Original subtitles

- Are you ready? - Ready.

-Then we shall begin.

This is Agnes,

and it's her wedding day.

Agnes didn't want to get married.

This man is a stranger, and his breath is not ideal,

but she had to.

Get married. Have a son.

It was the law.

It wasn't always like this.

In the beginning, a god named Kiddo made the world.

This world was just a beautiful garden,

and it was simple.

Once Kiddo was sure that her little humans

were comfortable and happy, she let them be.

Kiddo's father, Birdman,

had sworn that he would not meddle in his daughter's world.

No, he would just let the humans eat and sleep

and mate and relax. -Kiddo.

-But alas, it was just too boring.

-They are without purpose,

breeding left, right, and center.

They know nothing!

They don't know who you are. They don't know who I am.

This won't do, Kiddo.

Leave it with me.

-Birdman was feeling especially omnipotent that day,

and soon every corner of this world was filled with his image.

Those who would worship him, of course...

-So pleases Birdman!

-...and many, many rules.

-I solemnly swear to submit to you

and to avoid temptations, both mental and physical.

I promise all this with a chaste heart.

And I promise to give you many heirs.

So wishes Birdman. -So wishes Birdman.

-Oh, much better.

-But Agnes won't have an heir.

No one knows it, but she's already pregnant.

And her daughter, Hero,

will change the world.

-Six months.

Six months, and not even a hint of pregnancy.

Most young couples under my parish give birth

barely seven months after they marry.

It can't be Jerome.

My family has produced countless heirs.

-Sons. Nothing but sons.

-I can see that.

But we're only as strong as our weakest members.

And weakness can run in the family.

Where is your father?

Still -- Still dead, sir.

Sorry.

-This is Cherry.

Our story really starts with her.

Cherry is Birdman's ideal wife --

beautiful, obedient,

good at chess...

...and falconry.

But none of that will save her at this particular meeting.

- And who is that?

-That's Hero, sir. My maid.

-Hero is technically Cherry's maid,

but she is so much more than that.

She is Cherry's best friend.

-We've been trying every night since the wedding, sir.

-You're from excellent stock.

And you...

seem pretty healthy and fit,

despite your dead relatives.

Report back to me after 101 nights.

-Very specific.

-I am very specific, young lady.

And if you return and I see no progress...

...you will not see next spring.

Now, hurry up and conceive.

-Tomorrow.

-As it turns out...

...Jerome had told a fib.

-This is your room.

Let me know if you need anything.

-The wedding night hadn't...

...quite gone as he'd promised.

-Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Tomorrow. Tomorrow.

-And neither had any other night.

Brutal.

And it won't be Jerome who suffers the consequences.

Birdman loves women, of course, but...

-...he doesn't take disappointment well.

- Clarence?

-Fact -- there are no good women.

-Yes.

-I loved her, Jerome. -I know.

-Oh, God, I -- I wooed her with gifts and with charm.

I promised her many things,

and in return, I demanded only one thing...

...absolute and total loyalty.

-Yes, absolutely. -She agrees.

We get married, but...

something is off, you know?

So as a test, my father hires a servant to seduce her.

-No. You caught them? -Not exactly.

But he had a pair of her knickers

and a precise description of a scar on her inner leg.

-What did your wife say? -She denied it.

Said that he had removed her knickers by force.

You didn't believe her?

-No one did.

The Beaked Brothers took my castle and drove me out of town.

And your wife?

-You could remarry. -Oh, please.

-Come on! What's your type?

-I mean, the usual, you know?

Like, beautiful, chaste, good at listening,

mending socks, interested in maps, falconry, chess, etc.,

but obviously not excessively good at any of those things.

-My wife is exactly like that.

-True.

You lucky thing.

-Hm.

-Forgive me, but, uh...

not even a hint of pregnancy?

-Eh. Any day now.

-I have heard rumors. -Rumors?

-About how you prefer to, um...

to hunt and -- and ride and play darts

with your handsome friends... - What?

-...rather than spending time in the bedroom with your wife.

-No, no! You misheard.

My wife and I can't keep our hands off each other.

It's wild.

-Mm.

It's horrible how gossip spreads, isn't it?

Also funny how easily it happens for some, though --

baby thing, right?

I mean, hell, I even know some women who have so many,

they have one to spare.

-Who?

-Ah. I know people.

-I'm a very busy man with many business affairs.

