amulet of protection] 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.
Rosemary: Don't you need it?
John Dee: No. I have my ruby. … The ruby makes dreams come true. … And I'm going to use it to save the world.

24 & 7 [1.5]

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Bette: [after John Dee takes a seat in the Diner] Best seat in the house. How are you doing today?
John Dee: How am I doing? … Well … I'm feeling better than I have for quite some time. Thank you.
Bette: Mmm. I could use some of that. What's your secret?
John Dee: Shall I tell you the truth?
Bette: Well, honesty is the best policy.
John Dee: That's what they say, isn't it? Well, I hope it's true. This … [holds up Dream's Ruby] is my secret.
Bette: It's gorgeous.
John Dee: It makes dreams come true.
Bette: I bet it does. And what are you dreaming about? New house? New job?
John Dee: A new world. A more honest one.
Bette: That is the dream, isn't it? Well, can I get you a cup of coffee while we wait for our dream to come true?
John Dee: Please. But we won't be waiting for long.
Bette: Then I better hurry up and get you that coffee.
John Dee: Why did you lie?
Bette: I don't know. I … I guess I was just trying to be … I just wanted to make you feel … I wanted you to like me.
John Dee: I do like you. I like this version of you much better, don't you? Isn't it a relief to tell the truth for once? Don't you wish we could live in a world where we could say what we actually think?
Bette: I do.
John Dee: Well, it starts with us, Bette, you and I. We're going to change the world. Make a more honest one.
Mark Brewer: [after the death of Gary Flertcher] You all saw, he tried to choke me. … I would never do anything to hurt anyone. I would never. That's not who I am.
Bette: I don't think it is you.… I think it's him. [gazing at John Dee] You said you were gonna change the world. I didn't believe you.
John Dee: All I did was take away the lies. You all did the rest. You did what you wanted to.
Bette: I never wanted this.
John Dee: You didn't want to be seen, or touched, or loved?
Mark Brewer: I didn't wanna kill anyone.
John Dee: Yes, you did. Or you wouldn't have done it. Kate wanted to kill him too.
Kate Fletcher: I did not.
John Dee: You don't have to pretend anymore. You can have what you want.
John Dee: [as the carnage in the world and the diner increases] I offered you a world where you could be yourselves without having to suffer for it, but it seems you enjoy your suffering.
And if that is your truth, then perhaps your suffering will set you free.
The truth is a cleansing fire which burns away the lies we've told each other and the lies we've told ourselves.
So that love and hate, pleasure and pain can all be expressed without shame.
Where there is no good or bad there is only the truth.
Bette: [still surviving, amidst the carnage in the Diner] How is this a better world?
John Dee: You're still seeing it with your eyes. You need to close them. Embrace the darkness. [she is driven to stab her eyes, and dies]
Hecate : [suddenly appearing in flashes, sometimes as the 3 dead women in the diner] I see the future.
John Dee: Then tell me. Tell me my future.
Hecate: You come from dust. You walk the dust. You go back to dust.
John Dee: That's everyone's future. Tell me my future.
Hecate: There is no future for you, John Dee. It is bound by walls and guards and the sour smell of madness. And then the skein of your life is cut, son of your mother.
John Dee: No. Look again. Tell me my future.
Hecate: You have stolen some of the power of Dreams. You will take all of it. You will crush the Dream Lord's life in your hands.
John Dee: [after Morpheus enters the Diner] Hello. I'm John. I'm glad you're here. The power has gone out. So there's no TV, and no one left to talk to.
Morpheus: What is it you think you're doing?
John Dee: Saving the world from its lies.
Morpheus: The ruby wasn't made for that.
John Dee: Oh … you're The Sandman. My mother was right. She said you'd be coming for it.
Morpheus: You must return it to me so that I can repair the damage you have done.
John Dee: I'm not giving it to you, it's mine.
Morpheus: It is harming you, John, and your world.
John Dee: It's revealing the truth. … This is the truth of mankind.
