Doubt Thou The Stars

"**Doubt Thou The Stars**" is the third episode of the first season of Netflix's *Lockwood & Co.* It, like the other episodes of the first season, was released on Netflix on 27 January, 2023. It marks the end of the Annabel Ward Case.

## Synopsis

Hoping to pay back their debt, the team takes on a job for an unexpectedly high-profile client. But the task proves more treacherous than they imagined.

## Plot

### Seeing a man about a ghost

George explains that he placed Annabel Ward's ring behind a silver glass for them to examine it. Lucy points out that it's daylight, but George calls himself risk-averse. He asks why the intruder would be after the ring, studying it with a microscope. "Hallmarks," he explains, as Lucy reads "H 22 115" inscribed on the ring. She asks if "H" could be "Hugo," but George tells her the other big "H" in Ward's life was *Hamlet*. It refers to Act II, Scene 2 of the play: "Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love." "This is it," agrees Lucy, saying that the ring proved Ward and Blake were together. Lockwood, however, says it doesn't prove anything, that just because they were together doesn't mean he murdered her. He tells them the ring is going in the safe, that he's keeping hold of the key because she can't be trusted. He warns them they need to get things together or the agency's done, that they'll be forced to have adult supervisors. He tells them that he has a plan, that they're going to see a man about a ghost.

The group arrives at a tall, imposing building with a twisted shape. "So your big, radical plan is a job at Farifax Iron, for work we can't legally do?" asks George as they ride an elevator. Lockwood says his negativity is why he doesn't tell him in advance. They study a newspaper article regarding the job as the elevator opens to admit more people. Lockwood says he'll do the talking. Lucy asks if he has a name for who they're meeting as the elevator takes them to the top floor, straight into an office. Their client is John Fairfax himself. George says it doesn't make sense, that Fairfax doesn't need them.

Fairfax appears behind them. Lockwood introduces himself and the company. "The infamous," agrees Fairfax, telling them to take a seat under the sprinklers. He tells them he has a delicate situation that needs to be handled discretely, that he's letting go of several properties, including one Combe Carey Hall with a stubborn infestation of ghosts. He cannot risk explosives or flares and he needs the job done under the radar. He says the only they could get the job by underbidding. Lockwood tells him they don't need to chase cut-rate jobs and he tells him he lies like a politician, that he can spot a bluff. George asks him if he really thinks he can get discretion from Fittes or Rotwell and he says it's a nice pitch, but he works closely with DEPRAC and it's not a job they'll let them do. Lockwood agrees it's probably best they don't hear about it.

### Never hesitate

Fairfax tells Lockwood that Rotwell quoted him 90 grand. He tells them he won't pay them a penny more than their £60,000 fee. Lockwood agrees to the terms, saying they'll keep it simple. They head off, Lockwood saying they need to move fast and asking George to find out everything he can about Combe Carey Hall. He warns them to tell nobody. Back at 35 Portland Row, George warns the job will kill them. He tells Lockwood it's not just a country house, that it was once a Satanic priory of evil devil-worshipers. He tells him it's killed loads, including having hauned areas called the Screaming Staircase and the Red Room. Even a Fittes team once tried to deal with it, with one, Samaran Pandy, still being unaccounted for. Lockwood says that Fairfax got himself a good deal and so did they. He asks if either George or Lucy have another option to keep the agency afloat. When none speak up, he says it's decided.

George takes a phone call, then gives it to Lucy, telling her that it's Inspector Barnes for her. He asks if she's told Lockwood she's leaving. She lies that he has, that she's going in a couple of days. He tells her to go sooner, that Hugo Blake was released. He tells her that he's coming to brief Lockwood on a new supervisor tomorrow. Lucy tells him they won't be there, lying that the house is getting fumigated. "The day after, then," Barnes agrees, telling her to get home safe. Downstairs, Lockwood shouts at George to stop cleaning and help him with the chains. Lucy pays a visit to the storage room. Taking a key, she has flashbacks of her visions of Annabel. She takes the ring from the storage room.

The three head off, George commenting on the scenery. Lockwood muses on how exciting it is that they're getting to visit John Fairfax, that he was somebody too who came from nothing. They meet a woman named Ellie, who is to drive them to Combe Carey Hall. She describes herself as an ex-agent, saying that John Fairfax is a good person to know when your Talent fades, that he isn't necessarily kind, but gives people chances. They arrive at the mansion, Lucy stopping in the doorway. George chastises her, telling her that rule 1 is not to hesitate on the threshold of a haunted house. George looks at a map, commenting that nothing is where it should be.

### The Red Room

Ellie reports that Lockwood broke the deal by bringing a bomb flare and Fairfax explains that he asked her to go through their bags. Lockwood says he broke the agreement too, but Fairfax says there was nothing in their agreement about not searching the bags. He suggests they call it quits, telling them to get on with the job. He and Ellie leave. At 35 Portland Row, Sergeant Wade bangs on the door, muttering to herself about fumigation. She tells a man to kick the door in.

