Season 2 - Episode 30: The Truth Will Hurt You

## Synopsis

James, Henry's father, tells him about their family history. He explains that their ancestor, David Marlowe, was a Rogue and that his wife was killed because of it. David made a deal with the Empty Man to bring his wife back from the dead, but in return every firstborn male of each generation of Marlowes would be cursed until the end of time. The Empty Man would feed off their pain, suffering, and grief. They haven't been able to find any information on what the Empty Man is, where he came from, or how to stop him. James also explains that during the outbreak in 1989, Stanley's son Gideon was turned into a zombie Stanley's wife, Lily, tried to cure Gideon with Rift magic, but ended up turning Gideon into something else and losing her life in the process. Later on, Henry learns that River also lost her mom - that she understands why Salem did what he did because she'd do anything to get her mom back.

## Episode Description

Henry's father arrives to give him the talk that Stanley told him to have weeks before. Henry wants the truth, but is he ready for it?

## Key Events

* James tells Henry about his family history - his ancestor made a deal with the Empty Man to bring his wife back from the dead, but in return every firstborn male of the Marlowe family would be cursed.
* Stanley's son, Gideon, was turned into a zombie in the first outbreak in Halloween of '89. His wife, Lily, tried to fix him with Rift magic, but it killed her in the process and turned Gideon into something else.
* Bjorn and some H.U.N.T.E.R. agents help Salem to re-bury his mom.
* River tells Henry that she also lost her mom and that she'd do anything to get her back.

## Summary

Henry confronts his father, rather angrily, about why he didn't tell him about the Empty Man being more involved in their family. James says its not an easy story to tell and steps forward to hug Henry. Henry's anger evaporates and his dad asks if he'd like to have this talk with everyone or alone. Everyone other than Stanley, James, and Henry leave the room to give them some privacy.

Stanley is sitting on the couch, arms crossed over his chest. He doesn't say anything, trying to keep his expression as neutral as possible. James begins to tell Henry that the Marlowes are cursed. He explains that the Empty Man feeds on pain and misery from their family specifically. One of their ancestors, David Marlowe, was a Rogue - a member of a group of Dragon Knights that tried to enact a plan to take over the world in WW2. The Council came looking for David and killed his wife instead, even though she had nothing to do with the Rogues.

David had incredible magic abilities, power that their family has never had since, and he summoned the Empty Man. They don't know how he summoned the Empty Man or where the Empty Man came from, just that he did. Sick with grief, he made a deal with the Empty Man to bring back his wife. The Empty Man brought David's wife back but only under the condition that every firstborn male of every generation of the Marlowe family would be cursed until the end of time - The Empty Man would find them and inflict as much pain and misery as possible until he killed them.

Henry asks if they ever found any information on the Empty Man, where he came from or how he was summoned. James says they have never been able to find any information on the entity. Henry asks if the Empty Man is the reason that James had his accident. James disagrees, pointing out that the Empty Man already started working on him when it killed his mother. Henry suddenly realizes that his dad isn't the firstborn, it's Stanley. Henry turns to Stanley and asks what happened, but Stanley shakes his head. Henry presses Stanley for more information, more gently this time now that he understands, but Stanley says he can't talk about it. Stanley says that James will tell him.

James begins to explain that when Stanley was 17 he met the girl of his dreams, Lily. Then, when he was just 18, they had a son. James says he was only 8 at the time that their son, Gideon, was born. James continues that everything was fine for a while, Stanley met Miguel and they began to work to protect Thornvale together. Stanley and Lily got married and while Stanley wasn't dealing with monsters he was helping raise Gideon and train James. He says they all forgot about the curse for a while, that things were good. Until Halloween of 1989. It was a weird year, there weren't as many Rift openings. Gideon was only 10 when the zombie outbreak started. There were dozens of zombies on both islands and Gideon was one of the first ones infected. Like Henry, Gideon didn't die immediately. They were able to keep him alive for several days with Miguel healing him constantly.

Then, suddenly, several days after Halloween the remaining zombies died where they stood. Anyone who had been bitten and was still alive, was healed. However, Gideon had turned just before sunrise on the last day of the outbreak - except he didn't die when the other zombies did. He held on. Whether he didn't die because he was a Dragon Knight or because of a cruel manipulation of the Empty Man, they weren't sure. However, even though Gideon was 'alive,' he was still a zombie - the feral kind. So, they locked him up in a cell at the Fort. He was still slowly deteriorating over time, but Stanley couldn't give up on him.