-No doubt. -So, unfortunately,

I must go out of town for a while...

for work.

-Oh. -Surely no one can blame me.

I'm not even here to get my wife pregnant.

-Well, have a wonderful trip.

Only, would you...

It's embarrassing. Would you allow me

a couple of days to arrange a new place to stay?

-Don't be silly.

Of course you can stay.

I know times are tough.

You're not worried, though, are you?

-How so? -Well...

About leaving your wife here alone...

...with me?

-Not at all. I, uh...

...I trust you.

My wife would never.

Listen, Jerome, my wife -- RIP --

she couldn't wait to jump into bed with a servant,

and, well, look at me.

-Oh!

How dare you? - Whoa!

-How dare you?

You smug bastard! -Smug bastard, is it?

-My wife would never jump into bed with -- with a servant

or you or anyone, for that matter.

-Prove it. -I shall.

As I said, I'll be away for a while on business.

You can try and seduce her all you like.

Good luck. How long do you need?

-Easy. Give me a month.

-Have 100 nights.

It won't make a difference.

I know my wife to be faithful.

And then...

...you will get me an heir from one of those women of yours...

...and swear that it's mine.

And make it come up organically.

Right?

-Happily...if I lose.

Though if I do seduce her...

...what do I get?

-Well, if -- if you do win...

-I mean...

-...you can have this castle

and everything in it.

-Interesting.

It is a beautiful castle.

-Mm-hmm.

-Hardly change a thing.

This wife, um...

where would she -- where would she go if I win?

-Well, you won't win.

My wife is a paragon of virtue.

But if she does stray,

well, she'd go straight to hell, of course.

-When I win,

I'll be right there with you to watch her hang.

-With all due respect, you're a wonderful hunter.

I perfected this craft over many years and --

-Ah! Good morning, my dear.

This is Manfred.

-Delighted to meet you.

-Come. Sit.

I've been meaning to tell you,

I've been summoned away, unexpectedly,

on business.

-Oh? -Yes.

I leave today.

But it's just for a few days.

I'll be back before you know it.

Manfred here will stay on

to take care of things while I'm gone.

And, of course, you have the guards watching over you.

Not to mention, of course, your, um...

your maid.

You keep her good company, maid.

-Mm. -Mm.

-I'll be counting down the days until I'm back.

-You will be sorely missed, my friend.

And don't worry.

I'll take good care of your lovely wife.

-You okay?

-I'm fine.

I understand my husband has other duties.

Important business.

He did say we would finally try tonight,

but...business is business.

The only thing is...our guest.

-Manfred? -Yes.

I'm a bit surprised that Jerome would leave me here...

with him.

-Yes.

-Where is he?

-He's unpacking.

-Well, I'm sure my husband knows what he's doing.

-I'm sure.

-He said this Manfred's here to keep us safe.

-He did.

-He'll be back soon.

We have time.

I'm sure his friend won't want much to do with us anyways.

-Hello.

I would love a tour of the castle.

I'm dying to see every -- every nook and cranny

of Jerome's beautiful home.

Shall we?

-The chapel.

West corridor.

Graveyard.

The north wing.

That's the end of the tour.

-Good night, my lord.

-Good night.

Actually...

I'm sorry.

I was too shy to ask before,

but I was wondering if I might see your bedroom,

just to round off the tour.

Jerome had mentioned how stunning the décor was.

-Perhaps another time, my lord.

Excuse us.

Can I --

What happened?

-Manfred asked to see your bedroom, and you fainted.

I promise you that we'll get through this together.

You won't be alone.

And any time you feel like you need rescuing,

just let me know, and I'll create a distraction.

Buy us some time while we figure out what to do.

-What kind of distraction?

-I'll tell a story.

-A story? -Yes.

Anytime you don't know what to do,

just say, "Hero, how did that story end?"

And I'll take it from there.

-I didn't know you told stories.

-I haven't in a while.

-Well, I'd love to hear them.

And if they keep us out of trouble, even better.

-Thank you.

I don't know what I would do without you.

I feel a bit silly now.

I'm sure it was just an innocent question.

I bet he'll be much more reserved tomorrow.

-Lunch!

I feel we...

we may have had a misunderstanding yesterday.

When I asked to see your room...

...I can see how that could have been interpreted

as an inappropriate advance on a married woman, which I --

I would never do.

The truth is, I love architecture.