Back at Combe Carey Hall, Lucy concentrates and hears sounds of laughter, then smashing of glasses. George takes readings, reporting that the whole place is freezing up, that he thinks something is hidden away. He asks if they're sure they want to do this. They call for Lockwood and he tells them he scouted the day before, that he knew Fairfax would search their bags and so he smuggled flares. He tells them it's industrial strength. They head up the supposed Screaming Staircase, Lucy saying it's being very quiet. They follow it into the Red Room. George declares immediately that the walls have a lot of bad energy. Lucy hears screaming. George comments that it isn't very red. They start laying out defences - iron chains and filings. Lockwood says there's no sign of sources and mentions that George thought there were hidden rooms. They start searching around and Lucy finds something. She asks Lockwood to stop tapping, but he says he isn't. George shouts to get back to the circle.

They look up at the ceiling, which blood appears to be raining down from. George says that it's not blood, but plasm, and will Ghost-Touch them if they let them. As the blood drops down, they realize that the defence isn't safe, that they made the circle too wide. They head for the door, only for it to close in front of them. Lucy tugs at it, saying they're trapped and Lockwood tells her they need another exit. As Lucy tries to find their exit, Lockwood and George realize that a group of ghosts is working together. As blood pours down the walls, George asks how they're supposed to fight it and Lockwood pleads with Lucy for an exit. She tears at the wall and they burst through a hidden door just in time.

### The truth about Fairfax

George asks what the deal is, noting that a Poltergeist could close the door, but only Changers could manifest as blood, wondering if they're talking about a new kind of Type Two. Lockwood says it's only a regular Changer, that somebody living moved the iron. He suggests they're being tested, that maybe Ellie still has some Talent. George reports that the temperature is still dropping, that the Red Room isn't even the primary source. They continue onwards and find an area filled with cobwebs, spiders being drawn to ghosts. Ahead is the ghost of Sam Pandy, the Fittes operative. Despite George's pleas, they follow, arriving at a staircase which Lucy realizes could be the real Screaming Staircase. They head down, hearing strange voices chanting in Latin. Lockwood says he's figured something out, but Lucy says that it is indeed the staircase and Lockwood shouts to get off it now. They race downstairs, the voices getting louder.

George says that it's over, as Lucy says that this is where the monks died. The voices boom their strange chant. They look around and Lucy draws her rapier as a shadowy ghost forms. Lockwood tells George to find the source as he and Lucy drive them off. George sees the skeleton of the Fittes boy. Lucy drops her rapier, ghost-locked. She imagines herself falling. She heads to a well, the chanting growing even louder. She stands before it, ready to jump. She nearly does, but Lockwood calls her back. She tells Lockwood she found the source, that the bodies are in the well. George says it's too many, but Lockwood tosses the bomb flare into the well.

In the aftermath, Lucy coughs, then stirs and slaps George awake. Lockwood calls to Lucy and he tells her that he's been an idiot, that he never should have brought them there. He shows her a photo, explaining that Fairfax was very connected, that he was with Annabel Ward, that he gave her the ring. He says that the hallmark will mean there's a record of him commissioning the ring, and he brought them to the house to kill them, that it wouldn't even be suspicious. They find light streaming a wall and manage to escape. They run, but Ellie appears holding a rapier and Fairfax then shows up and fires a gun, wearing a strange pair of goggles. He tells them not to move, and put their hands up. Lockwood calls him out, telling him he brought them there to die and he was the intruder at 35 Portland Row.

### Annabel's revenge

Fairfax removes the goggles, moving forward. Lockwood tells him he's sure they can resolve this. He tells him he wants his ring back, that he knows the hallmark is incriminating. He tells him he must regret buying it, but he says he doesn't, just leaving it behind. He tells him he couldn't throw his life away for one mistake, not then or now. He tells him to give him the ring, but Lockwood tells him he doesn't have it, but he's the only one who knows where it is. Fairfax calls it a bluff and Lockwood draws his rapier, telling him he'll have to shoot him. Fairfax tells him he has a death wish. Lockwood says he won't do it, that he knows he could get caught, that he's just a performer too. "Let's see what you're really made of," suggests Fairfax, raising the gun.

Lucy pleads with Fairfax not to shoot Lockwood. "This is what you want, right?" she asks, showing him the ring on the necklace. "What have you done?" asks George. Lockwood asks what she's doing. Lucy tells Fairfax that the ring is Annabel's source and she's been wanting to see him for a long time. She holds up the ring and tosses it, causing the ghost to appear. "Annabel!" realizes Fairfax. The ghost rises. Fairfax raises his goggles and it charges at him, screaming. He falls to the floor, ghost-touched, dead. The ghost rises before Lucy. Lockwood grabs the ring, handing it to Lucy. The ghost disappears. Ellie runs away. "I'm working with maniacs," George comments.

A group of DEPRAC agents arrives, ordering Ellie to the ground. She tries to run, telling them to let go, but they quickly subdue her. A group of DEPRAC agents manhandle Lockwood & Co., who complain they're agents and they have no right. They are brought before Barnes and Wade. Barnes tells Lockwood he knew he couldn't follow the rules for even one night but he'll listen now. He tells them they're all under arrest for an unauthorized investigation. Lockwood tells Barnes that they just survived an attempted murder, that Fairfax killed Annabel Ward and tried to kill them too. He points out that it's the same John Fairfax whom his department has been hand in glove with for the past decade. Barnes asks why he would believe them and George tells him they have proof. Quill Kipps appears, informing Barnes that the deputy inspector has arrived. He orders Lockwood & Co. to be placed in van. "Guess you'll make the papers after all," comments Kipps, saying that he's Fittes's special liaison.