Morpheus: No. … You're wrong. This is the truth of mankind. [shows normal exchanges of polite pleasantries in the diner]
John Dee: They're lying to themselves. … It's all lies.
Morpheus: Not lies, John. Dreams. … Kate dreams of running away, where no one will find her. … Garry dreams of proving his father was wrong about him. … Bette dreams of creating something that matters to people. Their dreams inspired them. … Their dreams kept them alive. … But if you rob them of their dreams, if you take away their hope, then … yes, … this is the truth of mankind. [returns to scenes of the dead lying in the diner] … The ruby is hurting you, John. It has too much of my power within it. It stole more when I tried to use it.
John Dee: Then perhaps if I use it to steal the rest of your powers, I will be the King of Dreams.
Morpheus: If you'd rob a Dream Lord of his power, you shall do so in his realm. … In dreams.
Morpheus: [as his palace burns away] You must stop. It is not too late to save yourself.
John Dee: Oh, you think it's me that needs saving?
Morpheus: Your father stole the ruby from me and cursed you with it.
John Dee: You mean he blessed me with it. [he begins using the ruby to absorb more of Dream's power] Your reign ended when my father captured you. Your kingdom is my birthright. Your power resides within me. How does it feel to know I hold your life in my hands?
Morpheus: You're hurting the dreamers.
John Dee: Well, it's time they woke up! Your life and your lies end now. [crushes the Ruby] I did it. … I killed him. … I won.
Morpheus: [revealed as holding John in the palm of his hand] Thank you, John.
John Dee: But I killed you.
Morpheus: You destroyed the ruby and released the power inside it. I would never have thought of that. I'd forgotten just how much of myself I had placed in the jewel.
John Dee: Are you going to kill me?
Morpheus: I could. … Perhaps I will. … But the dream stone was not made for mortals. And it came to you through no fault of your own. … So, no, John. I will not kill you. [returns John to Arkham Asylum] Sleep well, John.
Matthew: [amidst the carnage of the streets] All the damage the ruby did, can you undo it?
Morpheus: The ruby didn't do this. John merely used it to reveal wounds that were hidden, but never healed. Tomorrow, the rebuilding will begin. In this realm and in mine. But tonight at least … humanity will sleep in peace.
Desire: [As Morpheus walks down the street] I'm watching you, big brother.

The Sound of Her Wings [1.6]

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Death: What are you doin'?
Morpheus: I'm feeding the pigeons.
Death: You do that too much, you know what you get? …Fat pigeons.… That's from Mary Poppins. Did you ever see it?
Morpheus: No.
Death: Okay, so what's the matter?
Morpheus: What do you mean?
Death: I can tell something's wrong. I mean, look at you. Sittin' here, moping, pigeon-feeding. It's not like you.
Morpheus: No. Perhaps it isn't. I don't know what's wrong, but … You're right. Something is the matter. When they captured me, I just had one thought. Vengeance.
It wasn't as satisfying as I'd expected. Meanwhile, my kingdom had fallen apart. My tools long since stolen and scattered. And so I embarked upon a journey to find them. Which I did.
I'm now more powerful than I have been in eons. And yet …
Death: Here you are, feeding the pigeons.
Morpheus: You see, until then, I'd had a true quest. A purpose beyond my function and then suddenly, it was over, and … I felt disappointed. Let down. Empty. Does that make sense?
I was so sure that once I got everything back, I'd feel good. But in some ways I feel worse than when I started.
I feel like … Nothing.
There.
You asked.
Death: You could have called me, you know.
Morpheus: I didn't want to worry you.
Death: Oh, I don't believe it.
Let me tell you something, Dream. And I'm only gonna say this once, so you better pay attention.
You are utterly the stupidest, most self-centered, pathetic excuse for an anthropomorphic personification on this or any other plane.
Feeling sorry for yourself because your little game is over and you haven't got the balls to go out and find a new one. You're as bad as Desire.