And dear Jerome had led me to believe that, uh,

formalities were not required while he was gone.

He's like a brother to me, and...

so you, therefore, are like a sister.

Well, I hope we can start fresh today.

-Of course.

I'm sorry if I made you feel unwelcome.

I...wasn't myself yesterday.

-Ah! Think nothing of it.

Manfred, please.

So, uh...

what would you like to do today?

-Together, you mean?

- Well, yes.

I was hoping I could take your lead.

-Hmm.

I would like to...

...hear a story.

-A-A story?

-Yes. Hero? -Yes.

-What was that one you were telling me the other day?

It sounded fascinating.

-I think you mean the story of the Dancing Stones.

-That was it.

Would you like to hear it with me?

-I would love to.

-Very well.

Some time ago

in a small town across the channel from the Great City,

there lived three sisters...

...Mina...

Caterina...

...and Rosa.

They lived with their father, who was a sea captain.

Losing his wife had been the great tragedy of his life,

but he loved his daughters very much.

And he worried constantly that with no male heirs,

he'd have nothing to leave them with when he died.

He couldn't protect them forever.

And so their training for marriage began.

The sea captain was often away for long voyages,

and the sisters were left to look after themselves.

The sisters loved their father very much,

and they would practice their skills faithfully,

even when he was away.

But there was one thing the sisters practiced

that they could never tell their father.

It was a secret skill their mother had passed on to them,

a skill known to be sinful, wicked,

and absolutely forbidden for women.

-Hero.

-Good night.

-Thank you.

-Anytime.

-Hero, what's the forbidden thing

that Rosa and her sisters did?

-You'll have to find out next time.

-Cruel.

-Wilmot?

I'm pregnant.

Ah.

With my luck, it'll be a girl, too.

-Let's not speculate.

-If she is a girl,

then she won't stay here.

It'll be different for her.

It will.

-Look.

You can see the moon, even in the light.

I love when that happens.

-You know...

-What? -My mother used to tell me

that my grandmother was the moon.

-On the moon?

-No, the actual moon.

That one.

-The smallest one.

So you're a child of the moon?

-Apparently.

It's fun to believe it.

-I believe it.

What?

-I'm determined to win this time.

-Best of luck.

-Brutal.

-You mind if I cut in?

Your move.

Excellent.

Well, it seems Jerome has taught you well.

-Mm.

He is wonderful at it,

as his Hero.

A woman of many talents.

It appears you have a checkmate.

-I'm so sorry.

It must be because you picked up from Hero's game.

She's always so kind to let me win.

-I would never.

Your victories are entirely your own.

-No need to apologize at all.

A worthy opponent.

To new friends.

-Much better.

Good?

Well, then I will kill one for you every day.

-Thank you.

-Oh, you must try this.

-It's a bit sweet for me, my lord.

-Cherry, would you like to try one?

-Uh...sure.

Mmm.

-You left half the berry, though.

-Thank you for inviting me to dine with you, my lord.

-Of course.

There's no need for formalities here.

I'm not like other lords.

-Well, now we're better acquainted,

it's a perfect time for me to finish that story,

don't you think? -Yes.

I have to hear how it ends.

Don't you?

-Oh, absolutely.

Hero, you have us on tenterhooks.

And this time I am wide awake.

-Wonderful.

Where were we?

Oh, yes.

Rosa and her sisters had a secret skill

passed down to them from their mother.

It was a skill known to be sinful and wicked

and absolutely forbidden for women.

They could read and write.

-Wait, isn't this the story of Rosa the Cunning?

-You know. I thought so, too.

I haven't heard it in so long, but the Beaked Brothers used to

make us recite it over and over.

-Yes, the rhymes.

Rosa the witch hid her books in a ditch.

-And cast spell after spell to send her lovers to hell.

-Yes, I had to recite it every week.

-That's not her.

Although that is a... charming rhyme for children,

this Rosa was just an ordinary woman.

-But it's still forbidden.

-It is.

But Rosa and her sisters didn't use their skills to cast spells.

They used them to read about amazing far-off lands

and to write about their thoughts and feelings,

to let their imaginations run wild...

...while hardly ever leaving their house.

-I've been thinking...

...what will we do when Father makes us marry?

And all our books.

-We just have to be careful, that's all.

-Very careful.

-Promise.

-Soon their father returned home.

-I've heard wonderful things.

-And with him, he brought...

a suitor.