Keeping their son locked up in a cell in an underwater Fort broke Lily. She became very distant. James and Miguel tried to help them work things out, but 5 months after Gideon turned, Lily moved out of the Fort. Seeing that Dragon Knight magic couldn't heal Gideon, she began down very dark paths to try and find a cure for her son. She went back to the Fort while James, Stanley, and Miguel were fighting a demon. When they got back, they found Lily had destroyed every rune in the Fort that blocked the use of Rift magic and had broken into the cell that Gideon was being held in. She took out Miguel first, knowing Stanley and James would not have the magical capability of breaking her force field.

Lily preformed a ritual on Gideon, one she hoped would heal him, but something went wrong. Gideon stopped deteriorating, but didn't turn back into a Dragon Knight. He became something else - he grew bigger, stronger, and more aquatic. They don't know what Lily was trying to accomplish and never got to ask because the power required for the ritual consumed her life force and killed her. Henry starts to put the pieces together and James confirms that the creature Bjorn and Sammie saw under the water at the Fort was Stanley's son - Gideon.

As James finishes, Henry struggles to cope with this information. Stanley is still sitting on the couch, but has tears rolling down his face as he cries. He's leaned forward, head in his hands. Henry apologizes to Stanley for pushing him so much and that he understands why Stanley can't talk about it. He puts a hand on Stanley's shoulder and Stanley silently puts his hand over it. Henry turns back to his dad and starts asking him about how to find the Empty Man and James says they've never been able to find anything out about him.

Henry silently decides to dedicate himself to becoming an expert on the Empty Man, but agrees to drop the conversation for now. Henry opens the door to the room where Bjorn, Sammie, Oliver, Miguel, River, and Salem have been waiting. He silently gestures that it's okay for them to leave and Bjorn stop and asks Henry if he's alright before they do. Henry says that he's not alright right now, but he will be. Henry then goes to talk to Sammie and tells her that he'll need some 'magical help' from her. Sammie assures him that she'll help.

Bjorn goes to talk to Salem, asking him what he'd do about his mom. Salem says that he'd like to re-bury her. Bjorn says they can arrange that. Salem says he's not sure what he is or what to do next, that he doesn't think he can go back to school like this. Bjorn says that he should stay here in the hotel with them, with people who understand what's going on. Salem asks if Judson might be able to help and Bjorn says they can definitely talk to him about that. Bjorn and Agent Thor's squad help Salem to bury his mom. Henry stays behind and talks with River.

River admits to Henry that she understands why Salem did what he did and admits that she lost her mom as well. Henry asks what happened and River explains that her dad used to be a detective in Baltimore and that he was investigating a killer and the killer found out about River and her mom. Before River got home from school one day, the man shot and killed her mom. River admits that she would do anything to get her mom back. Henry says he doubts she expected this was going to be how the day went when they had lunch on the roof. River agrees and says zombies wasn't exactly on her radar for the day. Henry says he wouldn't blame River if she wanted to forget any of this ever happened and not want to be around him anymore, but River says she couldn't forget this if she tried. River then points out that it's Halloween and there's still time for trick-or-treating. Henry agrees and they head out for the night.

After helping Salem, Bjorn goes back to his townhouse. He starts to write up his report for H.U.N.T.E.R. He includes that Salem has been turned into something else but that they are keeping a close eye on him and that he shouldn't be killed because they believe there is a cure out there somewhere for him. He writes that an entity known as the Empty Man is responsible, but more research is needed. As he concludes his report, he thinks about how they need to figure out more about the Empty Man, but it's been a long day and he's ready to turn in for the night. He also realizes he needs to have a conversation with River about the Blackout Society.

While things at the hotel are winding down for the night, Sammie begins to nod off. She tells Oliver she's going back to her apartment and Oliver asks if she'd like some company, Sammie agrees. When they get back to the apartment, Sammie starts to make coffee. Oliver suggests she not have coffee and get some rest but Sammie admits she hasn't been sleeping because she's worried Jadis will take control of her body if she does. Oliver asks her if it would make her feel better if he stayed here for the night to make sure nothing happened while she slept. Sammie agrees that that would help. Oliver says he'll stay right outside her room, on the couch, if she needs him and Sammie asks that he not stay on the couch, but in bed with her. Oliver nods and takes her coffee out of her hands and puts it back on the counter before gently guiding her toward her room.

## List of Appearances

* James Marlowe
* Henry Marlowe
* Sammie Overbrook
* Bjorn Olafson
* Miguel Rodriguez
* Stanley Marlowe
* Oliver Allen Evans
* River Hanson
* Salem Pierce

## Trivia

Hannah and Wesley are still firmly on Team Hates Candy Corn while Susannah is on Team Loves Candy Corn.