New York, NY

> "*For behold… Unto you this day in the city of David is born a savior… who is Christ, our Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You will hear of wars, and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes. These are the beginning of birth pains.*"
> ― Sharon to Stan
>
>

**New York, NY** is the fourth episode of the first season of the Hulu original series *Monsterland* and the fourth episode of the series overall.

## Plot

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

Josh runs down the street of New York City in search of Syd, his boss’ wife. He catches up to her just as she gets into the back of a cab. She refuses to sign an NDA and won’t be gas-lit anymore. Josh claims that he wouldn’t sign either and that he only wanted to say goodbye. Before parting ways, she gives him a book written by activist and spiritual healer, Marianne Westhart. It helped her get out, and she hopes that it will afford Josh the same path.

CEO of Titan International, Stan Price, is preparing for a congressional hearing following a massive oil spill. He explains that one of the centralizers collapsed, causing an oil spill, which he is at fault for. The spill is also 10,000 times worse than the figure Stan gave the EPA. Stan cracks under pressure and leaves. Sylvia and Josh discuss the importance of this hearing as it is an election year. Josh believes that Stan’s scared and distracted because Syd left. However, Josh luckily managed to get her to sign an NDA.

Josh and Sylvia try to convince Stan to continue the practice hearing. He asks about the regional manager, Randall Pierce. It was his oversight that caused the spill. Stan single-handedly transformed Titan into the world’s largest energy corporation, keeping thousands employed. Sylvia suggests another donation, but Stan wants to call Dorsey to arrange a "pre-hearing love fest." Sylvia doubts a public show would be good for them, but Stan insists this is the plan.

Josh is approached by Peter Simms from New York Daily News. He asks for any kind of information that would implicate Price, who is by no account a good man. He didn’t even finish college. He was booted from B.U. for plagiarism. However, Josh continues to defend him, which confuses Peter as he did some research, and Josh was third in his class at Yale and studied solar energy equity. He gives Josh his card and tells him to call whenever he decides to get on the right side of his history.

As planned, Stan has arranged for a public meeting with Dorsey. However, Kristine and Sylvia get word that Dorsey isn’t coming. He claims he had a family emergency, though it was, in fact, a setup. Josh then discovers that there’s a crowd outside, realizing that Dorsey arranged this.

Josh hides Stan away until it’s safe for him to leave. While he waits, Stan meets a young altar boy named Tim. He asks if Stan is a spy. He’s not allowed to play games on Sunday but sneaks away to do so. Stan explains that he’s simply waiting out the paparazzi. Stan questions if Tim bought into the brainwashing and propaganda of religion. Tim replies "Nah. I just really like to suck old priest dick." Stan is amused. He then asks about the communion crackers and whether or not Tim believes them to be the body of Christ. He lastly asks Tim about Hell. He claims that he cheated on a math test and did some bad addition. Tim explains that cheating is venial, which is a lesser offense than mortal, such as murder. Stan wonders if there’s a get-out-of-Hell-free prayer or if he has to eat a lot of crackers, but Tim leaves before answering. Once he’s alone, Stan eats a single cracker.

Josh informs Stan that Dorsey is reassessing despite their 34 years of friendship. He tells Josh to reach out to Senator Fletcher so they can talk face-to-face.

Stan and Sharon have sex, but he abruptly stops due to stomach pains. So he decides to watch the practice hearing recording. He asks Sharon if he looks guilty. She replies that he looks handsome. Stan falls asleep and has a Last Supper-esque dream — a table full of allies and foes. Todd sits at the table and asks if it’s true that Stan hid away on his yacht during the oil spill to protect his own status and wealth. Tim remarks that is mortal. When Stan claims that he didn’t know, Syd remarks that he’s a lying drunk. They proceed to chant "Crucify him." Stan flees to the church, where he begs Jesus to save him. He says that he’ll do anything. Jesus breaks his hand off and Stan feasts upon his flesh before puking. He then finds himself in bed surrounded by familiar faces. Sharon explains that they’ve come to see the birth of the second coming, for which Stan is the vessel. They repeatedly chant "Laudate Omnes Gentes. Laudate Dominum." Sharon then says: "For behold… Unto you this day in the city of David is born a savior… who is Christ, our Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You will hear of wars, and rumors of wars. Nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes. These are the beginning of birth pains." The sky above them then turns red.

Stan awakens from his sleep the following morning. Josh informs him that he has a conference call and that Senator Fletcher responded to his invite to Stan’s birthday party.

The night of Stan's party has arrived. Josh informs Sylvia and Kristine that Dorsey has cut ties and that Randall Pierce has been rushed to the ER after a vigilante saw him at a car wash and threw a rock at his head.

Stan and Senator Fletcher snort cocaine in the men’s restroom. Fletcher tells him not to worry about the trial as it’s all for show. He assures Stan that they’re never going to kill him for real. They just want to sharpen their axe so they can sleep at night. The two men then agree that moving forward they will help each other prosper.

Stan announces that he is 55 today, which is the age his father was when he died. He was a working class man who taught Stan to be a man. Stan stops in the middle of his speech to ask why the waiter, Zeke, is staring at him. He asks Zeke what he was thinking. Zeke admits that he was thinking Stan will get away with it. He’ll show up, tell a couple lies, look sorry, and then hide away from the press on an island after making a donation, allowing him to continue with his life as if nothing happened. Then one day, Stan will die and go to Hell, where he will burn for eternity. Enraged by his response, Stan fires Zeke.