The wealthy merchant found all of the daughters captivating.

But he liked Rosa best.

-She is enchanting.

-Isn't she?

-So quiet.

And gracious.

Sweet but serious.

I like that very much.

-Now, that wasn't what Rosa was really like.

Actually, she was funny and smart...

...with a sharp tongue and a quick mind.

But he saw what he wanted to see.

-It's morning.

-She's right.

But which morning?

As Hero's story continued...

-What do you think Rosa and her sisters are up to?

-Shh!

-...entire nights had passed like hours.

And Hero's words still linger in the air.

-She is enchanting.

-We just have to be careful.

-I've been summoned away unexpectedly.

-Cherry's dreams, normally a swirl of anxiety...

...hold something new...

...unexpected.

Manfred's dreams are a little more straightforward.

-Sophia, the Fertile, guide me.

Tell me what to do.

My husband won't touch me,

and I want to be touched...

to produce an heir, of course.

When will my husband be home?

I'm sorry. It's just...

It's been a few days.

-Weeks.

-I actually have some news on that front.

It seems...

alas, he's in no hurry to return home.

In fact, I think he's enjoying himself so much,

he won't be back for a couple of months at least.

Oh.

I'm sorry, Cherry. I'm...

...just the messenger.

-Mm-hmm.

Uh...

Forgive me.

It's me.

-Um, yes.

Uh, o-one second. I'm changing.

-Can I come in?

I'm sorry I'm a mess.

-No sorries.

And you're never a mess.

When did Manfred hear about this?

-Today, he said.

-We'll find a way through this.

Don't despair. Okay?

Now...

do you think you could be alone with Manfred?

Just for a bit?

-I'm sorry for earlier, Cherry.

Jerome asked me to take care of you, and I...

...I feel as though I have let him down.

Though I-I had hoped that

my company would be somewhat of a distraction.

-It's not something you can solve.

Jerome and I, we must start a family,

urgently.

-Ah, yes. The Beaked Brothers, I'm sure,

are growing quite impatient.

-Indeed.

-Could you not be pregnant already?

Are you sure?

Sometimes it takes a while to show.

-Be impossible.

- Why? Why is it impossible?

Wait. Have you and Jerome never --

-Dinner's ready.

-I'm not hungry.

Can you finish the story instead?

-Of course.

-In the chapel. I must pray first.

-My wife is a paragon of virtue.

-Are you hungry, my lord?

-Not at all.

Finish the story.

I'm dying to know if the merchant gets what he wants.

-Yes, the suspense must be killing you.

How long have you been here

waiting to hear what happens next?

-Hero doesn't know exactly what this smug man is up to,

but she is going to spin this tale out.

-So what happens next?

-Well...

Rosa and the merchant got married.

She had never really spoken to another man before,

besides her father.

So when a handsome merchant appears

with his compliments and his eye contact...

-Welcome to your new home.

-...she doesn't stand a chance.

-Get a grip. -As long as it takes.

-Everything will be okay. Right?

-Tomorrow is a fresh start.

-Of all the stories she could have chosen,

she had decided on this one.

-I know it's forbidden,

but have you heard the story of the Dancing Stones?

-I think those sisters are the bravest women

I've ever heard of. -Me, too.

-There's a secret latch at the bottom of your clothes chest.

Everything you need is in there.

-I'll miss you so much.

-I propose that we form

a League of Secret Storytellers.

What is the one thing that they let us do?

-Needlepoint. -Needlepoint.

-We can't write and we can't read.

But we have stories to tell.

-What's this?

-Shh. It's nothing to worry about.

I love you.

-We'll weave tapestries of the sisters...

...and of every other story that we have heard whispered

until we run out of stories.

-Where are we going?

-I must see to the fern trees.

Besides, this part of the story is best told outside.

-Strange question, but...

what day is it?

-How do you mean?

-Since I arrived, uh...

how many nights has it been?

-50 nights, sir.

That's not possible.

-I c-- I could be wrong. -He's not.

-Cherry...

uh...

while Hero is attending to that...

...can I talk to you?

Uh, just for a moment?

We won't go far.

-Okay.

-Okay.

-I'll only be a moment.

I'm so embarrassed.

Don't look at me like that.

-I shouldn't have told you.

-You didn't tell me. I guessed.

And you didn't dishonor Jerome.

In fact, I've been pondering, and I wonder if this isn't

exactly what he wanted.

