Sweet Dreams

"**Sweet Dreams**" is the fourth 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.

## Synopsis

While the team is working to clear up a volatile grave at a cemetery, Lucy hears a voice speak her name. Ghosts aren't supposed to talk... are they?

## Plot

### Irresistible

Lucy Carlyle wakes up in her bedroom in 35 Portland Row, a glass of water by her bed with a note to drink it. She goes downstairs and calls for Lockwood and George, finding nobody but discovering a note telling her that they went out wraith hunting. She starts making some toast, then hears some sort of whirring in the distance. The toast pops, startling her, then Lockwood and George return, George complaining about Lockwood not giving him time for research. Lucy greets them and Lockwood asks how she's feeling. She thanks him for letting her sleep in. "I guess you didn't find that wraith?" asks Lucy. Lockwood tell her that they did, but also 13 others. George agrees that it was a total cluster case. George says they were rescued. "Kipps' crew?" asks Lucy and George admits as much, even as Lockwood mutters in the background while putting things away. He calls it quite dazzling, but answers Lucy's question of whether or not they shared the fee in the negative. Lockwood laments Kipps not acknowledging the Combe Carey Hall incident, even though Lucy points out he must have signed the same NDA.

George tells Lucy that she slept for 14 hours and she tells him she doesn't remember going to sleep, that she doesn't even remember having passed out in the basement. George worries she may be having hallucinations, but she tells him she's normal. There's a ring at the doorbell. A man greets Lockwood and he tells Lucy to come, that they have a proper client. The client introduces himself as Sebastian Saunders, with his partner, Pamela Joplin. She explains that they are Sweet Dreams Excavations. Lockwood identifies them as gravediggers, but Saunders tells him him it's more than this, that DEPRAC is employing councils to assess cemeteries for risky plots. He tells them that they have a major operation in Kensal Green Cemetery, that Pamela uses burial records to look for traumatic deaths. George seems interested by the fact that she's a researcher. He talks about how Fittes now has a database. "Give me a stack of books any day," she tells him and he agrees.

Lockwood addresses them, thanking them for the trouble, but that they don't do odd jobs for the council. Lucy, however, says they're a good normal agency and they need the work. They explain that Kensal Green was owned by the Bickerstaff family until one of the sons was caught digging up corpses, bringing the word "necrophilia" into common usage. The clientele was previously high end, and they have a grave in the older, classy section. Joplin explains that a sensitive found an unmarked grave with a powerful spirit, likely Type Two. Saunders tells them the work has to be done at night, and they'll be well supported, with Night Watch and sensitives. Lockwood summarizes the situation. Joplin agrees it could sound better. He tells her it sounds irresistible.

### Relic-men and ghost cults

The members of Lockwood & Co. are driven to the cemetery, Lockwood urging them to keep their wits, that they don't want to get jumped by relic-men. Lucy asks who even keeps them in business and Lockwood tells her it's rich, twisted bastards. George says it isn't surprising, that sources are fascinating and illegal. Lockwood says that relic-men are the scum of the Earth, with one notable exception. As they continue, they pass a screaming crowd that George says is almost as crazy - a ghost cult, who thinks instead of fighting visitors people should be welcoming them. The car gets egged and Lockwood quips that there's no autographs.

They arrive at Kensal Green Cemetery. There, they find themselves harassed and harangued by the various sensitives and members of the Night Watch crew who holding forth with Saunders, upset about being forced to work giving the dangerous circumstances of the graveyard. Saunders tell them that it's why they've hired these agents, the best of the best. One of them shouts, asking where their uniforms or supervisors are. Lockwood gives a speech, flashing his smile and assuring their safety. He tells them the only reason they haven't heard of them is because they don't do it for attention. He continues that they will do nothing without a full consultation on what they have seen. It seems to appease them, George commenting that Lockwood will be absolutely unbearably if they ever truly get famous.

They sign some papers, Saunders explaining that the gravediggers were caught with an exposed casket as the sun set. He tells them that it didn't open, that it's their job, and he won't let anyone near the grave until it's made safe. Lockwood tells him this isn't what they agreed to, asking what will happen if there are relic-men or other dangerous people around. He tells him he already agreed to the contract and walks away. "We should be front-page news" mutters Lockwood and Lucy tells him they should just get it done. So they head out.

The three set to work. Lucy concentrates while Lockwood reports that there are no death-glows or anything else visible. Lucy reports a vibration. They set up a circle, chains and a temperature monitor. As George sets to work inspecting, Lucy warns him to be careful, that the ghost knows he's there. Lucy tells them that the ghost is strong, that she doesn't feel good. Pamela Joplin arrives, apologizing for Saunders sending them without any help. A male voice whispers Lucy's name. She has vision of herself back at Lockwood & Co. with the Skull. George reports that the coffin is made of iron. Lockwood comments on the oddness of this, noting that the coffin was put in the ground well before the Problem began. He wonders just what it was supposed to trap. George says they need to research, but Lockwood says there's no time, that they need to open the casket. Lucy asks if they can hear the flies and George says he can't, but he's getting intense nausea.