No, worse. Did it never occur to you that I would be worried about you?
Morpheus: I didn't think you —
Death: Exactly. You didn't think.
Franklin: Heads up! [Death catches a soccer ball before it hits her, as Dream had just done a short time before] Wow! You're as good as your … friend there.
Death: He's not my friend. He's my brother. And he's an idiot.
Morpheus: I'm just feeding the birds.
Death: Look, I can't stay here all day. I've got work to do. You can come with me if you want, or you can stay here and sulk.
Morpheus: I'll come with you, I suppose.
Death: Well, don't do me any favors.
Franklin: Sorry, before you go, umm… could I maybe see you again?
Death: Sure, Franklin. You'll see me again.
Franklin: [surprised] Seriously?
Death: Soon.
Franklin: Okay, cool! Yeah, let me just get your number and … [turns back toward them] Wait, how did you know my … [sees that they are gone]
Death: Can you hear it? [violin playing]
Morpheus: I know this piece. I haven't heard it in 200 years.
Death: Come on. [entering Harry's apartment as he stops playing the violin and coughs] No. Don't stop, please.
Harry: Uh, sorry for the noise.
Death: It's not noise. It's Schubert. Keep going.
Harry: I can't. He never finished it. All we have is a fragment. … Oh, forgive me, I … I am Harry.
Death: I know who you are, Harry. [walks to him] Do you know who I am?
Harry: [gazes into her face] No. Not yet. Please.
Death: It's time.
Harry: Can I just … There's something I have to say. If that's all right.
Death: Of course.
Harry: Sh'ma Yisra'el, YHWH 'eloheinu, YHWH 'eḥad: Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God. The Lord is One.
I'm glad I said the Shema. My old man always said it would guarantee you a place in Heaven. If you believe in Heaven. Hmm? [sees his body] I look so old. So empty. … So, I'm dead. Now what?
Death: Now's when you find out, Harry.
Morpheus: My sister …
Death: Yeah?
Morpheus: When I was captured, it wasn't me they were looking for. It was you.
Death: Yeah … I know. … [stops and reaches down]
Morpheus: What are you doing?
Death: I'm taking my shoes off. You should take yours off too. It's good to touch the Earth with your bare feet. It's grounding. Come on, I don't want to miss the next one.
Morpheus: How do you do it?
Death: Do what?
Morpheus: This. Be there, for all of them.
Death: I have a job to do. And I do it.
When the first living thing existed, I was there.
When the last living thing dies, I'll put the chairs on the table, turn out the lights and lock the universe behind me when I leave.
And I'm not there for all of them. There are exceptions. Mad Hettie. And then there's your ongoing project. How's he bearing up after all this time?
Morpheus: Who? Hob Gadling?
Death: [nods] Hmm.
Morpheus: I don't know. I was forced to miss our last appointment.
Death: Well, I'm sure he'd love to see you. They're never too keen to see me, though.
Morpheus: Does it not bother you?
Death: I actually used to think I had the hardest job in all our family.
Morpheus: Oh, did you?
Death: They fear the Sunless Lands, yet they enter your realm every night without fear.
Morpheus: And yet I am far more terrible than you.
Death: It was fine in the beginning. Dying and living were new things and people did them with the enthusiasm they always bring to new things. And then after a bit, it just got harder.
Morpheus: But you continued.
Death: I thought about giving up. Walking out. This was a long time ago, long before this world. It really started to get to me. I got kind of hard and brittle inside. I mean, people feel as pleased to have been born as if they did it themselves. But they get upset and hurt and shaken when they die. But eventually, I learned that all they really need is a kind word and a friendly face. Like they had in the beginning.
Morpheus: I find myself wondering about humanity. Their attitude towards your gift is so strange. Why do they fear the Sunless Lands? It is as natural to die as it is to be born.
Death: People may not be ready for my gift. But they get it anyway. No matter what the circumstance. At the end, each of us stands alone. The Sunless Lands are far away and the journey is hard. Most of us will be glad for the company of a friend.
