Oi!
Help me! Come on! Get the net!
Joshua! Joshua! Joshua!
Joshua! Quick! Swim! Come on!
It's okay.
Are you awake?
It don't look like you slept much.
One of those nights that just goes on and on and on.
Those children have nothing to entertain themselves with.
I shouldn't have gone in.
You were showing them fossils.
I didn't think they'd get so--
One of their classmates has died. Of course they're upset.
It was more than just upset. They were terrified.
And it was my fault.
Morning.
Any better?
Jo, say something.
It's all right, Jo. You'll speak when you're ready.
The serpent took her voice.
John Ransome.
She's been silent all weekend.
Perhaps the person we should be talking to is Cora.
She could tell us what actually happened.
Any sign of Luke?
Not yet.
Why don't you go and get us some milk from Cracknell?
Do you remember the way?
Of course I do.
Stay away from the water.
He's here!
- Cora, how are you? - Luke, it's so good to see you.
I want you to see the school.
- Mind if we go straight there? - Not at all.
Thank you for coming so quickly!
Of course. As soon as I got your letter.
I've hardly slept since it happened.
That doesn't sound good.
So what exactly happened?
If you're here to buy milk, you'll have to do it yourself.
Come over here.
Don't be scared, now. You'll make her nervous if you are.
See?
Hello. Hello there.
It was like a contagion. As if they were all possessed by a devil.
Except you don't believe in the supernatural, Cora.
Something happened. It wasn't just children playing.
All right, but perhaps there's a rational explanation, eh?
Such as?
We now think the girls in the Salem witch trials
ate a poison that altered the chemistry of their brains.
Claviceps purpurea. It's a mold. It grows on rye and other cereals.
Could this poison lead to hallucinations and convulsions?
Yes, absolutely. Although, it isn't at all common in England.
There's nothing common about what happened here.
You can see for yourself.
It looks as if they were attacked.
I thought if I came back…
Shall we?
- Mrs. Seaborne. - I'm collecting my things.
I need to clear up before the children arrive.
Don't worry. We're just leaving.
- And you are? - Luke Garrett.
He's a doctor.
Yes. I'm interested in what happened to the children.
Have they had any fevers or swollen faces? Vomiting?
No. Why would they?
- I'm simply trying to exp-- - All I can tell you is my class was fine
until you came here with your heretical ideas.
Come on.
Jo.
I don't know what happened on Friday.
But I do know that I can't help unless you talk to me.
I won't be angry.
Come along, now.
Yes, yes. I understand. Well, if that's what you have to do…
Come on.
You'll be all right.
I'll see you later.
Did they tell you what happened?
Of course. Jo's been very upset.
I tried to tell you.
Children need certainty. Not new ideas.
They'll be all right.
Even their parents are scared.
They think the children can sense a presence.
A presence? Well, I hope you set them straight.
Matthew, it doesn't help to legitimize wild stories made up in a public house.
So you haven't heard?
The fishermen were attacked in their boats this morning. Their nets, shredded.
Naomi! Go home! You can't come in today.
- Matthew. - I won't have her in. She's trouble.
Naomi. Naomi, wait.
She needs to be here. She's just lost her sister.
It's my school. I'm sorry.
I've been so stupid.
No.
I thought it would calm them down.
So they could see that their serpent might have a rational explanation.
You really believe there's a creature out there?
Yes, I think so.
Can I ask you a personal question?
Does it appear in your dreams?
Thought so.
You think it's all in my mind?
I think you're grieving.
These are the theories of pioneers such as Darwin and Lyell.
And the creature's been seen by local people
- for over 200 years. - Good.
Yes.
There it is.
- What? - Your passion.
So you do believe me?
It doesn't matter what I think.
I do know you won't find the truth without a struggle.
You need to have faith in yourself and get back to work.
Will.
How are you? How's Jo?
I hope I'm not disturbing.
No, not at all. Will you come in?
- A boat? What kind of boat? - Well, how far is it?
Our friend, Luke Garrett, is visiting from London. Come and meet him.
No, no, I-- I'm due back for dinner.
I just wanted to see if you were all right.
The children told me what happened at the school.
Thank you. I'm fine. But how's Jo?
- She's-- - Cora? We need you.
I'm disturbing you. Perhaps we can talk tomorrow?
Yes. Goodbye.
Wait.
Who was that?
Will Ransome.
That's the bullnecked old vicar?
Of course you want to understand what happened.
- It's not that I'm trying to suggest-- - No, it was my mistake. I scared them.
