Century Falls Episode Three

The next day at the village shop, May and Esme argue. Miss Cooper arrives, and senses that Esme's bad mood is due to her lack of success dealing with Elisabeth Hunter. Richard Naismith appears, and Miss Cooper asks why he has brought Ben to Century Falls when it is dangerous for the child. Richard replies that Century Falls is Ben's heritage. Miss Cooper tells the sisters that perhaps she can find out more…

At the manor house, Carey and Ben explore. Carey finds a room up a steep flight of stairs, but Ashe warns her off. Meanwhile, Ben discovers the cupboard that contains the mask.

Tess goes to the Harkness shop and demands 'Two Mars bars, one first class stamp and one explanation - fast'. She says that if the sisters can convince her of the danger to her mother's unborn child, then perhaps she can convince her mother to leave the village.

At the manor house, Ben confronts Richard Naismith with the mask, and demands to know what it is. Richard says that it is a relic from the temple. Ben is wary that Richard is trying to manipulate him. Richard suggests that Ben should return to the waterfall: 'Draw from it, show me what you can do'

Later, Richard and Ashe display the returned mask to the mysterious patient - the patient's burned hand reaches out to touch it…

At the shop, Esme decides to tell Tess more. They set out together, observed by Tess's mother. Too late to stop them, Mrs Hunter goes instead to the shop to complain to May about her sister's behaviour. May tells Mrs Hunter she is wrong to speak harshly of Esme: May once tried to have a baby in Century Falls, but didn't succeed.

Elsewhere in town, Miss Cooper meets Julia, and asks the girl to walk with her.

At the waterfall, Esme tells Tess that 'the waterfall remembers… the water saturates the land, just as the shared mind saturates the villagers… every event is stored here'. Looking into the water, Tess can see the faces of the villagers who died in the fire. Esme tells her that what happened in the temple on that day was so terrible it could never be allowed to happen again. There was such shame in the village about the events that no new lives could be born. Ben emerges, and demands to know what happened on the fateful day.

At the manor house, Carey notices Julia snooping by a door. They exchange a smile.

Ben, Esme and Tess hold hands, and Ben retrieves the past. They see again the fire, and this time it is clear that the young woman in the floral dress was Esme - old and young Esme seem to recognise each other. Looking into the fire the children see that there was a figure on the stage. It is the beautiful masked gold woman that Ben has previously conjured the image of from the waterfall, a woman Esme calls 'Century'. Esme orders Tess to run back to her mother and convince her to leave the village. Esme tells Ben that the woman was a monster.

At the manor house, Carey discovers Jane crying in the kitchen. Carey asks what is wrong, and Jane reveals it is something she overheard Richard talking about…

Back at the waterfall, Ben is determined to know more. Esme tells him to beware his power, as it won't always bring him what he wants. She refuses to bond with him again and reveal more, but Ben maintains the past will return through him.

Richard joins Carey and Julia in the kitchen. Carey confronts him, and demands to know the truth. He tells her that Ben is dying - he is a 'wildcard', and they always die young. Every time Ben uses his talent another part of his mind is destroyed. Carey is furious, as Richard has been encouraging Ben to use his power. She runs off to warn Ben. As she leaves, Julia discards her maid's apron and stands up. Her entire manner seems to change as she announces that 'all her designs are falling into place'.

Tess returns home, determined to make her Mother listen. Elisabeth Hunter is angry with Tess, and refuses to believe her. Elisabeth tells Tess that she is a lonely, fat child who takes refuge in stories…

Carey searches for Ben without success at the waterfall. She goes on to the ruins of the temple, where once again Ben is trying to discover what happened in the past.

Miss Cooper calls on Julia at the manor house, but soon discovers to her horror that Julia is not all she appears to be. Julia has cunningly manipulated events - when Carey tells Ben of his destiny to die young, Ben's spirit will be broken. Julia predicts that Ben will then turn to her, and Century will be made to live again.