It's funny looking back now. I used to think I had to do this all by myself.
Morpheus: But you do.
Death: No. At the end, I'm there with them. I'm holding their hand and they're holding mine. I'm not alone when I'm doing my job. And neither are you. Think about it. The only reason we even exist, you and I, and Desire and Despair, the whole family. We're here to serve them.
It isn't about quests or finding purpose outside our function. Our purpose is our function. We're here for them. Since I figured that out, I realized I need them as much as they need me. I've seen so many cool things and people and worlds. I've learned so much. Lots of people don't have a job they love doing, do they? So, I think I'm really very lucky.
Listen, I've got to head back soon.
Morpheus: You've taught me something I had forgotten. I thank you, my sister.
Death: Aw. That's what family's about, little brother. … One last appointment, then I have to go.
Morpheus: I, too, am late for an appointment.
Death: Tell him I said hello.
Soccer player: Franklin!
Death: I have to go.
Franklin: Hey. Did you see that? That car came this close to hitting me.
Death: This close, huh?
Franklin: Yeah.
Death: Come with me, Franklin. I need to show you something. [takes his arm]
Franklin: Okay.
Death: See ya, Dream. Don't be a stranger, okay?
Hob Gadling: Look, I've seen death. I lost half my village to the Black Death. I fought under Buckingham in Burgundy. It's not like I don't know what death is. Death is … stupid.
Barmate: You're a fool, Hob.
Hob Gadling: Nobody has to die. The only reason people die is … is 'cause everyone does it. You all just go along with it. But not me. I've made up my mind. I'm not going to die.
Barmate: [amidst general laughter] Hobs, death comes for every man.
Hob Gadling: You don't know that. I might get lucky. There's always a first time. There's so much to do, so many things to see. Women to swive. Ale to drink. People to drink with.
Morpheus: Why would any sensible creature crave an eternity of this?
Death: You could find out.
Morpheus: How?
Death: I could grant him his wish.
Morpheus: Do that, and he will be begging for death within a century, I assure you.
Death: This will prove very interesting.
Barmate: What will you do with all that life?
Hob Gadling: I'll find better friends than you, I can tell you that.
Death: Are you gonna tell him, or should I?
Morpheus: I shall.
Death: Very well, little brother. Very well.
Morpheus: Did I hear you say you have no intention of ever dying?
Hob Gadling: Uh, yeah. Yeah, that's right.
Morpheus: Then you must tell me what it's like. Let us meet here again, Robert Gadling, in this tavern of the White Horse in 100 years.
Barmate: [amidst general laughter] A hundred years and I'm Pope Urban.
Hob Gadling: Don't mind them. A hundred years' time, on this day? [Dream nods] I will see you in the year of our Lord 1489, then. [Dream leaves].
Barmate: Who was that, then, Hobsie?
Hob Gadling: Haven't a clue. But tell you what, I'll ask him in 100 years' time.
[100 years later, 1489 in The White Horse Tavern]
Hob Gadling: [sitting across from him] How did you know … that I'd still be here? Who are you? A wizard? A … saint? … A demon? [fearfully] Have I made a bargain with the devil?
Morpheus: No.
Hob Gadling: [puzzled] Then why aren't I dead long since? Is this some kind of game?
Morpheus: No game.
Hob Gadling: But why? Who are you? Why are you here?
Morpheus: I'm here because I'm interested.
Hob Gadling: In me?
Morpheus: In your experience.
Hob Gadling: What do I have to do?
Morpheus: Nothing. You live your life as you choose. Then on this day, every 100 years, we will meet.
Hob Gadling: [1789 in The White Horse Tavern] That lad, Will Shakespeare. He turned out to be a half-decent playwright after all. You made some kind of deal with him, didn't you?
Morpheus: Perhaps.
Hob Gadling: What kind of deal? His soul?
Morpheus: Nothing so crude.