You didn't start all this.
I was up all night thinking I did.
Sometimes the middle of the night lies to us.
Yes.
Stella thought you might have an idea of how we can help Jo.
It's so odd, Cora.
She can't speak.
What?
She's scared.
My friend Luke is a doctor. He could come and talk to Jo.
Thank you. Yes. That could really help.
Well, I suppose you better get back to your guest.
Yes.
You came without a coat?
Thank you.
Goodbye.
Bye.
Drink?
Martha tells me this bottle is being saved for your birthday on Saturday.
Why didn't you tell me?
- Who likes birthdays? - Everyone likes birthdays, parties…
I've never had a party.
I don't believe you.
Michael had parties.
People drinking, showing off. And of course he showed me off too.
Well, then it's about time you had one.
This Saturday, I'm throwing you a party for your birthday.
Will's really anxious about Jo.
I said you'd see her. I hope you don't mind.
Of course not. I could try hypnosis.
You want to mesmerize Jo? Isn't that dangerous?
No. I've been following the work of this Austrian doctor.
He takes a medical approach.
He simply allows the patient to access their unconscious.
Reveal their innermost fears, secret passions and such.
Is it safe?
Absolutely. I could show you.
You're sure you want to root around inside my head?
It was only a thought.
Well, what do I need to do?
Nothing. Really. Just lay back where you are.
Now…
I might not be able to do it.
Well, that's the beauty of hypnosis. You don't have to try.
Just follow what I say.
I trust you.
Deep, steady breaths.
Let yourself relax.
Your limbs are heavy.
Relax.
Let go of your fears.
Surrender to your desires.
When I said get back to work, I didn't mean for me.
How far is it?
There'll be things here that haven't seen the light of day in thousands,
maybe millions of years.
You know, if it hasn't got blood pumping around it, my interest wavers slightly.
I used to have fossils sent to me in the post.
Put them in a display case with a pretty label.
You certainly look different from the woman I met in that grand house.
Luke!
What is it?
It looks like the vertebra Anning found in Dorset.
What happened here?
It shredded the nets.
- Nearly knocked the men off the boats. - What did?
- Could have killed 'em all. - Something in the water?
Did you see it? What did it look like?
Maybe you should tell us? You seem to know all about it.
What? No, I--
My little girl's been having nightmares since you came into her classroom.
Mrs. Seaborne was only tryna help.
I'm sorry if I scared them.
- Scared 'em? What did you do to 'em? - We should go.
We don't know why you're here, and we don't care.
But if you're doing something, whatever it is, please, stop it.
Dad?
- Have you seen my dad? - Yeah, he just left.
Actually, I'll have a beer.
All right.
- Naomi. - Samuel.
Have you heard about the nets?
Yeah.
Come on. Drink up. Drink up.
I'll get us another.
It's all right. I'm here.
- You're hurting me. - Come on.
You're hurting me.
- Come on. - No.
Stop. It's sinful.
I thought you were a slut, just like your sister.
Forgive me, Father. Forgive me.
It's the serpent. Doing the devil's work.
Pray for our souls, Father.
We must do more than pray.
Cora. I'm so glad you came.
- Hello, Martha. - Hello.
Stella, this is Luke Garrett.
Luke, Stella Ransome.
Dr. Garrett, how wonderful to meet you.
Come on in.
Please, forgive the mess.
I'm struggling to keep up with the housework.
Is Will in his study?
Visiting a parishioner, I'm afraid. He'll be sorry to have missed you.
Hello.
Well, you should all come to Cora's on Saturday.
It's her birthday. I'm going to be throwing her a party.
We'd love to.
Could you make us some tea?
How is she?
Silent.
It's very unnerving.
Poor girl. She's scared herself.
Please, sit down.
What's your opinion, Dr. Garrett?
Have you heard of the unconscious?
No.
It's our inner thoughts and fears.
We can't control them, but they can influence us and our behavior.
It sounds alarming. It's just the way the brain works, I assure you.
What I'd like to do is put Jo into a state of relaxation,
so she can retrieve those inner thoughts and tell us what's troubling her.
It's called hypnosis.
Thank you.
Dr. Garrett is offering to try a new practice to help with how you're feeling.
It's called hypnosis.
Exactly.
Excellent. Well, we will need to organize the room and draw the curtains.
Don't you think we should wait for Will? If Jo was my daughter--
You want to wait for a man's permission?
I need to get back for Frankie. I'll slip off.
Sorry, I can't seem to shake off the flu.
