Collaboration

"**Collaboration**" is the eighth episode of the second season of *What We Do in the Shadows*. It aired on May 27th, 2020.

## Synopsis

Nandor's old familiar from the 1970s returns to Staten Island, Guillermo leaves to serve a new master, and Nadja and Laszlo revive their musical act.

## Plot Summary

The Staten Island house receives a surprise visit from Benjy, Nandor's former familiar, who says he is ready to become a vampire. It is revealed that a young Benjy served Nandor during the 1970s, but Nandor eventually tired of him. Nandor had hypnotized Benjy and abandoned him at a rest stop in Delaware; the confused Benjy was rescued by his future wife Paula. Benjy had regained his memories from using the Luminosity memory app, and considers Nandor’s abandonment to be a "test" to prove he was committed to becoming a vampire.

Guillermo and Benjy attend a social gathering for familiars and discover that one guest, Celeste, has now become a vampire. She says she was turned by her master Houston, a vampire who was turned when she was 12 years old. Feeling sorry for the neglected young familiars, Celeste announces that she will be willing to take them all on and turn them into vampires within eight months.

Angry at Benjy's treatment, Guillermo confronts Nandor, demanding to know if and when he will become a vampire. Nandor tells Guillermo that he should take a better offer from another vampire if he finds one, and Guillermo leaves to serve Celeste.

Guillermo arrives at Celeste's luxury apartment, with Houston away on a trip in Florida. A number of familiars, including Sam the cat, have made themselves at home. Meanwhile, Benjy struggles to serve as an effective familiar due to his old age. Nandor comes to Celeste's apartment to try to convince Guillermo to come back, but he refuses. Nandor leaves, and the familiars start questioning Celeste about when they will become vampires. Celeste attempts to distract them with an orgy, but before they start, Houston bangs on the door, arriving much earlier than expected. Celeste admits to Guillermo that she only pretended to be a vampire to see what it was like. Houston and her friends break down the door and attack the familiars. Guillermo flees the apartment, rescuing Sam and releasing him outside. Nandor, unaware of what had just happened, runs back to renegotiate with Guillermo, who accepts Nandor as his master again. They both abandon Benjy at another rest stop, but as Guillermo drives away, Benjy chuckles to himself, then suddenly transforms into a bat, and the audience is unaware of how he became a vampire and how long he has been one.

In the subplot, Laszlo discovers that a song he had written in 1852, *Chum on Irene*, was plagiarized by Dexy's Midnight Runners as *Come on Eileen*. As Laszlo and Nadja reminisce about the many songs they have written, Colin Robinson hears their music and suggests they perform at a gig he can arrange, secretly anticipating feasting on the anger and boredom of the audience. Laszlo and Nadja compose several new songs and perform at Colin's suggested venue, which is actually an open mic night. The audience dislike their new music and boo them until they perform their “seafaring song” from 1792, which turns out to be *Kokomo* by The Beach Boys. The audience happily sing along and the couple eat several members after the gig.

## Cast

### Starring

* Kayvan Novak as Nandor
* Matt Berry as Laszlo
* Natasia Demetriou as Nadja
* Harvey Guillén as Guillermo
* Mark Proksch as Colin Robinson

### Guest starring

* Greta Lee as Celeste
* Jack O'Connell as Benjy Everett

### Co-Starring

* Rakee Morzaria as Karen
* Chick Roberts as Senior Familiar
* Tricia Black as Young Familiar
* Lilly Bartlam as Houston
* Ben Sanders as Brad
* Derek Barnes as Emcee
* Adam Christie as Young Comic
* Tig Fong as Jogger
* Erica Anderson as Kimya
* Ava Arrindell as Teen Girl Vampire #1
* Abby Stretch as Teen Girl Vampire #1
* Kayla Dumont as Crowd #1
* Amish Patel  as Crowd #2

## Soundtrack

* ***Come on Eileen*** performed by Dexy's Midnight Runners
* ***You're Dead*** performed by Norma Tanega (opening credits)
* ***Stroke Your Cock*** performed by Matt Berry
* ***Oh What Fun*** performed by Frederick George Charrosin
* ***Poop Skirt*** performed by Matt Berry and Natasia Demetriou
* ***Snake Egg*** performed by Natasia Demetriou
* ***Rockin' Boogie A*** performed by Albert Lennard, Noah Jackson and Ty Ardis
* ***When I Meet My Maker*** performed by Toots Earl and Etienne Lecomte (end credits)
* ***Documentary Crew*** performed by Matt Berry and Natasia Demetriou
* ***Tell Us Mister Hitler*** performed by Matt Berry and Natasia Demetriou
* ***Dance With Me Forever*** performed by Dexter French and Billy Valentino
* ***My Lindbergh Baby*** performed by Matt Berry and Natasia Demetriou
* ***Heavenly Creatures*** performed by Maxence De Butler
* ***Lost District*** performed by Benjamin Bianchet and Gabriel Louis Pierre Guerin
* ***Up and Down*** performed by Matt Berry and Natasia Demetriou (end credits)
* ***La Plage*** performed by Martin Nicholas Baptiste Duru and Jean-Sebastien Michel Albert Nouveau
* ***Transformation*** performed by Matt Berry and Natasia Demetriou
* ***Feeling Horny for Blood*** performed by Matt Berry and Natasia Demetriou
* ***Cellular Telephone Craze*** performed by Matt Berry and Natasia Demetriou
* ***Fading Nights*** performed by Nicholas Sean McEnally and Sam Taylor
* ***Do The Disco*** performed by Matt Berry and Natasia Demetriou
* ***Dark Spirits*** performed by Kevin Edward Jarvis
* ***Kokomo*** performed by Matt Berry and Natasia Demetriou

## References

1. ↑ "Listings - WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS on FX" - The Futon Critic
2. ↑ "S2 · E8 · Collaboration" - Tunefind