### A Type Three

The three regroup and Lucy again has a hallucination of hearing the Skull. Lockwood tells her to not be distracted, to bring the silver net. She groans in pain, and Joplin radios for help. Lockwood tells Lucy to stand by as the buzzing of insects grows more intense. She shouts to make it stop. George opens the coffin and they discover a skeleton inside, and some sort of strange object. George stares in wonder and Lockwood has to pull him away. Lockwood shouts t Lucy to seal it. She tosses the silver net and strange buzzing noise stops, just as the sensitives and Night Watch crew arrives. Lockwood tells them it's safe and one of them agrees they have it from there.

In the aftermath, George admits to still feeling weird. Lockwood wonders just what the object was with the body and George says he felt like it was looking at him. Lockwood says the job is done and it's up to DEPRAC to tidy it up. Saunders appears, offering to wrap things up for payment. Joplin appears, asking if she can ask a few questions. Lucy, meanwhile, walks off, staring at a skull on a gravestone. As Lockwood deals with the papers, he wonders where Lucy has gone. Lucy has a vision of the Skull talking to her, a flashback of what really happened. "It said my name," she realizes. As Lockwood finishes up, he sees George back at the grave, crossing the iron chain. To his horror, George slips and releases the silver net. A terrible ghost emerges from the coffin, huge and seemingly formed of smoke. Lucy rises and tosses her rapier at it, driving it back. George reseals the grave with the silver net.

Back at 35 Portland Row, Lucy goes to the jar containing the Skull. Steeling herself to "just do it," she releases the catch. "You spoke to me," she comments. "You," it says, telling her to come closer. "You can talk," she says, clutching her head and saying that she must be losing it. He tells her that she's finding it. "You're a Type Three," she says and he agrees that he is. "So dangerous," he says, saying that it's Lockwood and George who will be dangerous if they find out. He tells her Lockwood has secrets, such as the secret door. "Let me out!" he urges, but she tells him she can't. He says he has stuff to show and teach her, that she should trust her. He shouts, asking where she's been. He says she's been near power, telling her that death is coming. She seals the jar.

### Second-best

Lockwood and George arrive back at the house, Lockwood chastising George for letting Pamela Joplin inside the circle. He apologizes, saying that she asked about identifiers and he saw one on the mirror. Lockwood tells him he's done, that they fight ghosts and it's kill or be killed. George complains that Lucy legged it, but he'd never bollocks her. He continues that the mirror predates the Problem. Lucy comes upstairs and Lockwood asks what happened to her. She tells him that the Skull talked to her, an actual conversation. George asks if it's talking to her now, and she tells them she knows how it sounds, but it's the truth.

Lockwood says it's impossible and she reminds him that Marissa Fittes once did it. She pleads with George, that she has to believe him. She tells Lockwood that the ghost said he had something dangerous in his secret room. She asks if there is, that it proves they have a Type Three. Lockwood tells her she needs to look at the cut on her hand, that she could be poisoned. She tells them she's not poisoned or crazy. George is bitter and tells Lockwood that it's what happens when you let people "accessorise with sources", insinuating it made Lucy mad, and then saying that Lockwood let her off the hook "just cause you like the way she looks at you". Lockwood denies it and says he doesn't know what George is talking about, and he tells Lockwood "yeah, sure". Lucy tells Lockwood he has to believe her, but he tells her she's not Marissa Fittes. She asks if he can't handle being her Tom Rotwell, second-best. "That's it, isn't it?" she asks, saying he knows she's telling the truth. He tells her that she is the best listener he knows, but she is not Marissa Fittes. He then gets angry, raising his voice and telling her that if she mentions the room on the landing again, she'd be done with Lockwood & Co. He stalks off.

Lucy goes to her bedroom, putting on a videotape about Marissa Fittes and her research of ghosts. The program is a chat show in which the host talks with Marissa about her having spoken with a controversial category of visitor, the Type Three. Marissa asks just what her question is and the host asks what she would say to people who believe Type Threes don't exist. She calls denial a very common reaction in the face of new events. She describes a Type Three as being of extraordinary intelligence that refuses to move on from the mortal realm. There is a knock on Lucy's door. Lockwood enters greeting her. She doesn't reply and he feebly makes a joke saying that he "may look like Anthony Lockwood, but I'm not. I'm actually a fully qualified doctor." Lucy, still upset, says this is good, because Lockwood was a massive prick to her. He looks embarrassed that she's still upset, and hesitates, but she tells him to come in. He sits next to her, momentarily flustered and forgetting what he was supposed to do, but then examines the cut on her arm, and tends to it.

