The Frankenstein Chronicles

The remains of seven or eight children have been found

freshly dismembered, mutilated and rearranged.

Find whoever is responsible.

- When you do, inform me. - I won't let you down, sir.

The subjects ever move?

No, Mr Marlott, they are dead.

I supply the subjects around here.

- What did you say? - You heard.

- What's in there? - The Fortune of War.

It's where they keep their bodies. A porter wheeled one over

to the Hospital around midnight, on a meat trolley.

- Alice disappeared ten days ago. - The butcher's daughter.

- I want to speak with her. - You'll speak to me first.

That dress, where did you get it?

I'm looking for this girl, Alice.

She had one just like it. Thought you might have seen her.

No.

"LYCA," the little girl lost.

Like Alice.

Leave that, you'll be late.

Go on.

Wear your coat.

Yes, ma'am.

This is a private gathering.

I have business with William Blake.

- Mr Blake is indisposed. - Who is it, Mary?

A stranger.

Let him enter.

My name is Marlott.

John Marlott from Bow Street.

Come...

closer, John.

You'll take tea?

Yes, thank you.

Who is Lyca?

Aha.

Oh...

My lost child.

When was she lost?

As you see, Mr Blake has been taken gravely ill.

Now many, many years ago.

When she first came to me.

In a dream.

Why?

I'm looking for a girl named Alice.

I thought...

I know it's strange, but I thought she might be one and the same.

- Why would you think that? - They are one!

What, Alice and Lyca are the same?

All the lost children.

Tell me where to find her, then.

She is not real.

To find her

you have to know

the truth of the beast.

What beast?

The beast...

with a face...

of a man.

Argh!

- I'm... I'm so sorry. - I think perhaps you should leave.

My apologies. I can see I was mistaken in coming here.

Please send a bill to me at Bow Street Magistrates Court.

How can that be?

She's cured.

All sins are forgiven here.

No corruption.

There's seven or eight regulars

that come and go from the pub at all hours, all except the chief.

He stays put,

drinking himself blind I daresay.

So, how long do we sit on them?

Till they give up their secrets.

Did they take Alice and the red-haired lad?

Or was it the man who tried to blow my head off last night?

Or maybe they are in it together?

They ain't a million miles from each other.

A chain of supply.

One thing more, one of them rented a cart

but came back empty-handed. From Stoke Newington.

- How do you know? - There was a set-to with the carter.

- Cholera outbreak there. - Cholera?

That means they will be scouting for trade.

Means he will be going back.

My days are consumed like smoke. My heart is smitten.

My days are like a shadow that declineth

while I am withered like grass.

But thou, O Lord, shall endure.

The heathen shall fear thy name

and all the kings of the earth they glory.

What do you reckon?

- 13 maybe. - Never.

Pike's crew got 20 for a small up at Guy's.

That was last year. Lucky to get ten now.

Keep it down.

Whoa. Whoa, whoa.

You ain't got no business marching me...

I'm an officer of the law. I ain't done nothing wrong.

Tell them.

Nothing wrong?

A dead body ain't property.

And taking one ain't theft.

Forgive me.

This is theft.

I didn't know that was there.

But you did.

That silver spoon means transportation

or maybe the drop.

Or I could just let these good folks string you up as you deserve.

What do you want from me?

What do you know about the Anatomy Act?

It's costing me my livelihood.

Then what would you do to stop it, murder?

Murder?

I'm a businessman. Here you are.

Have a look for yourself.

Incomings, outgoings, it's all there.

- Honest labour. - Ha?

You call stealing corpses honest labour?

It ain't a crime. There's a demand, I supplies it.

There's plenty out there trafficking in worse,

why don't you go after them?

I had to use a dead child as bait tonight.

Any more from you and I swear on my soul, you'll swing for it!

Last winter I get a subject,

fresh, no more than a day underground,

but when I gets it to the hospital, they don't want it,

they said they've already got one fresher than mine.

Is that unusual?

What, so fresh the rigor is still on it?

A month later, it happens to Billings' crew.

And a month after that to Will Murray.

What are you trying to tell me?

Someone has been murdering to undercut our trade.

And you don't know who it is?

No-one knows.

It's not good enough.

Wait.

What if I could find 'em for you?

Get out!

He says there is someone out there

doing murder to supply bodies to the surgeons.

He'd say no different if it were him though.

- I don't think it's him. - Why not?

- Scum like that. - Even maggots come in shapes and sizes.

We're looking for a monster, a beast with the face of a man.

Beg pardon, sir?

Make sure they are fast. I need a minute.

Right.

Pleasant lodgings.

Not lodgings, I'm the owner.

Trade's been good to you, hasn't it?

I've worked hard at it.

Three days.

That is the arrangement. I'm keeping them for surety.

Keep watch on him anyway.

- All the while? - Till I say otherwise.

Board and lodgings for two, please, Mr Forrester. Your best rates.

I daresay Sir Robert can afford it.

So...

- will that be all you need from us? - I'm afraid not.

We'll be at your disposal, then.

Obliged.

You've come about the teapot.

Sadly not.

Mr Blake passed away last night.

Ah...

sorry to hear it.

He said to be sure you received this.

His latest work.

He did not live to see it published.

Sure he meant it for me?

I am unlikely to have misheard.

Strange.

It is as much a surprise to me I can assure you.

Should you find no use for it, I...

would be glad to take it from you.

Aye.

May I take the liberty of giving you my address?

Thank you.

How much?

I'll come back.

You look lovely. Now sling your hook.

You might have told me you were expecting distinguished company.

Please forgive my intrusion.

I took the liberty of asking for you at Bow Street

- and they gave me your address. - Not at all.

How may I help?

This...

must sound presumptuous, but...

it's I who wish to help you.

- In what way? - Firstly by apologising.

When we met the other day, I spoke slightingly of your conscience.

- I can assure you, my lady... - Please, Mr Marlott, I...

I sense...

you are an honest man

who seeks to do God's work.

That's why I've come, because...

I believe you are in peril.

- Peril? - To your soul.