-What do you mean?

-Well, at first I thought it was impossible.

Not my friend Jerome.

It would be so manipulative.

And then I thought, well...

he has this beautiful wife,

and despite saying that he wants an heir,

he hasn't consummated his marriage.

And now he's just away

for God knows how long,

knowing the pressure that you're under.

It's odd.

Perhaps...

things aren't working on his end,

and he knows an heir is impossible.

He's too ashamed to say.

And perhaps he knows that's

not a problem in my department,

and he was hoping that I might take care of it,

leaving you alone with me.

Anyway, um...

I hope I'm wrong about him...

...because you deserve

much, much better.

-Are you all right?

I was worried about you last night.

-I'm sorry.

-There's nothing to be sorry about.

-Did you ever want to get married?

-No.

That wasn't really an option for me.

-I desperately wanted to.

I was told over and over that that was the best thing for me.

But I'm clearly terrible at it.

My husband doesn't even want me.

-It's not you.

-How can you be so sure?

-I'm sure.

-What does it feel like?

-What?

-To be wanted.

What does a man do when, you know,

they want to make an heir?

-Well, I don't have much experience in making heirs,

but...the wanting part,

I have some experience.

-Tell me.

-Come on.

All right, so...

First, um, they would take your hand.

And they would do this.

-What else?

-Um...

They...would do...

this.

Has anyone ever done that before?

-No.

-Has he, um...

What about...

...this?

Do you...

Would you want it?

-It feels good.

-Good.

-What else do they do?

-Um...

If I were them...

...I would, um...

...I would go slowly.

Then I would stop...

...just for a moment here.

And if you turned towards me, then...

I would know you wanted more.

Thank you for my hair. -Mm.

-Well...

...if Birdman wasn't too fond of women going outside

alone after teatime...

...you can imagine what he'd think of this.

So, they're friends.

-Good friends.

-There you are.

Walk?

- Okay.

-Just friends.

-It was lovely spending time just the two of us today...

...and I hope not too trying for you.

-No, my lord.

-Manfred.

Well, then.

Have a lovely evening.

Although...

I was still curious to see your room.

Most beautiful room in the house.

May I?

-Uh...

Okay.

But just for a moment.

-Ah, the merest of moments.

- Hero.

He wanted to see the architecture.

-Yes. It's even more beautiful than I imagined.

All done?

-Yes.

But I tell you what we haven't finished is that story.

The merchant was just about to discover Rosa's secret.

-Well, actually, we were just about to have a drink.

-I'd love a drink.

-Only two glasses.

-I can use the flask,

while I tell you all about Rosa's fate.

Or whatever the lady wants.

-Oh, um...

Well, we shouldn't leave a story unfinished.

-I agree.

Now...

...where were we?

-I think the merchant had just comforted Rosa.

-Well, yes, you could say that he comforted her, in a way.

Comforted her so well, in fact, that Rosa forgot

the sense of dread that she'd been feeling.

She loved her new home in the Great City.

She'd grown to love her husband, too.

And for those first few months,

she almost forgot the secret she had.

Almost.

But keeping the secret from the one she loved

felt more and more lonely.

And one evening when a cold chill blew off the sea,

Rosa thought of her sisters.

Out with it!

What did it say?

What was that spell you wrote on the window?

-You can't read?

-Are you calling me stupid?!

-No. It wasn't a spell.

It just said, "I love you," that's all.

-Liar!

Whore.

Witch.

I'm guessing your sisters are no better.

-No! It's just me.

Please, it's just me!

-But it wasn't enough for him just to trap Rosa.

Soon a letter arrived at the little house by the sea,

marked with the seal of the Beaked Brothers.

"To the sisters of Rosa the Witch,

if you are reading this, then it means that your sister

lied more than her husband ever thought possible.

-She wronged him." -It's just me.

-"But we are merciful.

And if you turn yourselves in and repent,

then we will spare her life."

And even though the sisters didn't imagine for a second

that Rosa would go free,

they knew what they had to do.

-We are the Sisters of Rosa.

And we've come to take her home.

-We know it's a trap. -Get on with it.

-These women are accused of reading,

of performing witchcraft and spells.

Witnesses have seen them engaged

in the unnatural acts of magic.

-Words are beautiful.

We have just as much right to them as any man.

-Don't interrupt me!

As punishment,

they shall be pushed from the Great Cliff

to their deaths.

