The Sandman

I should never have let him go.

I should never have gone back to Faerie.

I should have gone with him. I shouldn't be here right now.

Matthew.

What's the point of being here without him?

Lucienne.

-Our lord has sent me to ask you... -He's not our lord.

He's asking when you think our guests will be arriving.

Any moment now.

Good. Then I won't be missed.

You're not staying for the funeral?

You have to say goodbye, Matthew.

Goodbye.

Oh...

Ah, he'll come back.

How's Daniel doing? Or...

Do we call him Daniel? What... what do we call him?

I'm sticking with "my lord" or "Your Majesty."

-Is he all right? -Seems fine.

Considering he was a baby yesterday, and today he's Dream of the Endless.

He gave me back my suite of rooms.

Did he?

Me too. Exactly the way I left them.

How? He's only just met you both.

I think he might be a little like me.

How so?

The way I remember parts of the first Corinthian's life.

-Where is he? -Who are you looking for?

The little princeling. Where is he? On his throne, doing nothing, I suppose.

He's not to be disturbed, Cain.

We'll see about that.

My lord, I demand an audience.

You are... Cain.

Yes. And this is my contract with your predecessor.

With me, Cain.

I am Dream of the Endless.

Your contract is with me.

Very well.

My letter of commission states that I am part of a double act.

Cain and Abel.

Mysteries and Secrets.

I insist... No, I demand... that you recreate my brother.

Or I shall be forced to take action of an immediate and summary nature.

Cain...

I do not believe I take well to threats.

Inferred or otherwise.

Nor to an excess of unwarranted familiarity.

Apologies, lord.

But, please.

My brother.

Describe him for me.

Well... he's not as good-looking as I am.

He is, and I'm being charitable here, a blubbering half-wit.

No dress sense.

And a very... very vague, but continual smell of cabbage water about his person.

Hm.

Thank you, Cain.

Goldie!

Brother. I thought I was over and done with.

Nonsense. Lord Morpheus brought you back right as rain.

"Lord Morpheus."

I have no right to that name.

I am Dream of the Endless. It is enough.

Abel?

-You're back. -I am.

Thanks to his lordship.

Stop sucking up. You'll make us late for the funeral.

Whose? Is it mine?

-It's for Morpheus. -Oh.

Come on.

Thank you.

You brought Abel back.

I did.

-The Corinthian said you wished to see me. -Yes.

About our guests.

They'll be arriving shortly, and I'm ready to receive them.

And am I to attend the funeral?

According to the Book of Ceremony,

the family may not greet you until after the funeral.

I see.

The guardians will remain at their posts,

but everyone else will be in the great hall.

Unless there's anything you need.

This is all very new for me, this world.

Tonight, I will meet my siblings for the first time, and I am afraid.

I hope I may rely on you through all that is to come.

On me?

Did you not advise Lord Morpheus?

Yes, when he was in need of me, but...

But I am not Lord Morpheus.

It's only that...

since he's the reason I came here, and stayed for as long as I did,

I wondered if it might be time for me to move on.

I see.

Not right away, and not before finding you a suitable replacement.

Sorry to interrupt, lord.

The guests are arriving.

I should greet them.

Unless you'd like me to stay.

No. I do not envision any difficulties in your absence.

Go, with my blessing.

Hey.

Hey.

-Am I here because you... -Glad you came.

Sorry.

You go.

Where are we?

The palace.

The memorial's upstairs.

So he is dead.

Yeah.

Sorry.

May I just ask, um...

who's dead?

Lord Morpheus, the King of Dreams.

No.

This is a dream, isn't it?

This is...

It's a nightmare.

It is a dream.

But where else do you hold the funeral for the King of Dreams?

And all these people?

Dreamers and guests.

Celebrants and mourners.

But he can't be dead. He's my...

friend.

Are you Hob Gadling?

Are you Lucienne?

He told me about you.

He told me about you too.

Is he really gone?

If he is gone, then who's that?

That is Dream of the Endless.

But he's not...

my Dream.

No.

He's not.

Hiding from me?

I didn't come here for you.

No, I know that.

But you knew I'd be here.

A friend of mine has died.

Was he a friend of yours?

I suppose it's easier to admit you liked somebody after they're gone.

You loved him. Didn't you?

You know, he was different this time,

when he created me.

So I'm different.

But now that he's gone,

I'm on my own.

We're all on our own.

Maybe so.

But I didn't feel alone when he was here,

or when I was with you.

They're just feelings.

Feelings change.

Rose Walker.

I remember you.

Oh my God.

Is there something wrong?

It's all right.

He's not the Corinthian you met.

He's the new Corinthian.

He's very friendly.

I'm sorry about what happened.

I don't remember all of it, but...

we did have some good times, didn't we?

I'll take her to the great hall.

The ceremony will begin shortly, if you'll follow me.

Thank you.

Johanna Constantine.

Hello, Hettie.

How are you?

Well, to be honest,

I didn't know whether or not I should come.

Why not?

Morpheus loved you.

As much as he loved anyone.

Well, I don't know about that in the end.

Poor little bugger.

You here with anyone?

No.

Let's go inside. Grab a seat.

Who the hell are you supposed to be?

I am Dream of the Endless.

No shit.

How did that happen?

I'm not entirely sure.

I was hoping you could tell me.

Just a quick word to let you know.

The contingent from Faerie has arrived.

Will Titania make you go back?

Unless, with Lord Morpheus gone, you were planning to go back.

No, why would I do that?

Will it be different here with the new Dream?

It can't help but be.

But you'll be here.

Sister.

You look... much as I expected you to.

I am glad you're not dead, though.