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He gathered them together in a place called Armageddon.
Directed by: Dan Lerner
Written by: John McLaughlin, Teleplay by Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin
Summary
In the shadow of a prison work crew breaking rocks, Stumpy and Samson discuss the carnival's next move, and Stumpy doesn't like the sound of it. The destination, Samson says, is New Canaan, a big Christian camp out in California. "What are me and Rita Sue supposed to do," Stumpy gripes, "Act out bible stories?"
Lila, too, is agitated and willing to confront her boss. "Hawkins killed Lodz, and you covered it up," she tells Samson.
Ben and Jones have managed to fit in with the thousands of migrants entering the camp in New Canaan, which is, as Ben says, battened down tighter than a work farm with armed guards. Jonesy is leaving to bring back the rest of the Carnivale, and he tries to get Ben to promise he won't act alone. The boy refuses: "If I get a chance at 'im, I'm taking it," he says.
Up at the big house, Justin is visited by Val Templeton and his campaign manager, who complain that their opponent is trying to sabotage their political push. An effort is underway to nullify the registrations of the migrants in camp. When Justin seems unconcerned Templeton interjects, and the guests soon find themselves sinking slowly to their knees in prayer. "That's right," Justin says to the kneeling men, "Faith, gentlemen."
Sofie tells Balthus that she is to be baptized by Brother Justin at noon. "I wish you could be there, Reverend," she says. "Maybe it would help you," but Norman turns away.
Ben bluffs his way past the house guards with an armload of wood, and after dumping it off, uncovers a hatchet and Scudder's dagger. Creeping into the silent house, he comes across Balthus, who after a moment, signals upstairs with his eyes.
Ben makes his way through the creaky house, moving upstairs and into Justin's empty office. Finding a piece of the broken mirror, he holds it up and sees a fleeting black figure behind him.
Justin's bedroom is empty, however, and Iris comes up behind Ben, asking what he's doing there. Skeptical of his firewood story, Iris suggests that Ben venture down to the pond to be baptized. Before he leaves, she takes his hatchet-and lays it gently across Justin's pillow.
Waiting in line for baptism, Ben sees Sofie as she reaches Justin. "Sofie, are you in need of a savior," Justin asks. "I am," she replys. But as her head is submerged, she catches sight of Ben. The moment is cut short, however, when the body of Eleanor floats into the proceeding and ends the baptism for the afternoon.
Later, Ben pulls her aside in camp. "It was you," Sofie says, surprised, and the two embrace. "This ain't a good place for you Sof," Ben says to her, but she insists that Brother Justin has saved her.
Ben explains that Justin's not who she thinks he is, that he is Alexi Belyakov and that he intends to kill Ben. But Sofie refuses to believe him.
Back in Nevada, Lila is working to agitate the troupe against Samson, but Rita Sue is more concerned about her own situation. Forced off-stage during their stay in New Canaan, the hooch purveyors will have a hard time paying their violent shylock. Rita Sue tells Samson she needs compensation. "We been through a lot," she says emotionally. "You was the one who took us to Babylon. You owe this family something."
But Samson has nothing to give. "You go into the camp, you go in without us," Rita Sue warns. "You do what you gotta do," he tells her. Rita Sue tells the family that they're pulling up anchor, but Libby informs her that she's staying with her husband. "What husband?" Rita Sue asks, launching a new fight between the two.
At the house in New Canaan, Iris is at work on a scrapbook when Sofie comes in, emotional. She tells Iris about the discovery of Eleanor's body, saying that Brother Justin deemed it a suicide. "He is a good man," Sofie says, seeming upset and a little confused.
Upstairs Justin is dressing when he spots the hatchet on his bed. He picks it up, and it burns in his hand. Calling to Iris, the two have a heated discussion in Russian, which is overheard by Sofie.
Back on the road, Lila continues her complaints about Samson's management, and Rita Sue is soon crying in agreement. The atmosphere changes suddenly, however, when they meet Jones on the highway. Watching Libby embrace her husband in the headlights of the caravan, Stumpy talks to his wife. "You know baby, you're going to have to get over him one of these days."
Jonesy tells Samson that Ben is at the camp and that Justin has himself his own army. "If Hawkins makes a move by himself, he'll get killed for sure."
Later, Jonesy and Samson meet with Iris in the revival tent to make their pitch. They typically charge admission for their show, Samson says, but "sometimes you just have to put the lord first." Iris, excited for the opportunity to provide some fun for the children offers the men an honorarium. "You got yourself a carnival, Miss Crowe," Samson tells her.
But back at the carnival camp, the latest stop outside the circuit seems to be the last straw. When Samson returns, Lila tells him he's not in charge anymore. "Don't work that way," he says. "Management calls the shots."
This time, Lila insists on addressing Management directly, and Samson does nothing to stop her. Sauntering into the trailer, she finds it empty. "There is no Management," she tells the crew, and Samson is forced to explain that Management passed on in Damascus. Suddenly restive, the troupe is clearly verging on abandoning their leader and Ben. "What did Hawkins ever do for us?" they ask.
Libby presses Jonesy to "show them," but Jones tries to hold to his promise not to tell Ben's secret. Only when all seems lost does he finally give in. "You want to know what Hawkins did for me?" he asks, slowly removing his brace. His answer comes as he sprints away and the group watches in awe. Showing his knee, Jones tells the whole story. "He ain't just some kid from Milfay."
Dusting the Crowe household, Sofie looks at the old pictures of Justin, Norman and Iris. She opens a drawer and finds the broken death mask of Scudder inside. Suddenly Justin is behind her. "That's mine," he says.
Sofie is shaken. "What are you doing with this?" she asks. Justin says it was sent to him anonymously. Then, after a long look, he speaks. "Wait. You know him, don't you?" Turning gentle, he asks her where he is, but Sofie shakes her head. Justin apologizes. "If you see him, tell him he is safe here. Tell him I pray for him all the time, that this is where he belongs," Justin says.
Later, at an uncomfortable Crowe family dinner, Justin tells Sofie to stop feeding Norman, that he can take care of himself. Afterward, Iris spoons food into Balthus' mouth, explaining at the same time that Sofie is the daughter of "that fortune-teller Justin became so obsessed with in St. Paul."
An electrical storm flashes in the sky as Ben sneaks past the guards and works his way up to the porch where Justin and Sofie sit. "I feel that you haven't quite surrendered to the call," Justin purrs to Sofie, with flashes of lightning lighting his face. "What is it you want," she asks. "I want you to be happy," he replies and is soon kissing her. Sofie pulls away and Justin grabs her; at the same moment Ben rises and prepares to plunge his knife.
Suddenly Ben is grabbed by Jonesy, who tells him that the time is not right, that to act would be suicide. Looking around, Ben sees mounted guards circling as Sofie rushes inside.
In the morning, Justin nicks himself shaving and sees the blue blood: he has his boon. But feeling drawn to the window, he parts the curtains and looks out uncomfortably. "Isn't it lovely," Iris asks behind him. "Remember who we used to love it so as children." As Justin looks uncomfortably out over his domain, the tents of the Carnivale have begun to rise.
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Carnival Fact
Sideshow performer Stanley Berent, A.K.A. Sealo the Seal Boy, was afflicted with phocomelia, which caused his hands to grow directly from his shoulders.
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