The Sandman · Season 1
Dream Lord? It is you.
I greet you, Nada.
Kai'ckul. How I have prayed for this day. I knew you would come.
It pains me to see you like this.
Then, free me, Lord. Only your forgiveness can free me. Do you not still love me?
It has been 10,000 years, Nada. Yes. I still love you. But I have not yet forgiven you.
I admit that in the past I may have done some things that are morally … ambiguous. But it taught me about human nature and the secret of real understanding and compassion. Do you want to know what it is?
I do.
This is going to sound rather odd, but the secret to having compassion for people is knowing that they are fundamentally selfish. And I say this without judgement. It's how human beings are built. It's how we're made. But if you know that going in, if you understand that we are operating out of the biological congenital selfishness, then life begins to make a lot more sense. Are you all right?
Uh, sorry. The phone slipped. You were saying?
I … I was saying, knowing that people are selfish sets you free from having to take their actions, their lies, personally. People lie because they're selfish. They lie because they are human.
They lie because they're scared. People will say anything. Do anything to keep from being hurt. That's what I think, anyway.
You're very good, Rosemary.
I don't know what you mean.
I mean I experience people as basically selfish and you experience them as afraid. Which they are, we all are. You're absolutely right. And good. Thank you.
Hello, Dream.
Greetings to you, Lucifer Morningstar. And to you, Mazikeen of the Lillim.
Greetings, Dream Lord.
You look well, Dream. Are you well? And your family, Destiny, Death, Despair, and the others?
I presume the Ruler of Hell knows this is no social call.
Have you come to join forces then? To ally your realm to ours? To acknowledge the sovereignty of Hell?
You know my feelings on that, Lightbringer.
Feelings change. Especially when one has been caught and imprisoned by mortals. We expected better of you, sweet Morpheus.
I am … a dire wolf. Prey-stalking, lethal prowler.
I am a hunter. Horse-mounted, wolf-stabbing.
I am a serpent. Horse-biting, poison-toothed.
I am a bird of prey. Snake-devouring, talons ripping.
I am a butcher bacterium. Warm-life destroying.
I am a world. Space-floating, life-nurturing.
I am a nova. All-exploding, planet-cremating.
I am a universe. All things encompassing, all life embracing.
I am anti-life.The Beast of Judgement. The dark at the end of everything. What will you be then, Dream Lord?
[fallen to the floor, dying] I … I … I …
Boss? Hey, boss!
Still with us, Dream?
He is — and it's his move … Your Majesty.
There are no more moves. What can survive the anti-life?
Hey, boss. Listen to me. You know what can survive the anti-life? You. — Dreams don't fucking die. — Not if you believe in them, and I believe Dream of the Endless would never leave his raven here, alone, in Hell with Lucifer.
I … am … Hope. [rises, and stands]
Hope.
Well, Lightbringer? It's your move. What is it that kills hope?
[despairing] Choronzon, give him his helm.
The Ruler of Hell is honorable, indeed. I will not forget this.
Honorable? You joke, surely. Look out there, Morpheus. The billion Lords of Hell stand arrayed about you. Tell us. Why should we let you leave? Helmet or no, you have no power here. After all … What power have dreams in Hell?
You say I have no power here. Perhaps you speak truly. But to say dreams have no power in Hell … Tell me, Lucifer Morningstar, what power would Hell have if those here imprisoned were not able to dream … of Heaven?
One day, Morpheus … we shall destroy you.
Until that day, Lightbringer. [Leaves]
What are you still doing here?
I know I'm gonna regret this but … Do you need a ride somewhere?
Do you really want me to get back into that truck? The truth. No lies.
I wanna go home.
You're a good person, Rosemary. Unfortunately, good people seldom survive in this world.
Just don't hurt Susie, please. I don't care what happens to me but …
[holds up his amulet of protection] Here. Take it. Wear it. From now on, no one will be able to hurt you. Not even me. There's no need to be afraid or tell a lie ever again.
Don't you need it?
No. I have my ruby. … The ruby makes dreams come true. … And I'm going to use it to save the world.
[after John Dee takes a seat in the Diner] Best seat in the house. How are you doing today?
How am I doing? … Well … I'm feeling better than I have for quite some time. Thank you.
