Ferryman's Club

**Ferryman's Club** is an underground sex club managed by Hugo Swann and legally owned by Augustus Bidlow.

## History

Hugo initially refused Augie's invitation to the opera, as he has a meeting with the Minister of Finance about the club next Midnight Carouse. Hugo then agrees to go with his friend under the conditions that Augustus attend the Ferryman's Club. For this, he gives Augusts one of his coins with the engraving of a ferryman. In the opera house, Hugo distributes some of these coins as well.

After the opera, Hugo discusses with Inspector Frank Mundi their business dealings. The club proprietor tells him that, once Mundi sends him enough girls and a certain investor is invested, the Ferryman's Club will become not just a profitable business, but a phenomenon.

Two days later, Lord Gilbert Massen approaches Hugo about a rumor regarding the Ferryman's Club, which Hugo intends to turn into an actual business, and among his entertainers are few of the Touched. Lord Massen refuses to allow Hugo to operate such an establishment in a public arena, due to the public fear and outcast of the Touched. However, Hugo notes that requests for membership into the Ferryman's Club have doubled since Maladie's attack on the opera house, declaring that "horror and fascination go arm and arm."

At night, Augustus enters the Ferryman's Club, where Hugo greets him. Hugo says that, after the attack at the opera, he realized that the Touched are the future and has decided to employ them at his business. Now, all Hugo needs is a small investment from Augie; not with money, but Augie's signature, as the Bidlow name on the contracts will lend legitimacy. Hugo then leads Augie to two women and he goes with them.

The next morning, Hugo is having sex with Dominique as an audition for the Ferryman's Club. Hugo was under the impression that she would fill the room with purple lights and is displeased when she just tells the time instead, having confused her with another one on the long line of auditioning Touched girls. Augie enters the room and expresses his reluctance with his name being involved with the club. Augie fears that his sister will find out and worries how she will respond to Hugo employing the Touched. Hugo pleads with Augie to stay on board, at least for the time being, as he can't run the club on his own. He then calls over his assistant Roma, asking about the Touched girl who supposedly turns purple, before whispering to her to quickly file the contracts.

Lord Bertie Humphries presses charges against the club after he suffered a severe ice burn from the Touched employee Ronald. Hugo shows Inspector Mundi an injury waiver, explaining no one can apply for membership to the Ferryman's Club without it. Hugo considers taking this to Bertie's wife, then questions how he can make this go away. Mundi states that they'll have to get Ronald registered, though he will be discreet and won't list the Ferryman's Club as his place of employment. However, Mundi warns Hugo to keep his employees in order or else he'll shut the club down.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *The Nevers* — "Touched". HBO, April 11, 2021.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *The Nevers* — "Ignition". HBO, April 25, 2021.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 *The Nevers* — "Exposure". HBO, April 18, 2021.
4. ↑ *The Nevers* — "Hanged". HBO, May 9, 2021.