The Essex Serpent

Forgive me.

Forgive me for sinning with Samuel Dowsett.

It was the serpent who tempted me.

Our secret, Naomi.

Morning, Doctor.

How's the patient? Anything I should know?

Just do what he says.

Mrs. Seaborne. I came as soon as I could.

"Remember me when I am gone away…"

"Gone far away into the silent land

When you can no more hold me by the hand."

Sir, may I examine you?

Mmm. It's progressing.

But if I operate immediately, it's a very simple procedure.

I intend to leave the world… …as I entered it.

Unscarred.

If I don't operate, he will die.

His throat is constricted.

With your consent, I could give him a strong sedative.

What... Operate without his permission?

I'm so sorry.

Can I stay with you?

Of course you can.

You need to rest, Cora.

- - You're trembling.

Frankie.

Your father's died.

Are you sad?

But you're not crying.

I'm so sorry, Frankie.

- -

- -

Dear Cora, I'm so sorry.

Let me know if I can do anything.

I will. Thank you, Charles.

- Thank you for coming, Dr. Garrett. - I'm afraid I'm empty-handed.

- We should go. - Hmm.

I'll get you a cab.

I don't want to go in a cab.

Shall we walk?

I want to go on the Underground.

Shall I take him home?

Come.

What I'd really like is to go for a very long walk.

Will you come with me?

Of course.

You know, we're following the course of the river.

It's right beneath our feet.

The eels used to swim upstream all the way from Sargasso Sea.

They'd come here to breed.

Now instead of mud and reeds, all they find is iron and concrete.

Nothing wrong with iron and concrete.

- What? -

Natural history is my passion, Dr. Garrett.

Listen. You can hear the river.

My husband was... was always buying me jewelry.

I wish you'd let me operate.

How does it feel to cut into a living body?

No, I'm-I'm... I'm curious. That's all.

It's exciting.

Terrifying.

Every operation, a leap of faith.

It's a high-wire act, Mrs. Seaborne.

It sounds fascinating. I'd love to learn more about it.

How are you feeling?

Odd.

All of Michael's friends…

I went for a walk with Dr. Garrett.

We talked and talked.

Was that wrong?

No.

You're free now, Cora, to make new friends, explore.

We've been shut away for too long.

I saved you this. Thought you might be interested.

Hmm?

I'll check on Frankie.

Gracie!

Gracie!

Gracie!

…you showed such a keen interest in my work

that I wonder if you'd like to watch me operate at the medical school?

The patient was trampled by a horse.

- Uh, madam. - Excuse us.

- There'll be a lot of blood. - …with a compound fracture

of the tibia.

- Luke Garrett will be operating. - Yeah! Whoo! Whoo!

- Silence! Silence! Silence! -

Luke Garrett will be operating, assisted by George Spencer.

- Yeah! Whoo! - That's my boy.

Come on now.

- Ooh! - Oh, God.

- I'd rather bleed to death in the street. - Scalpel.

I can't see.

Ooh.

Here we are. My rooms are upstairs.

I expect you've never been south of the river before?

I'm very happy to be here, Dr. Garrett.

Do you always assist, Dr. Spencer?

Well, of course I do operate.

An ingrown toenail or a… …bladder stone.

I do a perfectly good lithotomy.

But Mr. Garrett is at the cutting edge, Mrs. Seaborne.

Oh. Please, call me Cora.

Luke.

So what edge do you hope to cut into next, Luke?

The heart.

How?

Well… …the main challenge is keeping the patient alive

once I open the chest cavity.

Just need the right patient.

- You're an animal. -

The hospital board agree with you. No idea why.

We can all be skeptical about new ideas.

- Oh, no. I'm all for progress. - Martha's a socialist.

A socialist and a naturalist?

- And what of it? - Nothing. It's delightful.

It's delightful?

Is your heart surgery delightful?

More of a vocation.

Well, if we were welcomed into the professions, we might have vocations too.

Well, perhaps we were not welcomed either.

We must all follow our passions.

- - I couldn't agree more.

What is it?

Nothing.

You said she went off to Maldon.

So she'll be in Maldon?

Unless there's something you're not telling me.

No.

If she's been with that boy, tell me.

She hasn't.

Then she'll be home soon.

Is Mrs. Seaborne in?

Yes, come in.

- Thank you. - Uh...

Cora?

Luke.

Hello. What a surprise.

- Brought you something. -

- Wow, it's beautiful. - Mmm.

- What is it? - A slice of human heart.

From the operating theater?

No, no. Uh, I got it from the mortuary. Research cadaver.

It's the oddest present I've ever received.

- - Thank you.

I'll take it to Essex. We leave tomorrow.

- Essex? - Yes, Colchester.

A sea creature's been spotted.

Oh, that. I read about that.

I've done some research.

- Into a mythical beast? - Not mythical. Real.

I think this serpent could be some sort of plesiosaur.

As Darwin says in The Origin, there may well be species

that have been insulated from the usual competitive pressures.

- I mean, surely, you've come across... - No.

- You haven't? - Cora, no...

- What? - Don't...

Essex. Don't go.

I thought I should follow my passions.

Yes, of course.

But from a medical point of view, you're grieving.

- Cora... - I can do what I want now he's dead.

News from Essex! All the latest. Monstrous serpent returns!

Look, it's not so bad.

It's witch-burning country.

News from Essex!

All the latest.

Monstrous serpent returns.

What can you tell me about the serpent?

What can't I tell you, madam? Have a look at that. Postcard?

No, thank you.

- You here looking for the serpent? - Have you seen it?

Oh, yeah. Huge ridged back, wings.

- Serpents don't have wings. - This one does.

Are there any photographs?

Oh. Well, livestock's been eaten. And there's been a sighting recently.

- Where? - Aldwinter. Village out on the Blackwater.

Mmm. Aldwinter. Thank you.

Thank you.

News from Essex!

Do you mind if I keep walking? I'll find you some treasure.

Don't be too late.

Damn you!