Chapter 15: Brief Lives is the fourth episode of the second season of the Netflix original dark fantasy series, The Sandman.
Synopsis[]
Morpheus helps Delirium to search for their missing brother in the waking world, where a deadly force lurks in the shadows.
Plot[]
Meeting with Dream on a balcony, Lucienne learns from Dream that Nada has decided to return to the Mortal Realm. He also ordered Lucienne to erase the suite rooms that were prepared for Nada and have the staff never mention her name in his presence. Though before she leaves, Dream asks Lucienne if he's incapable of love, which, before she could answer, Matthew intervenes and informs Dream that the Guardians have captured an intruder down below.
The intruder was Delirium, which the Wyvern had dangling in his mouth. Dream tells the Wyvern that Delirium is his sister, which makes the beast drop her, and Delirium tells Dream that she wanted to speak to him in person, despite having a Gallery to do so, but didn't want to be rejected by him again.
Inside the dining hall, Dream sits across from his sister, and Delirium believes that Dream is angry with her, but he rejects that notion, stating that he merely has a lot on his mind lately. Delirium found Dream apologizing, perplexed, as he never does this, which Dream confirms. He then asks why Delirium was there, and she explains that the best times of her life were when "he" was there. She continues that since Destruction left his Realm, it still functions, but without someone at its helm, and Delirium cites it's like when Dream left his. However, Dream corrects her, stating he did not leave his realm by choice. Delirium understood, but expressed her concern over Destruction leaving his realm and inquired about the reason. Dream intervenes, stating that his own motives led him to Destruction and that he will never understand or forgive him for that. To that point, Delirium asks if Dream ever told their brother this, which he denies, and Delirium asks if he ever wanted to do it. Still Dream says no, but then learns that Delirium also asked Despair, who also said no, and then reveals that she got the idea in Desire's Realm.
Upon hearing that, Dream leaves to visit his Gallery and summons Desire, who appears there and is accused of giving Delirium the idea to venture forth and find their missing brother, as well as about Nada. Both of which Desire denies having a hand in and finds comfort that Dream had no intention of helping Delirium find their brother, all while stating Dream could use the opportunity to search for Nada.
Returning to Delirium, Dream conveys what Desire suggested to him, which was that Delirium return to her realm. Still, Delirium suggests that she'll meet with Death, and if she denies, she'll ask Destiny, and if he denies, she'll search for their missing brother on her own. So, Dream asks Delirium if she were to search for Destruction, who would she ask? Delirium then hands Dream a list of people who may know where he is, and Dream compliments it.
Later, Dream tells Lucienne that he'll be going on an excursion to the Mortal Realm with his sister and to let Pharamond know that they'll be calling on him. Though Lucienne has her suspicions that Dream's true motive is to seek out Nada, which would upset Delirium, Dream states that he'll deal with it when the time comes.
Meanwhile, Destruction gets advice on his painting from his companion Barnabas, though immediately after this, Barnabas notes that something is amiss in a room close by to them. The two check it out, and it was Destruction's Gallery with a Scrying Pool, where Destruction notes that big trouble is ahead.
Walking through the streets of New York with Delirium, Dream tells her that Pharamond goes by Farrell now, until he spots a woman whom he mistook for Nada. With that done, Dream approaches Farrell's car service, where they're met by Wanda Mannering. Wanda introduces herself to the two and leads them to the car, which they'll be driven to their locations, where they're to meet with the people who will help them find their missing brother.
The first person is a lawyer by the name of Bernie Capax, who unfortunately dies in an accident and Death appears to take him away. Visiting Bernie's household, Dream and Delirium learn from Bernie's son, Donnie, that his father is dead. The revelation makes Dream reconsider their endeavor, but Delirium chalks it off as a coincidence. They reconvene with Wanda and inform her of Bernie's untimely death. After deciding to meet with the Dancer next, Wanda proposes making dinner reservations. However, Dream suggests taking them to other travelers.
At a fancy club, Wanda talks to the two about how she has a family of her own, but only speaks to her aunt, who accepts her as being trans. On the other hand, her aunt is worried that Wanda won't be accepted into the kingdom of God because of it. Wanda then discusses her favorite book, The Marvelous Land of Oz, and Dream then asks Wanda what she would do if her family arrived there unannounced. She states that she'd be happy, and if they invited her home, Wanda would decline, citing that she has established herself as an independent woman.
Later, Delirium and Dream are led by Wanda to the Dancers' location, where Dream reveals to Delirium that the dancer was a goddess of Sex and War. The person was Ishtar, whom Dream meets backstage in her dressing room, and the two briefly quarrel over their past relationship, but Dream finally asks where Destruction was. However, Ishtar did not know, and Dream then warns her that her life may be in danger as the last person they tried to ask where Destruction died, and she may be next. Ishtar then asks Dream what she did to him to make him hate her enough to want her dead. Dream though denies holding any resentment toward her, and despite his answer, Ishtar lights a candle and then partially undresses herself while stating that if she dies tonight, she'll dance as a Goddess, and if she lives, then she'll live as one. After Ishtar leaves, the candle she lit catches fire, igniting the nearby curtain.
Back on the club floor, Dream informs Delirium and Wanda that he has spoken to Ishtar, and she doesn't know where Destruction is. Ishtar then began to dance, and although Dream was captivated by her performance, he realized that there was a gas leak and warned the two to run. A gas explosion incinerates the club, leaving all the attendees, except for Delirium, dead and piles of rubble everywhere. Dream kneeling beside Wanda's corpse reveals that she was dead, and despite this, Delirium only cared that only one person left was alive on her list. Desire then appears and states that not only was their place of worship destroyed, but also reveals that Dream's actions have caused the death of Ishtar, and that Dream never cared to find Destruction, but wanted to find Nada. The revelation led Delirium to sever ties with both Desire and Dream, leaving them to return to her Realm. Desire then severs his own ties with Dream and reveals that they're through with Dream.
Cast[]
- Tom Sturridge as Dream
- Vivienne Acheampong as Lucienne
- Patton Oswalt as Matthew
- Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death
- Mason Alexander Park as Desire
- Barry Sloane as The Prodigal
- Esme Creed-Miles as Delirium
- Indya Moore as Wanda Mannering
- Amber Rose Revah as Ishtar
- Steve Coogan as Barnabas
Co-Starring[]
- Nonso Anozie as Wyvern
- Lenny Henry as Bernie Capax
- Jordan Adene as Donnie Capax
- Bridgette Amofah as Naomi
- Paul Olding as New Yorker
Trivia[]
To be added
Gallery[]
Promotional Images[]
References[]