Please, God. Protect us all.
Protect us all. Keep us safe.
Matthew.
I'm sorry.
I didn't know you were--
It's your church.
Matthew.
- You're upset. - I'm not upset.
Sit with me.
A man's conversations with God are no one's business but his own.
But we should confide in each other. It can help.
- You're so good at this. - At what?
This. The easy way you talk,
making people feel like what they say is important,
that you'll take it seriously.
- I just-- - I know what you think when I talk.
You see someone who's taken in by tall tales.
- No. No, that's not what I think. - You don't understand.
You're not out on the water risking your life.
Your children aren't crying in their beds
- because they can feel something coming. - My children--
Gracie's death was a tragedy.
It was deeply unsettling for everyone, but I'm not sure it's helpful
- to keep suggesting-- - Go on. Explain it away to me again.
Explain the scratches on Gracie Banks's body.
Explain the attack on the boats. Your daughter struck dumb!
I can see it in your face that you feel it too.
You're supposed to show people how to stay in God's protection.
You're supposed to keep people safe.
"Therefore we will not fear, though the waters roar, and we troubled."
…always relaxed. Aware of my voice.
Your limbs are heavy.
Jo, listen to my voice.
Come towards me a little. Let me know that you can hear my voice.
Jo. Can you tell me how--
The serpent.
- I'm scared. - You are safe, Jo.
There is no need to be frightened.
But what happened in the classroom upset you, didn't it?
I should've stopped it.
Do you understand that you did nothing wrong?
We did the spell.
We brought it here.
Brought what here?
It's all right. Take your time.
It was supposed to be a secret.
What was a secret, Jo?
The spell.
The spell we made.
Luke.
Jo, listen to my voice. There's no need to be frightened.
It's too late. Naomi let it in.
I let it in.
It's…
- It's in us. - Jo.
Jo.
Stop it.
Jo.
- What is this? - Will. This is my friend,
- Dr. Luke Garrett. - Reverend Ransome--
What are you doing to my daughter?
You misunderstand. I'm helping her.
- Your wife gave consent for me-- - Will, this is a friend.
- A friend of Cora's. Let him go. - This is my house. How dare you!
You've got this wrong. Let him go. Now.
I promise you, it's a very well-researched bit of medical practice.
You asked if I could help.
Dad…
I'm fine.
We'll go.
Cora, don't. It's just a misunderstanding.
Thank you, Stella.
I'm sorry.
- Are you hurt? - I'm fine.
Well, I'm so sorry.
I can't believe he reacted like that.
It worked. She's talking again.
Let the flames banish the darkness.
Protect us from sin.
Yes. Light the fire.
I need wine.
What happened?
Will came home and wasn't pleased. Let's put it that way.
- He attacked me. - What?
No one attacked anyone. He came in,
saw Luke leaning over Jo and overreacted.
He must've been scared for her. Did you explain it to him?
- Did you apologize? - Well, Stella and I were right there.
I've seen people be mesmerized. It looks odd. It is odd.
It was hypnosis. And it worked.
- But don't go. Stay up with us. - I need to finish this.
- Who are you writing to? - Spencer.
We're trying to help your patient, Nev, and his neighbors, if you must know.
Frankie, how are you? How was your day?
I like it here much more than London.
I want to stay here forever.
Well then, looks like we're stuck here a bit longer, Martha.
Come on, you. You smell like a goat.
- I do not. - You do.
No good ever came from leaving London, Cora.
Are you cross with me too?
Would you care if I was?
You know I would.
It's so frustrating. I'm not trying to upset people.
You should apologize to Will.
I can't be expected to apologize every time I do something
without the express permission of a man.
You only have to apologize when you do something wrong.
If only that were true.
If you're sure you've done nothing wrong, why are you so bothered?
Just go to sleep.
I didn't want to wake the house.
There is a letter box.
I wanted you to get it privately.
Martha told me I needed to apologize.
And did you?
No.
I can't apologize when I don't think I did anything wrong.
Well, I can't wait to read it.
Are you mocking me?
No, it's just entirely in keeping with what I would expect from you.
Cora, w…
Cora!
You asked me to help.
- Not by experimenting on her. - Stella gave her consent.
What? To bring it all back and terrify her?
You know nothing about it.
I know enough.
You're furious because I didn't ask your permission, defer to your judgment.
Why would you when you're with Dr. Garrett?
You don't struggle with deference to him.
I don't think you have a right to be this angry with me.
That's probably true.
Then why are you?