### Jurisdiction friction

Lockwood tells Lucy he was orphaned at the age of six and that he doesn't like talking about his past, or what's behind the door. He tells her she used it convince him that she is one of only two people in the world to talk to Type Threes and that they have one in their house. "I wouldn't believe me either," agrees Lucy and he tells her that this isn't the problem. He explains that he loves the spotlight and it's hard coming to terms with the idea that he might have to shine it on someone else. He tells her he believes her, about everything. She tells him she doesn't actually want the spotlight. He says that this is maddening, continuing that they'll go carefully. They look at each other for a long moment, and Lockwood's eyes flit to Lucy's lips, before returning to his lap. They then realise how close they are, and that they had ended up with their fingers intertwined, and break apart awkwardly. He asks her what the Skull said and she explains about it sensing power on her and its prophecy about death. She says they should probably tell George. They go to find him, only to discover he's not in his bedroom. They wonder where he is, given that he's not in his room. Lockwood tells her they need to find him, having discovered a strange note with a code on it (𐤄𐤀𐤌𐤍𐤕 𐤉𐤔𐤁𐤍𐤌 𐤃𐤇𐤒), the inscription from the strange artefact and George's translation - "The truth lies beyond."

George is back at the shack at the cemetery. To his surprise, he discovers crime scene tape. He inspects the area with a torch when suddenly Detective Barnes calls his name from behind. He asks him what he's doing there. He tells him he's in his crime scene and that the mirror has been stolen. He asks George if there was anything out of the ordinary during Lockwood & Co.'s investigation. George tells him it was by the book, asking if there are any suspects. Barnes tells him that there isn't, but they knocked out a 12-year-old Night Watch kid to get in. George asks why they weren't contacted and he tells him it's longer their case, that he put another team on it. In walks Quill Kipps and his team. He asks if Lockwood is going to throw George under the bus, but just then Lockwood arrives.

Barnes calls it another case gone wrong for Lockwood. George says it's big and Lockwood says it's their case. Kipps says it isn't anymore, that they already made a preliminary report. His researcher, Bobby Vernon, outlines the evidence they've found. Kipps says the mirror must be the dead man's source, unless George has a better answer. George tells him that he does, that he knows who the man is. Barnes tells him it'd better be good, and George asks Bobby asks why anyone would carry an iron casket for two miles. He points out that it was a hundred years before the Problem. He explains the inscription, saying that it's Phoenician and that it means "The truth lies beyond." Barnes recognizes it as the slogan of a group called The Open Arms Fellowship, but George says about six other ghost cults have used it over the decades. The man in question was a wealthy occultist ahead of his time, executed and buried in secret. Lockwood asks if it's their case. Barnes says he's undecided, asking if George has a name. George gives the name as Edmund Bickerstaff.

### The bet

Kat Godwin says that Bickerstaff was a joke, Britain's most famous pervert. George says that this was a cover story, that he was doing something far more sinister. Bobby says George has no proof and George presents a staff, which he believes will have a marking. He has Bobby release a catch, revealing Bickerstaff's crest. George tells them the man in the casket is Edmund Bickerstaff. Everyone begins arguing again over jurisdiction on the case and Barnes shouts at them to shut up. He tells them that he's putting them both on the case, to work together. Kipps gasps and Barnes asks if it will be a problem. "Not at all," Lockwood tells him. "No," agrees Kipps. Barnes tells them they need to share information and find the mirror before anyone else does. "Hurry up!" he shouts at them.

Outside, George asks Lucy if Lockwood has decided to believe her. She agrees he has, but says she doesn't expect him to. Lockwood calls him a genius, apologizing for neglecting his razor-sharp focus. George tells them the mirror is a clue to understanding the Problem and they have to get it back. Lucy asks if they're really working with Fittes and Kipps comes up behind, asking Lockwood what the deal is, that the case is way beyond them. Lockwood tells him he knows it isn't, that it's eating him up. "You're irrelevant," he tells him, saying he's the walking appendix that someone should cut off. Kipps tells him there's no way he's working with him. Lockwood tells him he was hoping for this. He suggests they have a race and that the loser has to take out an ad in *The Times* to congratulate the winner. "Full page?" asks Kipps, telling him to grow up. He tells him that the terms are that the loser quits and never works in the industry again. He asks if he's scared he'll lose. They shake hands. Lucy asks what the hell he's doing. "Whatever the hell he wants," declares George.

## Notes

* This is the first of five episodes of the first season of *Lockwood & Co.* adapting events from the second novel of the book series, *The Whispering Skull*.
* Whereas the opening events of *The Whispering Skull* are indicated to take place approximately seven months following those of *The Screaming Staircase* and the affair at Combe Carey Hall, the events in the TV series are accelerated. It is indicated here that it is only about 14 hours between the events of the previous episode and the opening of this one, Lucy having slept since hearing the Skull's voice and passing out in the basement.

## 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

* Jeff Rawle as Sebastian Saunders
* Louise Brealey as Pamela Joplin
* Saskia Axten as Genevieve
* Nina Bowers as Dani
* John Lightbody as Gravedigger Norris
* Quincy Miller-Cole as Terry
* Michael Clarke as Skull
* Sharlene Whyte as Chat Show Host
* Amanda Abbington as Marissa Fittes
* Ivanno Jeremiah as Inspector Barnes
* Jack Bandeira as Quill Kipps
* Rhianna Dorris as Kat Godwin
* Paddy Holland as Bobby Vernon
* Rico Vina as Ned Shaw