The Sandman (TV Series)
The Sound of Her Wings (2022)
Tom Sturridge: Dream
Photos
Quotes
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[Morpheus meets Hob in the present day, at the New Inn]
Hob Gadling : [smiles] You're late.
Dream : [smiles back] It seems I owe you an apology. I've always heard it impolite to keep one's friends waiting.
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Death : Okay, so what's the matter?
Dream : What do you mean?
Death : I can tell something's wrong. I mean, look at you. Sittin' here, moping, pigeon-feeding. It's not like you.
Dream : No. Perhaps it isn't. I don't know what's wrong, but... You're right. Something is the matter. When they captured me, I just had one thought: Vengeance. It wasn't as satisfying as I'd expected. Meanwhile, my kingdom had fallen apart, my tools long since stolen and scattered. And so I embarked upon a journey to find them. Which I did. I'm now more powerful than I have been in eons. And yet...
Death : Here you are, feeding the pigeons.
Dream : You see, until then, I'd had a true quest. A purpose beyond my function and then suddenly, it was over, and... I felt disappointed. Let down. Empty. Does that make sense? I was so sure that once I got everything back, I'd feel good. But in some ways I feel worse than when I started. I feel like... nothing. There. You asked.
Death : You could have called me, you know.
Dream : I didn't want to worry you.
Death : Oh, I don't believe it. Let me tell you something, Dream. And I'm only gonna say this once, so you better pay attention. You are utterly the stupidest, most self-centered, pathetic excuse for an anthropomorphic personification on this or any other plane. Feeling sorry for yourself because your little game is over and you haven't got the balls to go out and find a new one. You're as bad as Desire - no, worse. Did it never occur to you that I would be worried about you?
Dream : I didn't think you...
Death : Exactly. You didn't think.
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Dream : I find myself wondering about humanity. Their attitude towards your gift is so strange. Why do they fear the Sunless Lands? It is as natural to die as it is to be born.
Death : People may not be ready for my gift. But they get it anyway. No matter what the circumstance. At the end, each of us stands alone. The Sunless Lands are far away and the journey is hard. Most of us will be glad for the company of a friend. It's funny, looking back now. I used to think I had to do this all by myself.
Dream : But you do.
Death : No. At the end, I'm there with them. I'm holding their hand and they're holding mine. I'm not alone when I'm doing my job. And neither are you. Think about it. The only reason we even exist, you and I, and Desire and Despair, the whole family, we're here to serve them. It isn't about quests or finding purpose outside our function. Our purpose is our function. We're here for them. Since I figured that out, I realized I need them as much as they need me. I've seen so many cool things and people and worlds. I've learned so much. Lots of people don't have a job they love doing, do they? So, I think I'm really very lucky. Listen, I've got to head back soon.
Dream : You've taught me something I had forgotten. I thank you, my sister.
Death : Aw. That's what family's about, little brother. One last appointment, then I have to go.
Dream : I, too, am late for an appointment.
Death : Tell him I said hello.
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Dream : How do you do it?
Death : Do what?
Dream : This. Be there, for all of them.
Death : I have a job to do, and I do it. When the first living thing existed, I was there. When the last living thing dies, I'll put the chairs on the table, turn out the lights and lock the universe behind me when I leave. And I'm not there for all of them. There are exceptions. Mad Hettie, and then there's your ongoing project. How's he bearing up after all this time?
Dream : Who? Hob Gadling? I don't know. I was forced to miss our last appointment.
Death : Well, I'm sure he'd love to see you. They're never too keen to see me, though.
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[in 1489]
Hob Gadling : How did you know that I'd still be here? Who are you? A wizard? A saint?... A demon? Have I made a bargain with the devil?
Dream : No.
Hob Gadling : Then why aren't I dead long since? Is this some kind of game?
Dream : No game.
Hob Gadling : But why? Who are you? Why are you here?
Dream : I'm here because I'm interested.
Hob Gadling : In me?
Dream : In your experience.
Hob Gadling : What do I have to do?
Dream : Nothing. You live your life as you choose. Then on this day, every 100 years, we will meet.
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Dream : Did I hear you say you have no intention of ever dying?
