Season 1, Episode 3
Written by Kevin Lau
Directed by David Semel
Original Airdate: 25 April 2021

“The degradation of progress. We build homes to keep other people out, and then build machines to let them all in.”
Gilbert Massen

SYNOPSIS

Annie Carbey, better known in the underground as “Bonfire,” interrupts a shipment at the docks — unfortunately for her, it’s Beggar King territory. Before his men can retaliate, Amalia and Penance arrive and attempt to recruit her for the orphanage. Annie declines in the most Annie way possible: she escapes. The Beggar King does not take this well and orders his men to find out everything they can about Amalia True.

The next morning, Penance unveils her latest invention to the women at the orphanage: a device designed to amplify Mary Brighton’s voice so it can reach Touched across the city. Mary, still uneasy about her role and Amalia’s secrets, confronts Amalia about the purpose of the orphanage — and receives no real answers.

Elsewhere, Lord Massen has telephones installed throughout his estate. One worker accidentally wanders into a locked room and hears something trying to escape. Massen calmly insists it’s “rabid dogs,” which is exactly the sort of reassurance that makes everything worse.

Inspector Mundi receives a note summoning him to a bar. His contact turns out to be Hugo Swan, who openly mocks him and reveals their past intimate encounter — something Mundi insists was alcohol‑induced. Hugo suggests this may have contributed to Mary leaving Mundi at the altar, a theory Mundi refuses to entertain.

Dr. Horatio Cousens is lured to a carriage where he finds a wounded Maladie. She demands he heal her, and despite every instinct telling him not to, he reluctantly uses his power to save her.

Amalia and Lucy investigate a series of false flyers directing Touched women to a fake orphanage. Inside, Amalia is attacked by a masked man with a deformed face; she kills him and retrieves evidence to bring to Lavinia. Instead of removing the flyers, Amalia suggests leaving them in place so they can monitor the operation. Lucy drags the housekeeper back for interrogation.

Mary invites Mundi to the orphanage, sharing her insecurities about her power and her place among the Touched. She also quietly confirms Hugo’s deduction about their failed engagement. The interrogation of the fake orphanage’s housekeeper strengthens Mary’s resolve: she will use her voice, with Penance’s amplifier, to reach the Touched.

She asks for everyone’s attendance at the park — even though Mundi won’t be able to hear her song.

On her way there, Amalia is thrown from her carriage into the river. Odium, one of the Beggar King’s henchmen, reveals himself as Touched by walking across the water to kill her. Amalia overpowers him, strangling him with chains before escaping.

In the park, Mary begins her song. Penance’s invention carries her voice across the city, reaching Touched everywhere. But the moment is shattered when one of Maladie’s followers shoots Mary multiple times. Mundi kills the attacker but is wounded himself. Mary dies in Amalia’s arms.

That night, the women at the orphanage discover Annie has returned — and she’s brought several newly arrived Touched who heard Mary’s voice.

TRIVIA

CONTINUITY