Hob Gadling: Four hundred years now, I've been meeting you here and there is so much I still don't know. Who are you? Truly? What's your name?
Lady Johanna: I might ask both of you that same question, gentlemen.
Please, please, do not trouble yourselves to rise. These are Michael and Tobias. Smugglers by trade. Although, they're only too glad to augment their earnings by slitting throats. If you move, they'll slit yours.
They tell of a tale in these London parts, that the Devil and the Wandering Jew meet once every century in a tavern. Two years past, sewn into the shirt of a dead man, I found this. [sets down a drawing of them made at their last meeting]
Hob Gadling: Is that meant to be me? Oh, I look terrible. You look worse.
Lady Johanna: You return to this pub every 100 years, striking bargains with men, sharing gifts, immortality, which you will now share with me. … Well, have you nothing to say?
Morpheus: I am no Devil.
Hob Gadling: And I'm not Jewish.
Lady Johanna: Fie. … What manner of creatures are you then?
Hob Gadling: Who wants to know?
Lady Johanna: I'm Lady Johanna Constantine. You will both follow me, sirs. My coach is without. I can see there is so much you can tell me. So much I can learn.
Morpheus: No. … No, I think not.
Hob Gadling: [1889 in The White Horse Tavern] You knew Lady Johanna. You know Lushing Lou. You know everyone, don't you?
Morpheus: I saw her again, you know.
Hob Gadling: Who? Lady Johanna?
Morpheus: She undertook a task for me — and succeeded admirably, I might add.
Hob Gadling: That might be the only thing I've learned after 500 years. People are almost always better than you think they are. Not me, though. Still the same as ever.
Morpheus: I think perhaps you've changed.
Hob Gadling: Well, I may have learnt a bit from my mistakes. But, — doesn't seem to stop me from making them. I think it's you that's changed.
Morpheus: How so?
Hob Gadling: I think I know why we still meet here, century after century. It's not because you want to see whether or not I'm ready to seek death. I don't think I'll ever seek death. By now, you know that about me. So, I think you're here for something else.
Morpheus: And what might that be?
Hob Gadling: Friendship. I think you're lonely.
Morpheus: You dare …
Hob Gadling: No, look, I'm not saying …
Morpheus: You … dare suggest one such as I might need your companionship?
Hob Gadling: Yes. Yes, I do.
Morpheus: [Morpheus stands angrilly] Then I shall take my leave of you and prove you wrong. [leaves]
Hob Gadling: [rushes out door, shouting to him] I'll tell you what, I'll be here in 100 years' time. If you're here then too, it'll be because we're friends. No other reason, right? …Fuck!
Hob Gadling: [1989 in The White Horse Tavern] Whiskey, please.
Bartender: Uh, you'll have to be more specific. We got a menu now.
Hob Gadling: Oh. … What's the oldest you got?
Bartender: Well, I've got a Glen Grant, old enough to be your father.
Hob Gadling: [smiles] I'm older than I look.
Bartender: You waiting for someone?
Hob Gadling: I think I've been stood up. We had a fight. Last time we were here.
Bartender: Ah.
Hob Gadling: It was my fault. Wish I could say I was drunk at the time, but I was just an idiot.
Bartender: I've seen plenty of friends get in fights in pubs. Even more of them laugh about it together later.
Hob Gadling: Maybe in another 100 years.
Bartender: Ah.… You'll have to have found a new pub by then. This place has been sold to make room for new flats. [Hob looks stunned] The borough council are trying to stop them, but if you've got enough money in this country, you can do whatever you bloody want. Pour you another one? While you wait?
Hob Gadling: Please.
[fade to Morpheus standing outside gated area around the abandoned White Horse Tavern, and sees a spray painted arrow pointing to "The New Inn"]
Hob Gadling: [looking up from paperwork he is doing in "The New Inn", he sees Morpheus has just come in and smiles] You're late.
Morpheus: [smiles] It seems I owe you an apology. I've always heard it impolite to keep one's friends waiting.
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