Hob Gadling : Uh, yeah. Yeah, that's right.
Dream : Then you must tell me what it's like. Let us meet here again, Robert Gadling, in this tavern of the White Horse in 100 years.
Pub Visitor #2 (1389) : [laughs] A hundred years and I'm Pope Urban!
Hob Gadling : Don't mind them. A hundred years' time, on this day? I will see you in the year of our Lord 1489, then.
Pub Visitor #2 (1389) : Who was that, then, Hobsie?
Hob Gadling : Haven't a clue. But tell you what, I'll ask him in a hundred years' time.
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Death : I actually used to think I had the hardest job in all our family.
Dream : Oh, did you?
Death : They fear the Sunless Lands, yet they enter your realm every night without fear.
Dream : And yet I am far more terrible than you.
Death : It was fine in the beginning. Dying and living were new things and people did them with the enthusiasm they always bring to new things. And then after a bit, it just got harder.
Dream : But you continued.
Death : I thought about giving up. Walking out. This was a long time ago, long before this world. It really started to get to me. I got kind of hard and brittle inside. I mean, people feel as pleased to have been born as if they did it themselves. But they get upset and hurt and shaken when they die. But eventually, I learned that all they really need is a kind word and a friendly face. Like they had in the beginning.
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[in 1889]
Hob Gadling : You knew Lady Johanna. You know Lushing Lou. You know everyone, don't you?
Dream : I saw her again, you know.
Hob Gadling : Who? Lady Johanna?
Dream : She undertook a task for me - and succeeded admirably, I might add.
Hob Gadling : That might be the only thing I've learned after 500 years: People are almost always better than you think they are. Not me, though. Still the same as ever.
Dream : I think perhaps you've changed.
Hob Gadling : Well, I may have learnt a bit from my mistakes. But... doesn't seem to stop me from making them. I think it's you that's changed.
Dream : How so?
Hob Gadling : I think I know why we still meet here, century after century. It's not because you want to see whether or not I'm ready to seek death. I don't think I'll ever seek death. By now, you know that about me. So, I think you're here for something else.
Dream : And what might that be?
Hob Gadling : Friendship. I think you're lonely.
Dream : You dare...
Hob Gadling : No, look, I'm not saying...
Dream : You... dare suggest one such as I might need your companionship?
Hob Gadling : Yes. Yes, I do.
Dream : Then I shall take my leave of you and prove you wrong.
[walks away]
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Johanna Constantine : They tell of a tale in these London parts, that the Devil and the Wandering Jew meet once every century in a tavern. Two years past, sewn into the shirt of a dead man, I found this.
[sets down a drawing of Hob and Morpheus made at their last meeting]
Hob Gadling : Is that meant to be me? Oh, I look terrible. You look worse.
Johanna Constantine : You return to this pub every 100 years, striking bargains with men, sharing gifts, immortality, which you will now share with me. Well, have you nothing to say?
Dream : I am no Devil.
Hob Gadling : And I'm not Jewish.
Johanna Constantine : Fie... What manner of creatures are you then?
Hob Gadling : Who wants to know?
Johanna Constantine : I'm Lady Johanna Constantine. You will both follow me, sirs. My coach is without. I can see there is so much you can tell me, so much I can learn.
Dream : No. No, I think not.
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Hob Gadling : Look, I've seen death. I lost half my village to the Black Death. I fought under Buckingham in Burgundy. It's not like I don't know what death is. Death is... stupid.
Pub Visitor #2 (1389) : You're a fool, Hob.
Hob Gadling : Nobody has to die. The only reason people die is... is 'cause everyone does it. You all just go along with it. But not me. I've made up my mind. I'm not going to die.
Pub Visitor #2 (1389) : Hobs, death comes for every man.
Hob Gadling : You don't know that. I might get lucky. There's always a first time. There's so much to do, so many things to see: Women to swive, ale to drink, people to drink with!
Dream : Why would any sensible creature crave an eternity of this?
Death : You could find out.
Dream : How?
Death : I could grant him his wish.
Dream : Do that, and he will be begging for death within a century, I assure you.
Death : This will prove very interesting.
