The Strain: Another Season
Episode 10

The Dismembered
Chapter Five


Lenox Hill, Manhattan – Present

The FinchCorp town car pulls up at a large modern building. Its frosted windows are all alight and two-foot high neon letters declare that the Band Lilidear Veterinary Referral Center is OPEN…flicker… CPEII… flicker…OPEN. It's quite tastefully done – all in blue with a veterinary Aesculapian staff in the middle of the text.

Oh, and the flickering isn't constant, just a one-time only thing. Obviously.

There is some flustering in the reception foyer as Reggie Fitzwilliam gently lifts the injured Dr Nora Martinez out of the car. It seems one of the principals is being summoned.

Nora briefly opens her eyes and reads the sign. 'He's a vet?' she asks, slightly concerned.

'He's a vet?' Abraham Setrakian repeats with more anger. 'The finest orthopaedic surgeon still operating in the city is a damned vet?'

A little fat woman with thick black-rimmed glasses and mahogany dye growing out of her mousy hair blinks tiredly at the group.

'Well, I guess I used to be,' she says. 'Most days we just treat whoever shows up, no matter how many legs they have. And it's generally just the two recently.' She tries a smile but her face, like the rest of her, is too exhausted. 'It's amazing how fast other creatures are deprioritised when humans' own lives are under threat.'

'Really,' says Setrakian cynically, 'I find it depressingly familiar.'


Poland – 1944

Abraham can't sleep and he can't face the barracks monster tonight, not until he's acquired a silver weapon. He knows that Eichhorst is on site and that the guard on the workshop has been changed following Dreverhaven's unauthorised visit a few nights ago. He seeks permission from the barracks guards and is escorted to the workshop before dawn. Everyone in the camp is aware of the commandant's impatience to get A230385's special project completed, so the woodcarver's enthusiasm is encouraged.

As they approach the workshop, the guard spots that the lights are on and that the night patrolman in charge of this building is not at his post. News like Dreverhaven gets around and the guard hesitates. As they linger around the corner, someone sneaks up behind them and lays a hand on each of their shoulders.

As Abraham and his escort leap in the air, startled, the workshop guard sniggers briefly and blows his cheeks out as he turns his attention back to the building.

'Hasn't he finished yet?' he asks the other guard who regards him disapprovingly. 'They've been in there for hours. And the noise! I'm surprised they haven't woken the whole camp.'

While they're distracted chatting, Abraham looks longing at the perimeter fence. But his attention is diverted when the lights are switched off and the door opens. They pull back into cover and watch the doctor leave the workshop hand in hand with a limping inmate. The overall impression the pair give is one of companionable exhaustion and satiation.

The guard escorting Setrakian swears and mutters to himself in German, 'But there's no one missing from the barra…'

Just then, a gust of wind blows the prisoner's hat off, revealing long blonde hair. The inmate turns, laughing, to catch the cap and Abraham and his escort both gasp.

The person in the striped uniform is not a prisoner but a young woman. She is definitely Germanic looking in a way that has become very familiar to Abraham over the last few days. He's never seen the features in such a feminine face but the angular jawline and blue eyes are unmistakeable.

'Eva Von Croÿ,' breathes the guard at his side in disbelief. The name means nothing to Abraham.

'She wasn't limping when she went in to the workshop,' sniggers the workshop guard. 'I reckon he was using her as a substitute for Eichhorst's pet here.' He jerks his head towards an increasingly uncomfortable Abraham. 'They say the frustration's driving him crazy…well, crazier. He can't even smile at him these days without the commandant suddenly appearing between them.'

'Ugh! Don't know what he sees in him,' says the escort, disgusted. 'I wouldn't touch a Jew with yours.'

When Dreverhaven and Eva are out of sight, the escort remembers his duty. He pushes Abraham roughly inside, grumbling to the other German, 'I suppose I'd better stand watch with you, in case Dreverhaven comes back.'

'He is one scary, fucking…' says the original workshop guard, shaking his head.

'Yes, but Herr Eichhorst is still in charge, Gruber,' reminds the escort sharply.

When the prisoner is safely out of earshot, they start a conversation to stave off boredom.

'Have you heard the rumours about Eva Von Croÿ's natural father?' asks Abraham's escort.