Mmm. I could use some of that. What's your secret?
Shall I tell you the truth?
Well, honesty is the best policy.
That's what they say, isn't it? Well, I hope it's true. This … [holds up Dream's Ruby] is my secret.
It's gorgeous.
It makes dreams come true.
I bet it does. And what are you dreaming about? New house? New job?
A new world. A more honest one.
That is the dream, isn't it? Well, can I get you a cup of coffee while we wait for our dream to come true?
Please. But we won't be waiting for long.
Then I better hurry up and get you that coffee.
Why did you lie?
I don't know. I … I guess I was just trying to be … I just wanted to make you feel … I wanted you to like me.
I do like you. I like this version of you much better, don't you? Isn't it a relief to tell the truth for once? Don't you wish we could live in a world where we could say what we actually think?
I do.
Well, it starts with us, Bette, you and I. We're going to change the world. Make a more honest one.
[after the death of Gary Flertcher] You all saw, he tried to choke me. … I would never do anything to hurt anyone. I would never. That's not who I am.
I don't think it is you.… I think it's him. [gazing at John Dee] You said you were gonna change the world. I didn't believe you.
All I did was take away the lies. You all did the rest. You did what you wanted to.
I never wanted this.
You didn't want to be seen, or touched, or loved?
I didn't wanna kill anyone.
Yes, you did. Or you wouldn't have done it. Kate wanted to kill him too.
I did not.
You don't have to pretend anymore. You can have what you want.
[as the carnage in the world and the diner increases] I offered you a world where you could be yourselves without having to suffer for it, but it seems you enjoy your suffering.
And if that is your truth, then perhaps your suffering will set you free.
The truth is a cleansing fire which burns away the lies we've told each other and the lies we've told ourselves.
So that love and hate, pleasure and pain can all be expressed without shame.
Where there is no good or bad there is only the truth.
[still surviving, amidst the carnage in the Diner] How is this a better world?
You're still seeing it with your eyes. You need to close them. Embrace the darkness. [she is driven to stab her eyes, and dies]
[suddenly appearing in flashes, sometimes as the 3 dead women in the diner] I see the future.
Then tell me. Tell me my future.
You come from dust. You walk the dust. You go back to dust.
That's everyone's future. Tell me my future.
There is no future for you, John Dee. It is bound by walls and guards and the sour smell of madness. And then the skein of your life is cut, son of your mother.
No. Look again. Tell me my future.
You have stolen some of the power of Dreams. You will take all of it. You will crush the Dream Lord's life in your hands.
[after Morpheus enters the Diner] Hello. I'm John. I'm glad you're here. The power has gone out. So there's no TV, and no one left to talk to.
What is it you think you're doing?
Saving the world from its lies.
The ruby wasn't made for that.
Oh … you're The Sandman. My mother was right. She said you'd be coming for it.
You must return it to me so that I can repair the damage you have done.
I'm not giving it to you, it's mine.
It is harming you, John, and your world.
It's revealing the truth. … This is the truth of mankind.
No. … You're wrong. This is the truth of mankind. [shows normal exchanges of polite pleasantries in the diner]
They're lying to themselves. … It's all lies.
Not lies, John. Dreams. … Kate dreams of running away, where no one will find her. … Garry dreams of proving his father was wrong about him. … Bette dreams of creating something that matters to people. Their dreams inspired them. … Their dreams kept them alive. … But if you rob them of their dreams, if you take away their hope, then … yes, … this is the truth of mankind. [returns to scenes of the dead lying in the diner] … The ruby is hurting you, John. It has too much of my power within it. It stole more when I tried to use it.
Then perhaps if I use it to steal the rest of your powers, I will be the King of Dreams.
If you'd rob a Dream Lord of his power, you shall do so in his realm. … In dreams.
[as his palace burns away] You must stop. It is not too late to save yourself.
Oh, you think it's me that needs saving?
Your father stole the ruby from me and cursed you with it.
You mean he blessed me with it. [he begins using the ruby to absorb more of Dream's power] Your reign ended when my father captured you. Your kingdom is my birthright. Your power resides within me. How does it feel to know I hold your life in my hands?
You're hurting the dreamers.
