The Sandman

You mustn't be unhappy, sister.

The Dreaming will survive, even if Lord Morpheus does not.

You underestimate him, Cluracan.

I hope so. For his sake.

And for mine.

I'm coming back here.

The only reason I agreed to go to Faerie is to bring our troops here

to fight at Lord Morpheus's side.

If Titania sees you looking like that, without your glamour on,

she's not gonna listen to anything you have to say.

-You know what she's like. -I do.

And she's about to find out what I'm like.

While I cannot support your decision, I also cannot help but admire it.

Luckily for you, I'm glamorous enough for the both of us.

Cluracan, take your glamour off of me right now.

After your reunion with the queen.

You go first. I will follow.

Welcome home, Lady Nuala. You're looking well.

Thank you, milady.

Apart from whatever it is you're wearing, but we'll remedy that back at the palace.

You may take the horses, Cluracan.

The Lady Nuala and I have much to discuss.

As you wish, Your Majesty.

I trust you did not think your exile permanent, dear.

It was fitting for its time,

but I assure you, there is no one here more pleased to see you back than I.

You are most gracious, milady.

That jewel you're wearing, it's very pretty.

-It's new, isn't it? -It is.

So... how is he?

-Lord Shaper? -Yes.

He is very well, considering, but he is on his own now.

He's asked the residents of the Dreaming to seek shelter in other realms

until matters are settled.

So I do believe he is in need of some assistance.

Did he tell you to ask for me help?

No, I just thought...

In your time there, did he... ever speak of me?

Not to me.

But he does tend to keep his own counsel.

That really is a lovely little bauble.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

If I were to ask you for it, what would you say?

I would be forced to admit that it was a gift, milady,

and not in my power to give.

If, of course, you were to ask.

Cluracan, what news have you?

Come, my lady. I will tell you everything.

Dream?

Are you all right?

-Forgive me, sister. -For what?

No one ever comes to visit.

I'm glad you're here.

I mean...

I'm sorry you're here.

I'm sorry...

about Orpheus.

I used to go and see him.

I never told you. Didn't think you'd approve.

He used to sing to me.

Billie Holiday.

A bit of Nick Drake.

And in return...

I used to answer his questions.

About you.

Not that I ever had much to tell him.

You and I don't really talk, which I understand.

If I had a sister called Despair,

I don't think I'd spend much time with her either.

But... people need a place to go where they can...

be miserable.

And grieve.

And hit bottom.

Before they... swim up for air

and start breathing again.

That's what happens next.

Once you're ready.

I have not been the brother I should have been.

Well...

you're here now.

-Not for much longer. -You don't know that.

Perhaps there will be a better Dream to take my place.

You're talking rubbish.

I'm not.

His name...

is Daniel Hall.

Daniel Hall?

His name is Daniel Hall. He's eight months old.

We're in East Sussex. If you could send someone.

Thank you, Officer.

They put me on hold.

The police won't find him.

You know who did this.

Hippolyta Hall?

Yes?

I'm Detective Pinkerton. This is Detective Fellowes.

Ma'am.

I'm on with the police now.

Oh, you can, um, hang up.

We got the call. That's why we're here.

We understand a child has been abducted?

-Daniel. His name is Daniel. -Daniel. Right.

This is obviously a very difficult time for you, but, uh...

...can you tell us what happened?

We went out for dinner.

And when we got back, the front door was open

and the entire staff was unconscious.

But they're all here, present and accounted for?

The only one missing was my son. I found his stuffed animal on the floor.

Right there.

Huh.

Look at that.

-Hmm. -What?

Looks like sand.

Sand?

Any idea how the sand might have got here?

I think I do know how it got there, yes.

I must go.

According to Daniel's dream ledger, he was awakened

and left the realm several hours ago.

Then I will have to find him in the waking world.

Why don't you wait a bit?

He's a baby. All they do is sleep. He could be back any moment.

I suspect he's been sedated to keep him from dreaming.

And from me.

-What if it's a trap? -I'm sure it is.

But the future of our realm depends upon this boy.

Only if something happens to you, which we can prevent.

How?

I've been doing a bit of research on the Kindly Ones.

According to the source text,

the Endless are safe from harm or harassment

as long as they remain in their realms.

I think Loki and Puck know that.

I think you know it too.

I will not spend eternity a prisoner in my own realm.

Nor will I let anything happen to Daniel.

Then I only ask that you are cautious.

Send someone else to the waking world.

Or if you have to go, find a mortal agent there to assist you.

There is one mortal as cunning as Loki and Puck.

And almost as dangerous.

Fuck.

Johanna Constantine.

You owe me the rest of that dream.

In the end, you murder your lover.

That tracks.

Even in my dreams, the people I fancy end up dead.

Don't worry, you're safe.

Far from it, I'm afraid.

Right.

Heard about your son... and the Kindly Ones.

That is why I'm here.

I need your assistance in finding a child called Daniel Hall.

Who is he?

In the event of my death...

...he will be the new Dream of the Endless.

You know that already?

As do his kidnappers.

His kidnappers are the Norse god of chaos and fire,

and an escaped hobgoblin from Faerie.

Are you joking?

Sorry, I forgot. You don't have a sense of humor.

What's in it for me?

The handwritten journal of your ancestor,

Lady Johanna Constantine.

And the secret knowledge therein.

Lady Johanna kept a journal?

-Have you read it? -I am in it.

Did you shag my ancestor?

Did she shag you?

If you accept the assignment, you can read it for yourself.

Not now.

There's no time to waste.

It's four o'clock in the morning.

All of England's asleep.

And if it turns out there's no shagging in this, I will be too.

There's no use in crying over it.

She gets to be sad if she wants.

And angry.

Who are you?

-You know us, granddaughter. -We're here to help you.

I'm dreaming. This is him, isn't it?

You give him far too much credit.

-Are you gonna hurt me? -Hurt you?

Of course we're going to hurt you.

Everybody gets hurt.

But we're also going to help you.

Your baby's been stolen, after all.

-Where is he? Where is Daniel? -I've had enough of her.

She's had her three questions. She's wasted them.

I asked you where Daniel is. You didn't answer.

Granddaughter, we do want to help you. We will see you again.

And we can tell you this.

You've already met those that took Daniel. But they are not what they seem.

-They're going to put him in the fire. -What?

Mind you don't get burned.

Boop!

Where are you?

-We're in here. -Who's "we"?