Season 1, Episode 11

And We Shall Be Atlas

[The Frankenstein house. Afternoon. We hear Victor flipping through pages]

CHRISTINE

Victor--

VICTOR

Hold on.

CHRISTINE

You need to take a break.

VICTOR

No. No, I'm-- I'm close, I can feel it. 

HENRY

You've been "close" for over a week now. You're hyperfocusing again.

VICTOR

And? If it gets me closer to figuring out what's going on--

CHRISTINE

Victor, please. I understand, but you need to take care of yourself, too.

VICTOR

I am taking care of myself! This is-- [A breath as he calms himself down] I need this. If she knew something, then…. Look, I’m-- I’m not gonna just sit around and hope that things work out. I can’t, I…. There’s a connection here somewhere. I just have to figure out what mom knew. 

CHRISTINE

And when was the last time you slept? 

VICTOR

What day is it?

HENRY

For fuck's sake. Christine’s right. At least go take a shower. Rest your brain for a bit. 

VICTOR

...Okay.

[He exits the room. We hear the bathroom door close behind him]

HENRY

Jesus, that guy. If I get like that about a project I'm working on, just slap me across the face, okay?

CHRISTINE

He's passionate, I'll give him that.

HENRY

He's fucked up, is what he is. And I mean that in the nicest way possible. He's terrified, so he's using this to take his mind off it and gain some feeling of control over the situation. 

CHRISTINE

That psych degree is serving you well. 

HENRY

Didn't need the psych degree for that one. Just a degree in understanding Victor Frankenstein. Which is arguably more challenging. 

CHRISTINE

[Laughs]

I can imagine. You've been doing well so far, though. 

HENRY

...I thought I was. [He sighs] I mean, I know depression symptoms, anxiety, PTSD. It's all basic stuff. But… it's different when you're just listing them off for a test, you know? Seeing it in action, when it's suddenly real…. I barely recognize him. 

CHRISTINE

He's going to get through this, Henry. And as much as you might want to, you can't hold yourself responsible for making sure he knows that. 

HENRY

I know. Doesn't mean I can't try, though.

CHRISTINE 

Oh, he left his phone recording.

HENRY

Perfect. You listening, future Victor? Here's your reminder that I care about you, you son of a bitch. So I don't wanna hear you talking about how you don't have anyone, don't even think it. You've got us two badasses right here.

CHRISTINE

Damn right!

HENRY

[More serious now]

...Honestly. I…. I want you to be okay, man. I hate seeing you like this. We're all going through shit. But don't think that means you can't count on us to be there. Me and you, that’s always been the way things work, right? It’s just us against the world. The rest of the world. Nothing’s gonna change that. I promise. [Beat.] And that's my emotional vulnerability quota for the week!

CHRISTINE

...You know, you have a right to be open, too.

HENRY

What do you mean?

CHRISTINE

Henry, how are you coping with everything?

HENRY

Fine. I’m on my feet-- Well, feet plus a cane. I’m home. I’m fine. ...I’m always fine.

CHRISTINE

But you don’t have to be.

HENRY

...I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. It’s like everything changed overnight. Almost twenty years, it was always the three of us. And now suddenly Elliot’s gone, and Victor’s… like this. Not to mention my whole situation. I’m… working on it. I’ll be fine.

CHRISTINE

...Well, if you change your mind.

HENRY

Not to turn the tables and completely change the subject, but I’ve got some questions.

CHRISTINE

Okay, hit me.

HENRY

At Dr. Walton’s. I just felt like there was something… off about your bit. 

CHRISTINE

What do you mean?

HENRY

I dunno, like… you were leaving something out.

CHRISTINE

Nothing relevant.

HENRY

Wanna share with the class, just in case?

CHRISTINE

...When Raoul came looking for me, he had help. A person who said that they knew Erik. I couldn’t get much more information from them, but they said they were from Persia.

HENRY

...Doesn’t Persia like…

CHRISTINE

Not exist anymore? Yeah. So that definitely stood out. But I wasn’t about to question them, there were more important things going on. Plus, questioning the person who’s probably saving your life isn’t the best idea. And... I don’t know, there was just something about them, I couldn’t put my finger on it. But they helped Raoul find me and said that they wanted to make sure that Erik didn’t hurt anyone else.

HENRY

Well they did a shit job. [Beat.] What the hell’ve we got in this book, anyway? [He starts flipping through pages of the journal] Bunch of different languages, circles, and lines. [Sarcastic] Great. Definitely something we can work with. No doubt we’ll be able to figure this out. God, my head just hurts looking at it. Your Persian friend know anything about these?

CHRISTINE

They never said anything to suggest they do. I have no idea how to get in contact with them again. The only person who might have an idea is Erik....

HENRY

Well fuck that idea, then.