Gruber nods and smiles slyly, 'She looks so much like him. I bet that's another fantasy of the doctor's she helps fulfil.'

The escort is shocked. 'You're not saying that he...? Not the commandant as well?'

'Like I said, one scary, fucking, weird piece of …' he tails off as he lights a cigarette.


Poland – 1944 another night
Dreverhaven's house

Sardu's sword cane can be seen in an elephant's foot umbrella stand by the dressing room door, along with other items including his SS baton and dress sword, a lunging whip and some riding crops, walking sticks for the discerning gentleman and the cavalry sabre from the Great War.

The doctor dresses for the evening and contemplates the elevation to immortality the Master has promised him. He has made his peace with the loss of his sexuality. Indeed, the unrequited nature of his lust for Eichhorst's woodcarver (and the commandant himself) renders it something of a relief. Instead, he has decided to seek the next level, to try something truly new – new sensations, new desires… and new power. He grins evilly.

The only thing making it hard is little Eva. Sweet, young…filthy little Eva Von Croÿ.

And she is making it very hard…

He recalls pursuing her around her parents' mansion that first time until finally he'd caught her in the attic. In retrospect he realises he should have noticed that she fled away from all the guests who might have rescued her. And that she'd only kicked him in the shins rather than higher up. Aside from that, she'd fought him fiercely, scratching his face and biting his arm. She'd received some bruises in return but when he'd finally pushed her down and torn off her clothes, he was staggered to find her so very wet. The little wildcat had enjoyed the chase, the fight, the violence as much as him.

She'd pleaded with him to be gentle, said that she'd never been with a man before.

Her admission had arrested him. Her submission had melted him.

Well she isn't going to sidetrack him again. He will ignore her tonight. Cut her dead.


84th Precinct, Gold Street, Brooklyn – The Present

Loretta Collins is in a police cell, her husband Sergeant Steve Collins and children, Katie and Michael, are talking with her in a group effort to reassure each other. Other officers are modifying another cell for when her stinger develops.

In the forensics lab, a series of police officers bring boxes of equipment, notes, textbooks and chemicals to a stressed- and tired-looking Dr Ephraim Goodweather. His son Zak is asleep on a campbed beside him.

One of the cops pauses for a minute to watch Eph mixing a few liquids together to make the original stock solution, known variously as "the potential cure" or "the slow poison". She wonders whether they should continue their shoot-on-sight policy versus strigoi in the light of a possible cure. Eph smiles at the confidence she has in him but cautions against getting her hopes up.

'Might as well try it now though,' he says and decants a little into test tube. 'Watch my son, would you?'


East 73rd Street, Upper East Side, Manhattan

The tall, glass and chrome building is guarded inside and out by police officers in riot helmets as a boosted Volvo pulls up and disgorges Gus, Fet, Angel and Dutch.

Fet affably tries to speak to one as he passes, but Gus says, 'No point, man.'

'Huh, why's that?'

'Well, you know that locket that the princess' momma had?'

'Yeah?' says Fet.

'The part where it says all vampires are evil?' says Gus.

'What about it?' says Dutch, suspicious.

'It ain't true.'

And on that bombshell, Gus leads the way inside, leaving Dutch and Fet staring incredulously first at each other, then at their security detail.

Angel hobbles to catch up with Gus and, in the lift, they have a whispered discussion in Spanish, 'This German vampire?'

Gus nods slightly and Angel continues his train of thought, 'He kidnapped Hot Bitch when she was a little girl?'

'Well, can't think she was ever a little girl, but yeah, why?'

'And he held her captive for months on end?'

'Yeah,'

'Drank her blood night after night?'

'Yeah man, what are you…?' asks Gus

'He killed her fiancé…this one's father?' Angel indicates Dutch and Gus nods, staring at him in puzzlement.

'And her husband, that she loved?'

Another nod. Good job their apartments are high up and the lift journey is long enough for this conversation.

'And the bastard husband, that she hated?'

'Think so.'

'And he's the reason she let the bastard spank the girl?'

Another nod but Angel's not waiting for them anymore. 'And why she had to let her daughter leave home?'

'Yeah, man, the German's a piece of crap, what of it?'

'So why does she need the engraving to remind her that he's evil, huh?' Angel looks significantly at Gus.

