Chapter 15: For My Song Has No Beginning...

Generic Episode Cover - The Wither Mark Logo. Episode announcement did not include original art.

## Credits

### Featured Voices

* Méabh de Brún as Carpenter
* Lucille Valentine as Paige
* Mintaka Angell as Felix
* B. Narr as Faulkner
* Jimmie Yamaguchi as Hayward
* Jamie Stewart as Mason
* Daisy Bilenkin as Diane Stone
* David S. Dear as Sid Wright

## Episode Guide

Season finale: with the police manhunt closing in, Carpenter and Faulkner have one final meeting at the river's edge.

## Description

### The Unsuccessful Sacrifice

Paige and Carpenter drive West. Carpenter reminisces on the first journey she made Southward, with her Nana and Em. She recounts the monotony of the journey and the cabin that was their destination. Her Nana Glass told her that this was their new home. On the third night there, Adelina Glass decided to feed Em and Carpenter to the Trawler-Man. They heard no news of a retaliation from the Trawler-Man in response to the violence that had fallen to the Parish. Carpenter answered honestly and told Adelina that she was frightened. She’s told to remember that nothing can withstand change. Carpenter hears Adelina sing to herself as she leaves. She remembers not talking to Em that night. Nana cried as she held them, sorrowful that they had remained themselves as it could mean they’d been abandoned by the Trawler-Man. Carpenter remembers feeling disgraceful, like an unworthy vessel.

### Paige and Carpenter Say Their Farewells

There are more sirens around and Carpenter takes that as a sign that it is safe to turn the radio on. Paige remains shocked by the impulsiveness of her actions. On the radio there is the announcement of a special alert given by Felix for the citizens of Marcel’s Crossing warning them of a “miracle in progress”. As they arrive at Marcel’s Crossing they see golden lights in the distance and the undisturbed town. Before Carpenter can speak Paige cuts her off and tells her she’s not leaving. Carpenter tells her to be aware and drive away quickly, that it’s not worth warning the town if it will happen. Carpenter still aims to bring Faulkner back to them. As she gets out of the card she garbles the phrase Paige taught them during their dinner at the Chitterlings Chapel - “May your peace find you on a lonely road.” Paige offers the response regardless.

### The Final Stand At Marcel's Crossing

Carpenter states that her leg is worse. It hurts for her to walk now. She walks through the town and towards the White Gull River, where she finds an abandoned freight truck. The pier is lit with carnival lights. She rummages amongst the discarded rubbish she finds and retrieves a piece of glass as a makeshift weapon, tucking it into her sleeve. She continues walking. On the promenade finds a dodger car rink covered in canticle marks, where Faulkner sits in one of the cars. He confesses that he wasn’t able to complete it. The Wither Mark is half drawn on the floor of the rink. Faulkner can’t go through with it, he can’t commit to harm without knowing how much harm he’ll be responsible for. He confides in Carpenter for a moment, before Faulkner notices the shard of glass. She admits that she was going to kill him with it if necessary, before tossing it into the water and joining him in one of the bumper cars. Faulkner relays his conversation with Mason to her. Carpenter tells him that choosing to die ruining a town like this is worthless. She proposes that they run away, which Faulkner says is cowardly. Carpenter rationalises it by saying that the Trawler-Man constantly turns his back on them. Faulkner remains focused on the Verses. They hear police sirens in the distance, coming closer. Faulkner confesses that he called the police because he thought he was writing an ending. Carpenter laughs at this. Faulkner tells her it's not funny. She asks for her revolver and Faulkner confesses he threw it away. She stands and yells that she’s done with the Trawler-Man, that her lineage were faithful to him and died for what they believed was something greater. She refuses to die for him. Faulkner is shocked. Carpenter tells him to pray, and he does so. She calls for the Trawler-Man’s wrath. There’s silence from the river, which has drawn back from them. Faulkner prayed for safety, Carpenter prayed for “some kind of an ending”.