Well, it's time they woke up! Your life and your lies end now. [crushes the Ruby] I did it. … I killed him. … I won.
[revealed as holding John in the palm of his hand] Thank you, John.
But I killed you.
You destroyed the ruby and released the power inside it. I would never have thought of that. I'd forgotten just how much of myself I had placed in the jewel.
Are you going to kill me?
I could. … Perhaps I will. … But the dream stone was not made for mortals. And it came to you through no fault of your own. … So, no, John. I will not kill you. [returns John to Arkham Asylum] Sleep well, John.
[amidst the carnage of the streets] All the damage the ruby did, can you undo it?
The ruby didn't do this. John merely used it to reveal wounds that were hidden, but never healed. Tomorrow, the rebuilding will begin. In this realm and in mine. But tonight at least … humanity will sleep in peace.
[As Morpheus walks down the street] I'm watching you, big brother.
What are you doin'?
I'm feeding the pigeons.
You do that too much, you know what you get? …Fat pigeons.… That's from Mary Poppins. Did you ever see it?
No.
Okay, so what's the matter?
What do you mean?
I can tell something's wrong. I mean, look at you. Sittin' here, moping, pigeon-feeding. It's not like you.
No. Perhaps it isn't. I don't know what's wrong, but … You're right. Something is the matter. When they captured me, I just had one thought. Vengeance.
It wasn't as satisfying as I'd expected. Meanwhile, my kingdom had fallen apart. My tools long since stolen and scattered. And so I embarked upon a journey to find them. Which I did.
I'm now more powerful than I have been in eons. And yet …
Here you are, feeding the pigeons.
You see, until then, I'd had a true quest. A purpose beyond my function and then suddenly, it was over, and … I felt disappointed. Let down. Empty. Does that make sense?
I was so sure that once I got everything back, I'd feel good. But in some ways I feel worse than when I started.
I feel like … Nothing.
There.
You asked.
You could have called me, you know.
I didn't want to worry you.
Oh, I don't believe it.
Let me tell you something, Dream. And I'm only gonna say this once, so you better pay attention.
You are utterly the stupidest, most self-centered, pathetic excuse for an anthropomorphic personification on this or any other plane.
Feeling sorry for yourself because your little game is over and you haven't got the balls to go out and find a new one. You're as bad as Desire.
No, worse. Did it never occur to you that I would be worried about you?
I didn't think you —
Exactly. You didn't think.
Heads up! [Death catches a soccer ball before it hits her, as Dream had just done a short time before] Wow! You're as good as your … friend there.
He's not my friend. He's my brother. And he's an idiot.
I'm just feeding the birds.
Look, I can't stay here all day. I've got work to do. You can come with me if you want, or you can stay here and sulk.
I'll come with you, I suppose.
Well, don't do me any favors.
Sorry, before you go, umm… could I maybe see you again?
Sure, Franklin. You'll see me again.
[surprised] Seriously?
Soon.
Okay, cool! Yeah, let me just get your number and … [turns back toward them] Wait, how did you know my … [sees that they are gone]
Can you hear it? [violin playing]
I know this piece. I haven't heard it in 200 years.
Come on. [entering Harry's apartment as he stops playing the violin and coughs] No. Don't stop, please.
Uh, sorry for the noise.
It's not noise. It's Schubert. Keep going.
I can't. He never finished it. All we have is a fragment. … Oh, forgive me, I … I am Harry.
I know who you are, Harry. [walks to him] Do you know who I am?
[gazes into her face] No. Not yet. Please.
It's time.
Can I just … There's something I have to say. If that's all right.
Of course.
Sh'ma Yisra'el, YHWH 'eloheinu, YHWH 'eḥad: Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God. The Lord is One.
I'm glad I said the Shema. My old man always said it would guarantee you a place in Heaven. If you believe in Heaven. Hmm? [sees his body] I look so old. So empty. … So, I'm dead. Now what?
Now's when you find out, Harry.
My sister …
Yeah?
When I was captured, it wasn't me they were looking for. It was you.
Yeah … I know. … [stops and reaches down]
What are you doing?
I'm taking my shoes off. You should take yours off too. It's good to touch the Earth with your bare feet. It's grounding. Come on, I don't want to miss the next one.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's The Sandman pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
