Franklyn

Somebody once said

that religion was deemed

by the commoners as true,

by the wise as false,

and by the rulers as useful.

The only thing I believe

is that my name is Jonathan Preest.

And tonight, I'm gonna kill a man.

- Hey.

- Hey.

What's going on? Where's Karen?

A bit of a change of plan.

Actually, quite a radical one.

What?

You're f***ing kidding me?

Seriously, I'm not.

Let's just get back to London.

I think I need a drink.

I think you make

too many demands on me.

I feel we don't connect.

That you...

Sorry.

...I hate you

because of the divorce.

Even though I've done everything to help you

support your so-called career...

Margaret.

Now, remember, remember the rules.

Just what you feel Emilia thinks,

not what you think.

I'm sorry.

It's just that...

I really don't feel I'm getting through.

That is the point ofthis, isn't it?

Building trust takes time.

All structure must start with foundation,

and communication is

the cornerstone of foundation.

Amen.

Emilia.

For f***ing real?

As real as you feel

you would express yourself

if you were in your mother's shoes.

Try.

OK.

The next time that you come back

from hospital after another...

drunken suicide attempt, you little slut,

I'll drag you home,

throw your charity shop cast-offs

into a bin liner,

and make you move

to some other stinking city.

Any excuse to keep us away

from your dear father.

- Don't you start...

- We can't even mention Father now!

- That's enough!

- So we don't have to communicate...

- Emilia!

- ... I'll provide my... my psychotic,

alcoholic, waste-of-f***ing-life

daughter...

- Enough!

- ... with a 100-an-hour psychiatrist.

- You see what I have to deal with?

- Make friends, find yourself a man...

Emilia, will you be quiet?

A little too much?

Emilia, please.

I need to speak with your mother.

See you next Tuesday.

- Hello?

- Hello. Anne?

- Peter.

- Er, yes.

You're there. Um...

- I thought we agreed not to do this.

- Yes, but please, wait.

But you promised me

you would not try to contact me.

It's David.

They're letting him do a day visit.

- Yes, I heard.

- I'm picking him up on Wednesday.

He can stay overnight as well.

- Look, Peter, Martin will be home soon.

- Oh, Martin will understand. Ha!

Will you come?

- Peter...

- I'm sure he'd like to see his mother.

Well, I'd like to see you, too.

- It's been so long.

- I don't know.

Look, I'll think about it.

I've got to go now.

Yes, OK.

Don't read too much into this.

I'll expect your call, then.

Goodbye.

Bye.

So there it is.

Meanwhile City.

So beautiful from the upper heights...

it almost looks like

it makes some kind of sense.

From a distance, you'd neverthink

this city was hopelessly insane.

It seems so long ago

that the clockwork of events

that led me here began to turn.

Events that led me to this room,

to the task that I have to perform tonight -

the eradication of The Individual.

Back then, things seemed so simple.

It seemed like any otherjob,

any other night

on the streets downtown.

The main drag

was swarming with the faithful.

...open mind and a steadfast faith

applies the unchanging values

of our religion

to the new priorities

of the people of Meanwhile City.

Our plan - to improve your lives,

to provide opportunity...

We are all immortal, spiritual beings.

I didn't like using

the main thoroughfares.

The Ministry clerics

were always out in force.

You see, you've got to have religion

to live in Meanwhile City.

It's the law.

There are now so many faiths

registered in this town,

it gets kind of hard to be original.

...find yourself clean on the outside...

...the water has been drained.

Objects such as coins,

safety pins, stones,

cause extensive damage

and must not be placed in the machine.

These days,

you can form a congregation

simply based

on washing-machine instructions.

Always consult the care instructions

on the clothes.

You see, without faith,

it's difficult to be controlled.

And I didn't like being controlled.

Not by anybody.

That made me a big problem

for the Ministry.

I'm the one and only non-believer

in Meanwhile City.

I'd been investigating a nasty little faith

known as Duplex Ride.

Their leader called himself

The Individual.

He was one of the most dangerous

I'd come across.

Egocentric and insanely deluded.

The Individual had abducted a young girl

into Duplex Ride.

For what purpose?

Somebody's god only knew.

God bless you.

How's tricks?

Whisky, please.

- Straight.

- Coming up.

Hot outside today.

He here?

You're sure you wanna stay

for this drink?

Think I shouldn't?

He's in the back.

- Thanks.

- No problem.

Your god bless you.

Wormsnakes -

my eyes and ears on the street.

Ha, ha!

Mr Preest!

Looking...

You're looking well.

You know how I feel

about public appearances.

Just tell me what you got.

Mr Preest, information...

is very hard to come by these days,

let alone having any faith in it,

you know what I mean?

Snakes,

I'm running out of patience.

You don't understand!

If he finds out that I...

It'll be nothing to what

I'll do if you don't.

The girl, Snakes!

Where is she?

The girl, she's dead.

- Please!

- The Individual?

I don't know! I swear, I don't know!

- Did he do it himself?

- I don't know the... the d- d- details.

You know, she didn't... didn't suffer.

That's all I know.

- Just tell me where he is.

- I don't know! I swear!

All I know is that you should

get out of here before they...

Before what?

Ssh! They made me.

No! No!

I'll be back for you.

Too many clerics on the street.

I should have seen the signs.

Stupid.

- Just like that?

- Just like that.

Are you sure?

I mean, you guys have been

down this road before.

That's just it.

Maybe I should have seen it coming.

Does being jilted at the altar count

when it's your rehearsal day?

Milo.

Come on.

Just a thought.

There's so many people to call.

Do you think she's spoken to anyone?

That's the last thing

you should be thinking about.

It's hard enough

bloody organising a wedding.

How the f*** do you go about

dismantling one?

- They don't tell you that, do they?

- Just relax.

I'll take care of everything.

I'm still your best man, OK?

It's my duty, right?

Do you need to stay tonight?

No, I'll probablyjust head back to mine.

All right, just thought

you might like the company.

Mate.

This is Emilia. Leave a message.

Emilia? Hello?

Er, Emilia,

it's Gavin Clunes from college.

I've not seen you in for a while.

I don't need to remind you

that your deadline was Thursday.

Call me back if you can.

She was lost, needed my help.

And I'd let her down.

A routine cultjob,

and now the girl I was supposed to save

was dead.

The Individual had gone to ground

and Wormsnakes had given me up

to the Ministry.

I knew I was a wanted man.

But even I hadn't expected

that much attention.

Well, let's see what all the fuss is about.

Somebody upstairs had wanted me

brought in. And whoeverthey were...

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