Police pull up at Marcel’s Crossing. Paige introduces herself to them as “Investigating Officer Vaughn”, and attempts to run the operation. Hayward arrives and exposes Paige for being an accomplice. Hayward tries to direct everyone but realises that they’re all staring at something. He turns and sees the water surge heading towards them.

Faulkner and Carpenter don’t run from it. A rising wave heads towards them, there are twisted faces with rolling eyes in the foam of the river water and arms stretched out towards them. Carpenter states that maybe her god was never meant to be anything more than her ending. She accepts it. The tide crashes around them and Carpenter closes her eyes. Faulkner keeps his eyes open. He wants to see everything.

The police ran away from the wave. Nothing is destroyed or changed by the water. Paige notices that the river doesn’t seem to have any intentions to hurt them, just to cause chaos. Hayward notes that the residents seem to be waking, and that they are alright. The water gradually dissipates. The pier is gone. They search the river and find ancient offerings within the river, and the freight truck Faulkner used to get to Marcel’s Crossing. Carpenter and Faulkner are gone.

### Mason's Announcement

Mason announces that there has been a major victory for the Parish. He warns that what lies ahead for the Parish will be difficult, that the authorities will seek to make them an example. He preaches unity, and views this as a way to regain historical territory for the Parish. He says that the selfless sacrifice of Carpenter and Faulkner will be the fuel that keeps them moving forwards. They seem to have earned themselves a place in the Verses. There is applause, followed by radio static.

### The Radio

A voice on the radio announces that it is 7 o’clock, claiming to be Diane Stone. She thanks their listeners for sticking with them after the last few weeks. She explains that there are extra precautions in place to prevent the situation with Sid Wright occurring again. There is a security guard in the studio with her, wearing noise cancelling headphones and holding a gun. Sid Wright is alive, but wanted. Diane Stone gives the day’s headlines. She tells us of Paige’s arrest following “The Bellwethers Abomination”. She is unnamed and held on a conspiracy of aiding and abetting a false faith. The Linger Straits are calling for her release and threatening political consequences for the Peninsula. The police are still searching for Carpenter and Faulkner following the events at Marcel’s Crossing. She announces the new sponsor of Greater Glottage Radio The Man With The Blinding Bright Eyes Who Lurks Upon The Crooked Turn.

Sid Wright’s voice interrupts the programme. He tells the listeners to follow the sound of his voice. He tells them that they will find a place together, a place to sleep. He cuts back to static.

### Carpenter's Fate After Marcel's Crossing

Carpenter wakes, soaking wet, cold and alone. The sun is rising. She is surprised to find herself alive, and unchanged. She calls out for Faulkner. Her leg continues to hurt, but it’s lighter - she correctly identifies this as a bad sign. Her head is bleeding. She hauls herself onto the riverside. She continues moving forwards. There are statues every 50 paces. She collapses at one, stands, and continues. She realises that there is something following her, just visible in the periphery, gaining on her. It’s something that was once a woman, draped in white cotton, face hidden and bowed, arms crossed over its chest like the statues. She stops walking, and so does the thing behind her. She calls out to ask what it wants, and gains no reply. She wonders if this is the best way for her to die. She sees the shape of an abandoned car and begins to hope, before she gets closer to it and sees the state it has been left in. Carpenter decides to stop there and rest. She’s overwhelmingly tired. She plays with the radio in the abandoned car, and the smiling figure continues approaching her. Dirt pours through its fingers. Carpenter opens the car door, kicks of her boots and closes her eyes - waiting. She echoes the phrase she once heard Vaughan say, “Who even gets to choose the thing that eats us”.

## Trivia

* Carpenter jokes to Faulkner that they'll end up in an "outtakes and bloopers" section at the back of the Verses.
* Carpenter's parents names are revealed to be Gregory and Sandra Glass.
* There is a bounty of 80,000 regular on Sid Wright.

## References

1. ↑ Episode Release Announcement at https://twitter.com/TheSiltVerses/status/1427146776902000643
2. ↑ Official episode synopsis at https://feeds.acast.com/public/shows/5fec690f8211cf453a1b89e2