The Strain: Another Season
Episode 5
...But not for everyone
Chapter One
Fet's place, Red Hook, Brooklyn
It's late afternoon and most of the household are gathered in the living area watching a re-run of Friends. It seems ffinch-Myles is playing by the book. For now.
Keane is playing on a DS and Audrey and Zack are staring out of the window talking quietly to each other. Zack is bringing Audrey out of her shell and has even won a smile or two for his efforts. Zack, in his turn, is throwing admiring glances whenever he thinks she isn't looking.
Setrakian is in a corner poring over the few books he managed to salvage from the pawn shop.
Eph is drinking Scotch and flicking through the photo album that Zack made them go back to Kelly's house for. Nora is smoking out of another window, giving Zack some privacy and watching Eph wistfully.
Neeva is in the kitchen area, cooking and humming a soulful tune, quietly though, so as not to disturb Dutch. She is on the laptop and getting visibly more irritated with it.
Fet is watching her from the railings above and chewing a cigar they found in Luss' study.
Suddenly, Dutch explodes with frustration. 'Aarggh! It's no f*cking good,' she screams, throwing the computer across the room. 'Stupid cheap piece of crap,' she yells at it.
Fet gallops down the stairs and picks it up. 'Hey!' he says. 'That's our only computer.'
'Sorry,' says Dutch, pushing her hair out her eyes as she paces. 'But we're never gonna find this guy with that. I need something faster - more powerful.'
She stops and faces him. 'To tell the truth, I need FBI-grade facial recognition tech. Or access to a tattoo database.'
Setrakian is now leaning over the railings. 'Maybe we should just get out and search the streets,' he suggests. 'We know he lives near my old shop. Let's start there.'
'Gonna take a while to drive to Harlem and back,' cautions Fet. 'And it'll be dark soon. We should wait 'til morning.'
But Setrakian is already pulling his coat on when the doorbell goes. The Force have returned.
They are still introducing themselves and trying to prevent Setrakian going out on his own when Dutch calls through, 'Is that the cops back again? Good. Maybe they can help out with this.'
She brings them up to view the recorded footage of blurry Gus. Dutch points to his neck in each shot and says, 'He has this leaf tattoo on his neck. I wondered if you could ID him from it.'
'That's not a leaf,' scoffs Bartoli. 'That's a wolf's head.'
Dutch shrugs. 'Makes much more sense for a banger's ink.'
'I might be able to help,' says Bartoli. 'I check back in at the precinct every now and then. Means I keep my badge and gun. You should too,' she turns and advises the other officers. 'I'll do some research tonight and let you know.'
'On two conditions,' she adds. 'You share some silver…'
'And two?' prompts Fet.
'Grandpa here,' she says, indicating a growling Setrakian. 'He's grounded 'til I get back to you…or 'til morning – if anything happens to me.'
Beneath the Black Forest Meatpacking Facility
The huge underground cavern from the first episode is packed with strigoi standing before a raised platform. The long cage has been replenished and is once again packed with screaming humans. The still crispy Master silences them with the same deep throbbing rumble and raises his arms. He addresses his minions telepathically. Eichhorst stands on his right hand side, slightly behind him.
For aeons I have roamed the world alone, only rarely exalting one or, exceptionally, two of my children to the rank of Chosen. To these blessed ones are restored their own identities - their own thoughts and voices. They are selected for particular tasks based upon their gifts and fortes in their inferior animal lives. In recent times, I have chosen for a flair for cruelty and vice, the ability to manage mortals and knowledge in running death farms.
Now is a unique moment in our glorious history. Now I shall have three Chosen. Now I honour YOU…
Without prompting, the Kelly Goodweather vampire ascends to the dais and kneels before the Master.
…And YOU.
Gabriel Bolivar, still in fright wig and light blue contacts, follows Kelly and kneels beside her.
Kelly, my daughter, receive this blessing.
He places his hand on the crown of Kelly's now bald head and commands her…
Rise and bring your Loved Ones to me.
'Zack will be ours, my Master,' she says aloud.
He turns his attention to the rock star.
Gabriel, my son, receive this blessing.
Bolivar removes the wig and the Master performs the same action, intoning…
You are selected for your fame. Your forte is manipulating a crowd through your music. In the light of Herr Eichhorst's unexpected and, I trust, unwanted notoriety…
He glances at the studiously impassive face behind him.
…You are to eclipse his exposure by raising your own profile – higher than before. You are to hold a new concert – bigger, bolder, wilder than anything these humans have experienced before.
'I desire to serve, Lord,' says Bolivar.
Eichhorst will assist you both in the minutiae of these schemes.
He half turns to the German but doesn't look at, or address, him again. Eichhorst lowers his head in submission and starts to say something about obeisance but the Master cuts him off and raises his arms once more.
Now for the feasting…
A number of bound and gagged young men, all naked, are led onto the platform for the Master and his Chosen while the long cage is opened and the terrified inhabitants goaded out into the chamber with spears and stingers for the rank and file vampires to devour.