They lower their voices again because Fet and Dutch are glancing back and they obviously understand little snatches of Spanish.

Gus shakes his head. 'You're not saying…'

Angel gives him a look that says that yes, he is indeed saying…

'No way, man,' whispers Gus. 'Not buying it. No cock, remember? And that lady…she like the cock, you know what I'm saying.' He grins at Angel. 'She like Mexican cock, too. Oh yeah. Gusto was in there, man. Uh-huh!'

Angel isn't satisfied. 'He got a mouth full of cock, idiot. And ask any lesbian if a woman's lover needs a penis to please her.'

He smacks Gus on the chest with the back of his hand to indicate that the prosecution rests and the lift door opens.

Inside, Gus shows the visitors the building's amenities – including a rooftop gym and swimming pool - and finally their huge, luxury apartments, next door to each other and close to Gus and Angel's quarters. While Gus is demonstrating/playing on the games console and Angel is pointing out the extensive Blu-ray library, Fet opens his minibar. Finding that it is, in fact, a maxibar, he whistles in appreciation.

'EeeeYeahhhh! I'm callin' this Friday!' he declares gleefully.

He grabs a beer and invites the others to join him. Angel chooses a fancy-shaped bottle of tequila and tosses another beer at Gus.

Dutch rolls her eyes. 'I'm going to bed,' she announces. 'Before you start getting all blokey and smelling each other's farts.'


84th Precinct, Gold Street, Brooklyn – The Present
The Cells

Eph advises the Collins children to leave and explains the risks. He's not so bullish as when he's defending "the cure" to Sandra or Nora. He says it needs administering in regular small doses, he thinks daily would be best considering how unpleasant the side effects are.

Loretta drinks the mix and promptly vomits it back up, so Eph fetches a tiny dose in a syringe and injects it intravenously. This throws her to the floor in a seizure and he has to run back up for some diazepam swearing to a furious Steve Collins that he'll be better prepared next time.


Eichhorst's Bedroom, Stoneheart Building, Manhattan

Eichhorst lies on his back in his coffin, his hands flat with fingers spread and crossed over his body, a bit like the New World Ancients. He twitches in his sleep.


Poland – early 1945

Dreverhaven and Eichhorst are having a stand-up row outside a dilapidated building. It is night time and both Nazis are turning into strigoi. They're each losing hair in huge chunks, are very pale and their eyes and teeth have changed. The progression is more advanced in the doctor who is developing a noticeable wattle. This is much less visible in Eichhorst, who still wears the high-necked sweater from his escape.

Dreverhaven is still in his dress uniform and jodhpurs from the night of the Von Croÿ gathering. It is somewhat blood-spattered after the beating Eichhorst gave him for befouling and besmirching Eva Von Croÿ who he believes to be his daughter (and possibly for befouling and besmirching young Abraham as well). However, Dreverhaven's face does not show any evidence of the injuries he sustained. Presumably, the Master healed him with White before turning him.

They are arguing about taking the Von Croÿ girls.

Eichhorst insists that they'd agreed to wear the make-up the doctor has far-sightedly prepared at his home - in order to avoid scaring the ladies. Whereas Dreverhaven, his stinger growling with desire, wants to take them right now and can't understand Eichhorst's consideration – or his patience.

The Master swoops between them and intervenes, saying that they're brothers now and he backs Eichhorst. Or rather he commands them both to return to Dreverhaven's house for his host's, Jusef Sardu's, sword cane. Once there, and once the sword is secure in their possession, he doesn't care what they do with the lenses, dentures, wigs and makeup (and a cravat for the doctor, Eichhorst adds) although he is scathing about the human paraphernalia Eichhorst seems to believe so indispensable.


Poland early 1945

The newly escaped Abraham Setrakian stumbles over Dreverhaven's house and enters, searching for supplies and a change of clothes.

In Dreverhaven's dressing room, he finds warm clothing but can't bear the smell of the doctor. As he turns to leave and explore the servants' quarters, he spots a wolf's-headed cane, which reminds him of a long-forgotten bubbeh meiseh, a tale his grandmother used to tell him.

He folds onto the floor and weeps for her and for all the others he has lost.

He'd better get out of there sharpish.