### A slippery slope

Lockwood punches the wall of the van, declaring he'll go to the papers and ruin DEPRAC. George tells them to get over to the window, asking what the deputy commissioner is doing there. Barnes arrives. Lockwood asks him what is happening and he tells him they're not being arrested if they sign some papers. They're non-disclosure agreements. Lockwood balks, but Barnes warns him he'll be completely unprotected if he doesn't. George says it isn't normal, against the rules. "Sign the papers," Barnes insists. Left with no choice, they do. As they hand away the papers, Barnes tells Lockwood it's the first thing he's seen him do. The van takes them away, saying that DEPRAC knows something about Fairfax and they want it to stay that way. Lockwood complains that no one will know what they did. "At least we're alive," points out Lucy.

The three attend a funeral for Samaran Pandy, the Fittes agent whose body was finally found. As they head back, they are greeted by a woman, who tells them that she is Penelope Fittes. They all, of course, recognize her: she is the head of the prestigious Fittes Agency. She addresses them as Lockwood & Co. and Lockwood asks if she's there to see them. She explains that her mother led the first attempt on Combe Carey Hall, the only survivor. She tells them Sam was like a little brother to her mother and thanks them. She addresses them all by name. She tells George she fired the fool who let him go. George says it's a shame, that she was a fool, but she fitted in. She thanks them again and leaves. Lockwood is impressed she even knew who they were.

Lockwood & Co. are back at 35 Portland Row. Lockwood calls DEPRAC's letter unbelievable, but George says it's better than it could be. Lockwood complains that they're covering everything up and George says that whatever Fairax was up to, Ward's death was the tip of the iceberg, but at least they're getting paid. Lockwood points out that they're client-free and they still have debts. George examines Fairfax's spectacles, which Lockwood points out he stole from the crime scene. George tells him he wants to know what it is, including the strange harp symbol upon it. He points out that whatever they were, they were useless upon the ghost. Lucy says that Ward was scary in the end, but she felt like she knew her. George warns her that Listening can screw her up, can be a slippery slope.

### The whispering skull

Lucy takes the goggles, promising to put them away for storage. He hands her something else, asking her to store it as well. He hands her a certificate from DEPRAC. It states that it is to inform Miss Lucy Carlyle that she is awarded her Fourth Grade (4) for fulfilling criteria of successfully completing advanced rapier training and using those skills in the field at Combe Carey Hall, Berkshire, passed on 20th October 2022. The certificate is awarded by D. Graves, DEPRAC Commissioner, and signed by Lockwood. Lucy asks if this is allowed and Lockwood says that judging by Barnes's face, even he doesn't know the rooms. "It's my agency, you belong here," he points out.

Lucy heads downstairs, still staring at the certificate. She sets down the goggles on the jar containing the Skull. She files the certificate with her other certificates of Grades 1-3. She picks up the goggles, unwittingly jostling the nozzle on the jar. Air hisses and a stranger, sinister voice whispers her name. She gasps, clutching a shelf, as the voice again whispers her name, then louder. Upstairs, Lockwood tells George he shouldn't have said what he did and George tells him that someone has to, that Lucy got too close to Annabel Ward. Lockwood tells him they need to look after her, but she's tougher than he thinks. They hear a noise from below. They ask if everything is okay, but get no answer. Downstairs, Lucy has fainted.

## Notes

* This is the third of three episodes of the first season of *Lockwood & Co.* adapting events from the first novel of the book series, *The Screaming Staircase*.
* The title references a line from William Shakespeare's *Hamlet* heard within the episode: "Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love."
* In the original novel, John Fairfax offers Lockwood & Co. the money they need to cover their fee for the Sheen Road incident immediately upon showing up at Combe Carey Hall, with additional money upon completion of the job. In this episode, he offers them only the £60,000 needed to pay the damages, and only upon completion of the job. Additionally, in the original novel, John Fairfax personally visits Lockwood & Co. at 35 Portland Row. In this episode, they instead visit him in his office at Fairfax Iron.

## Cast

### Starring

* Ruby Stokes as Lucy Carlyle
* Cameron Chapman as Anthony Lockwood
* Ali Hadji-Heshmati as George Casper Karim

### Other Cast In Order of Appearance

* Nigel Planer as John Fairfax
* Ivanno Jeremiah as Inspector Barnes
* Lily Nichol as Ellie
* Bronwyn James as Sergeant Wade
* Jack Bandeira as Quill Kipps
* Morven Christie as Penelope Fittes
* Michael Clarke as Skull (uncredited)

### Ghost Performers

* Ishtar Apsara Currie-WIlson as Annabel Ward Facial Capture
* Jemma Moore as Annabel Ward Vocal Performer
* Samaran Natarajan as Samaran Pandy