Stan heads into the bathroom, where his stomach pains continue. He feels something in the back of his throat and pulls a large feather out of his mouth. He then starts coughing up blood. He returns to the party, clearly not alright. In a deep and distorted voice, he says: "You will hear of wars. And of rumors of wars! But do not be alarmed, for such things must happen. The end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation. Kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes. All these are the beginning of birth pains." He then pees on himself, and Josh catches him as he falls to the ground.

Stan gets checked out by a doctor. His M.R.I showed an abdominal mass sitting upon vital organs. Though, they’re not sure what it is. He is referred to an oncologist over at Sloan Kettering. The doctor also suggests that Stan change his lifestyle and get sober.

Josh reads over the latest of action items to Stan, who is clearly distracted. They decide to put a hold on the documents until a later time. Josh offers to stay over and keep Stan company, during which time, they bond. Josh reveals that he was headhunted after college and that’s how he began working at Titan. He told himself that he’d only be there for a year, but the more he saw, the more he thought he would incite change from the inside. Josh reminds Stan of himself. After college, he thought he would take over the world, and he did. Josh asks when he graduated from college, but Stan doesn’t recall. Stan takes another drink and explains that he’s not a drunk. He’s just a drinker. His father on the other hand was a drunk despite what Stan told everyone at the party. In reality, his father was a failure and alcoholic. One day, he crashed his truck. They didn’t find his body for days. The coyotes found him first and ate what they could through the window. From there, Stan changed his life as well as his name. "Ransom" became "Price." The harder he works, the further he is from the failure of his father. After Stan passes out, Josh drags him into his room and lays him on the bed. He then calls his partner and informs him that he’s staying over at Stan’s to watch over him.

Josh awakens to the sound of loud hammering and unbearable heat. He calls out to Stan, who with glowing yellow eyes and a distorted voice says: "Let me out!"

Marianne arrives outside of Stan’s place. Above his apartment is a dark cloud of thunder. She was called over by Josh, who was forced to restrain Stan to a chair after he refused to sleep for three days. She believes this to be a standard dislodgement. She can save Stan by communing with the corruption and unveiling the psychic deformity. It could be a devil or demon. Or any kind of unwelcome parasite they become fixed to a corporeal being. She notices how deeply Josh cares. She appreciates genuine compassion as there’s so little that remains in the world. She tells Josh that he’s a beacon.

Josh leads Marianne to Stan, who is restrained to a chair. His eyes glow yellow and his voice is disturbingly deep. She introduces herself as a spiritual healer and transition specialist. She calls him "Mr. Price," but he doesn’t answer to the name. She gets his attention when she mentions the oil spill. The creature inside says that Stan is gone. She asks if he’s the dark spirit of Paimon. He laughs and says: "I am the alpha, and the omega. The beginning and the end. The first and the last. I am the root and the offspring of David. I am the bright and morning star." He says that he’s not the God they prayed for but the one they paid for. Marianne calls out to Stan, but the God claims that Stan is gone. He was merely a vessel. The perfect host to bring him forward unto the world. He’s come to unleash and reign of fire and darkness upon the ruined world. He blames them for ignoring all the signs of his impending emergence, such as earthquakes, tornadoes, and war. There were so many signs and nobody cared. Marianne claims that she cares. He asks how much she was paid to come over. He claims that she and Stan both profit off people’s pain. Marianne tries to call out to Stan, but she fails. He then starts to ooze black goo from his nose, mouth, and ears.

Marianne is no longer certain she can help Stan. She questions why she can’t reach him. Josh suggests using his real name, "Stanley Ransom." And so Marianne returns and calls out to Stan by his full name and assures him that he isn’t his father and that he’s deserving of love. The three of them join hands and Stan emerges. He admits to being responsible for the oil spill and apologizes. They form a circle of love for only love is real. Marianne then tells Josh to cut Stan loose. As Josh frees Stan, he says that it’s too late for him. He takes the pair of scissors from Josh and cuts his stomach open. A winged bird-like creature emerges from within Stan and flies out the window.

Josh returns home to his boyfriend, Brad. He notices that something is wrong and asks Josh what happened. Josh reveals that he carried around the reporter’s card for weeks, like a rock in his pocket. Josh claimed he didn’t have anything, but in actuality, he had everything one could need to destroy Stanley Price. He could’ve stopped the spill but chose not to. Brad argues that Josh was but an assistant and didn’t have that power. However, Josh now realizes that he’s taken so many steps in the wrong direction. Small steps, but steps nonetheless. That’s how good men turn bad. And that’s how bad men win. Brad tells Josh that isn’t never too late, but Josh would beg to differ.

## Cast

### Starring

* Bill Camp as Stan Price
* Michael Hsu Rosen as Josh
* Tina Benko as Marianne Westhart
* Teresa Avia Lim as Kristine
* Tony Crane as Senator Fletcher
* Nicole LaLiberte as Sharon
* Julie Dretzin as Sylvia

### Co-Starring

* Ariana Venturi as Syd
* Mason Schneiderman as Tim
* Steven Gift as Zeke
* Ben Chase as Peter Simms
* Miles G. Jackson as Brad
* David Lavine as Todd
* Woody Fu as Dr. Meagher
* Shernita Anderson as Viv
* Michael Tyler as Jesus