-What?!

But I thought this was a different story

than Rosa the Cunning. -It is different.

-They -- They were witches, though.

-Rosa didn't cast a spell.

She wrote the words, "I love you."

She certainly wasn't cunning about it.

-But it ends the same.

-No, it doesn't.

She refuses to renounce her passion,

her dignity, or her sisters.

-So pleases Birdman!

-So pleases Birdman.

Why did you come?

-We couldn't let you do this alone.

-Shh. Stop it!

-I'll be right there with you to watch her hang.

-Is everything all right?

-Hmm?

Yes. Yeah. Yes, of course.

Just didn't sleep last night.

What happened to the merchant?

-Sorry?

-Well, when Rosa and her sisters died,

you didn't say.

-The merchant remarried one month later.

-I feel a bit strange. Can I have some water, please?

Thank you.

-You're welcome. -You're welcome.

-Manfred here will stay on

to take care of things while I'm gone.

-Surely the merchant felt remorse.

-If he did, he didn't show it.

-You know that's not the end of the story.

It wasn't the first time the merchant had lost a wife.

His first wife had drowned under mysterious circumstances.

And the merchant found her so beautiful,

he didn't want to let her go to waste.

-He gave her body to a harpist

who knew just what to do with her.

He washed her fine-spun hair,

leaving it to dry in the sun until it gleamed.

-It's not my...fault.

-Then he cleaned her bones so well they shone white

and carved them slowly, carefully into a harp.

He strung the harp with her long hair,

and when the harp played at Rosa's wedding,

it made an extraordinary and melancholy sound.

But Rosa didn't hear the warning.

Manfred's getting worse.

Have you...

this whole time?

-I have.

-You're not above the rules, Hero.

Believe me, I know.

Look, just let me finish the story.

-I don't have time for your stories anymore.

And the worst part is, you know how this ends.

Can I come in?

-I'm sorry. I...

I'm a mess.

Night terrors.

What's the matter?

-I think you're right.

If my husband's intentions are as you say...

...then we should...

make an heir before he returns.

He'll get what he wants.

He doesn't want me.

-I can't imagine that.

If I could...

I'd follow you for so long, Cherry.

Perhaps lonely.

So lonely.

What the hell is this?

-Jerome. You're home early.

-No, I'm not. It's been 100 nights.

-I'm afraid Jerome's right.

-Shh.

All right. You've won.

-Won? -Stay quiet, harlot!

A deal is a deal. I'm a man of my word.

You can keep the castle.

But you will not disgrace me.

All right?

As for you, I'm afraid...

we'll have to lock you in your room until we...

figure out what your sin is for public record.

-No. -No?

-I'm keeping your castle, and I'm keeping Cherry.

I love her.

Love?

You said you'd be there with me to watch her hang.

-That was before I knew you.

I-I'm different now.

-Guards? -No.

Cherry had nothing to do with this.

I enchanted her.

With these.

Forbidden stories.

The responsibility is mine and mine alone.

Cherry had no part in it.

I'll go quietly. Just please...

don't harm her.

-See, Cherry is a victim of witchcraft, as am I.

You don't even want her, Jerome.

You never consummated.

A shameful fact I will keep to myself

if you release Cherry and your castle to me.

I want to keep her.

I think I deserve a fresh start.

I've been patient, and -- and I have listened.

I have listened so much.

And I would have won the bet fair and square

if it wasn't for those enchanted stories.

-Stop!

Just stop, everyone.

I'm still here, okay? I'm not dead yet.

Nothing much was supposed to happen to me.

I was supposed to get married, have children,

do needlepoint, I guess, and then die.

Meeting you,

hearing about those women that wanted more --

that's been the greatest adventure of my life.

When I found your secret books, I was scared.

But mostly jealous

because I wish that I lived a braver life.

So...here we go.

I love you, Hero.

If you get rid of her, you get rid of me, too.

-Wow.

Well...

I guess, uh, things have really

gone off the rails since I left, eh?

Well, I guess this, uh,

clears things up between us.

Guards!

-Jerome. -Call for the Beaked Brothers.

-Jerome, stop.

-This is the story.

There was no bet.

I was away on business.

My wife was with child.

And you were here to take care of her

whilst I was away on important business.

You performed the task admirably.

The maid killed my heir

with her witchcraft and bewitched my bride.

-I'm not like him. -It's not our fault.

There are laws.