CHRISTINE

I obviously understand why you and Victor wouldn’t want to, but it couldn’t hurt if I went by myself and--

HENRY

Really? It couldn’t hurt? I know you spent a lot of time with him, but he did kidnap you and try to force you to marry him. It could hurt you.

CHRISTINE

He wouldn’t do that, not to me.

HENRY

You don’t know that. Did you miss the part where he literally abducted you?

CHRISTINE

You going to diagnose me, doctor?

HENRY

[Scoffs]

I’m being serious. Look, I don’t really know you. That doesn’t mean I can’t be concerned for your safety.

CHRISTINE

[Sighs]

I appreciate it. And you know, you’re probably right. No need to risk provoking him.

HENRY

We’ll keep your buddy in mind. For now…. [He flips through the journal again] Maybe all this is nothing. I mean, Caroline never gave off any spooky vibes or anything. Maybe Victor’s paranoia is getting the better of him.

CHRISTINE

Do you really believe that?

HENRY

...I sure would like to.

CHRISTINE

But….

HENRY

But I’m not an idiot. This, [He rustles the pages] isn’t a coincidence. Who just writes secret messages and draws weird symbols just for the hell of it? It’s not impossible, but it’s not likely, either.

CHRISTINE

[After a beat]

“War.”

HENRY

What.

CHRISTINE

Right here. I can’t read most of it, but Guerre, that’s French.

HENRY

You would know French, you fancy motherfucker. [A small laugh] So we have “Something something, war, something something something”. Fantastic progress.

CHRISTINE

It’s something. And add that to the fact that this is the symbol that Professor Crane recognized when we went up to Ingleside….

HENRY

And we might actually be getting somewhere.

CHRISTINE

Fingers crossed that the rest goes smoothly. 

HENRY

...Another question.

CHRISTINE

Okay?

HENRY

You're always asking us how we're handling everything. How are you handling it?

CHRISTINE

Henry, I appreciate it, but--

HENRY

Nope. Don't tell me that you're not at least a little freaked out by all of this. First with literally everything about Erik, now all the… ghosts or whatever. 

CHRISTINE

Don't let Victor hear you say the G Word. 

HENRY

[Laughing] Seriously. But I mean it. This has gotta be difficult to process. I mean, it sure as hell is for me. And Victor can be a bit overwhelming, even when he’s somewhat okay. You can’t tell me you’re not having even a little bit of trouble with it.

CHRISTINE

I guess, yeah. I've known about Erik's origins for a while now, so I'm used to that. But I'll admit, everything else is…. Well, it's going to take some time to really get comfortable with it.

HENRY

Well. At least you won't have to do it alone.

CHRISTINE

Thank goodness for that. For both of us. You've been doing really well with it, though.

HENRY

...Have I, though?

CHRISTINE

What do you mean? 

HENRY

With Victor. He's…. I mean, look at the shit he did. I know he didn't mean to hurt anyone, but come on. 

CHRISTINE

Are you upset with him?

HENRY

Maybe? Not as much as he expected me to be, even if I really should be. If that were the case, I wouldn't be getting involved in… whatever this is. But things are still weird between us. He obviously just wants things to go back to how they used to be, and yeah we're headed in that direction. But I still feel like he…. [He trails off, having lost the words] Shit, what's it called? Never mind. Things are fucked up, and I'm not sure how quickly I should be readjusting.

CHRISTINE

You two are made for each other, you know.

HENRY

[A little too quickly]

What?

CHRISTINE

You guys always try and make everything into a science project. This isn't chemistry, Henry. There's no set formula for this sort of thing. We just have to do our best to figure it out on a case-by-case basis.

HENRY

How did we get back to my bullshit again?

CHRISTINE

It's a talent of mine.

HENRY

Someday, you're gonna let me help you.

CHRISTINE

You'll have to drag it out of me, Dr. Clerval.

[The bathroom door opens]

HENRY

There he is. Feel better?

VICTOR

Yeah…. Thank you.

HENRY

Any monumental shower breakthroughs?

VICTOR

More like breakdowns. [A moment of concerned silence] That was a joke. Look, guys, I really do appreciate your help, but… I think I just need some time to myself. Just to… unwind a bit. 

CHRISTINE

Promise you'll text us if you need anything?

VICTOR

Sure.

HENRY

Want me to order you lunch?

VICTOR

No, I-- I'm good. I'll make something.

HENRY

I want you to send me a picture of it so I know you're not bullshitting me, okay?

VICTOR

Fine.

HENRY

And if you send me a picture of another damn Hot Pocket, I swear I will lose it. [Victor sighs] I mean it. I'm talking an actual meal, minimum one vegetable. 

VICTOR

[Laughing]

Goodbye, Clerval.