It's their destruction or ours.

So...

whose story is right?

-I'm...

I'm sorry.

-Right.

It's just us then.

Guards! Take them.

And burn those books.

-Now!

-Hero.

Can you tell me the story?

The one about you?

-Are you sure?

-Yes.

I can't leave a story unfinished.

I mean, you promised me hope.

-All right.

Just for you.

This story starts where Rosa and her sisters' story ends.

When the heartbroken sea captain brought Rosa,

Caterina, and Mina home

and insisted on burying them himself.

He placed a tall stone on each one of their graves.

And as he stood there in his grief,

the stones seemed to dance in the wind,

as his daughters had loved to do.

And a wave of determination came over him,

and he searched the house until he found

their now infamous secret stories.

For days after, he sat on the hill by their graves

and read every story they had ever written.

And he loved them.

So he wrote their story, too.

The story of the Dancing Stones.

And instead of staying secret,

the story spread.

In every corner of the empire,

people were talking about the sisters.

And at length, it came to the isle,

a tiny, windswept beach just outside the empire.

A woman called Wilmot lived there.

And when Wilmot heard about the sisters

and their terrible death,

it filled her with rage and sadness.

She knew that soon the story would be warped

and molded into lies.

-I have a plan.

No one is telling me what to do anymore.

I'm an old woman on her own, and I feel like

it's time I saw the world.

So I will take our stories to the Great City.

And I will find every story I can collect

that would of been forgotten.

And I will bring them back here,

and we will weave them into tapestries

and pass them down to our daughters and our allies.

And one day,

everyone will know our stories.

-Count me in.

-Me, too.

-The fire is dying. I'll be back.

-Wilmot?

-Yes, dear?

-Can you...

Can you sneak my daughter out when you go?

Can you find a way to bring Hero with you?

-I thought you'd never ask.

-My mother stayed behind.

But after a while, Wilmot's travels led her here.

There was a story that needed to be told from one of the maids.

So she became a maid, too,

and wove her stories here.

She hid them in the walls and the floors

until she could leave.

But she never left in the end.

And so I came here,

thinking I could present as a maid

and find her stories

and bring them home.

-And you found them?

-Yes.

-But you didn't leave?

-No.

What did you think of it?

Was it a good last story?

-It was perfect.

Maybe one day they'll tell ours.

-Remove your coverings!

And face your shame!

These women have been accused

of perversion and witchcraft!

And they shall be put to death!

So pleases Birdman!

So pleases Birdman!

-Let them go!

-Let them go! -Let them go!

-Let them go! -Let them go!

-Let them go! -Let them go!

-Let them go!

-As it turns out,

the guards had not followed orders.

-I'm still thinking about Rosa.

-Never stop.

-They had not burned Hero's books at all.

In fact, they'd passed her secret stories

to their family and friends...

...who'd whispered it in corners to their friends,

and so on and so on...

-Silence!

-...until all over the city...

...people were talking about Cherry

and Hero the Storyteller.

-All right!

We are reasonable and just.

We will let you go...

...if you admit your sin.

Admit that you've done wrong,

beg for mercy, and...

we'll let you live.

And admit that knowledge wasn't made for you.

That's all we require.

-Are you sorry?

-Not one bit.

-Neither am I.

We are not sorry!

-We did not commit a sin!

-How dare you?

-Go ahead, ask her.

-Hello?

We've come from the Great City

seeking the League of Secret Storytellers.

-We're the League of Secret Storytellers.

-You know, it's been a long time

since we've had any new stories.

-We've come to tell you one

about a maid who told stories that spread

and started a great revolution.

The city is burning,

and the Beaked Brothers have fled.

All because of two excellent women

called Cherry...

and Hero.

-Where are we?

-Hello?

-Who are you?

-I'm the moon.

-You're the moon.

-The smallest, most beautiful moon?

-Well, I don't like to brag, but yes.

-What are you doing here?

-I'm rescuing you, my dear.

Sorry it took so long.

My sisters think I interfere too much.

Now...

shall we go home?

-How was the journey?

-Very long.

-We traveled for days to find you.

-The next night,

there were two new stars in the sky.

A new constellation that shone clear and bright.

Brighter than all the other stars.

Nearly as bright as the moon.

-And do they have a name?

-They are called many things.

The Twins.

The Eyes.

-But the name most commonly held is...

...The Heroes.

-But it was perfect!