Solomon

Solomon

Think this is the first time I've seen you leave the park.

Baba

Well it's the first time there's ever been something compelling enough to make me want to leave

Solomon

Come on, like you weren't interested in the possessed Wendigo that was trapped in The Baroness.

Baba

Eh, between The Baxter Society and The Doorman there was no need to step in

Baba

I'm excited to see you cut loose.

Solomon

Oh, I don't know if I'll ever cut loose, but I will certainly be more aggressive than normal.

Baba

Come on, Solomon live a little

Solomon

Alright, alright, maybe a little.

Baba

Atta boy.

Solomon

How's Mildred?

Baba

Mildred… are you trying to get me worked up?

Solomon

I don't think a little fire would be bad.

Baba

Well stop it.

Solomon

Mildred wouldn’t be bothered by that.

Baba

Shut up.

Billy

Of course I'm stuck working with you.

Solomon

Still upset you lost?

Billy

You hustled me.

Solomon

So you'd be fine taking an old mans money, but you're not fine losing to an old man.

Billy

It wasn't a fair game.

Solomon

I didn't make you place a wager. You thought I was a mark. You were wrong. Grow from the experience.

Billy

Go to hell Solomon.

Solomon

Or don't. That's ok too.

Solomon

What is it that you want, Billy.

Billy

I want you to mind your own business… I'm not interested in whatever old man wisdom you're trying to sell.

Solomon

Suit yourself.

Solomon

I hope you show better judgement today than in other parts of your life.

Billy

This is about the goat head isn't it?

Solomon

Obviously.

Billy

How about you worry about your little board game and not about me.

Celeste

Hey Sol.

Solomon

Hey Celeste.

Celeste

Ted tell you what was happening?

Solomon

Wish I was surprised. Lenny's always going to Lenny.

Celeste

Well I'm glad you're here.

Solomon

Of course.

Celeste

Hey Sol, you like people watching right?

Solomon

Why do you think I spend all my time in the park?

Celeste

Wanna come to the Ren Faire with me?

Solomon

Even I have limits.

Celeste

Hey Sol, after the ritual a bunch of us are gonna go get a pizza you wanna come?

Solomon

I feel like your priorities may be a bit misplaced.

Celeste

I like the idea of assuming that I'm going to survive the next 40 minutes, sue me.

Solomon

I will get pizza with you.

Celeste

Thanks.

Solomon

Do you play chess?

Haze

Yea.

Solomon

Are you any good?

Haze

I imagine you're better.

Solomon

That's not what I asked.

Haze

I'm decent in my friend group, but that doesn't really mean anything... Maybe I'm just the best of the worst.

Solomon

If you're that insightful, you're probably better than you think.

Haze

Do you know what you're doing?

Solomon

I was going to ask you the same thing.

Haze

You were going to question a sandman if they knew how to do their job?

Solomon

I wasn't talking about your capacity as a killer, I could tell that by the uniform. I was just wondering why you put that uniform on in the first place.

Haze

I know who I am Solomon, and I'm okay with that.

Haze

You don't seem too worried.

Solomon

I've lived a long life, a good life. If I die trying to make the world a little better, there are worse ways to go.

Solomon

It's hard seeing a great man look so sad.

Kelvin

I'm not great. I was. But now…

Solomon

It's still in you Kelvin.

Kelvin

I failed.

Solomon

Everyone fails.

Kelvin

Not me.

Solomon

Everyone. And the sooner you accept that, the sooner you can move on with your life.

Solomon

Have you thought about your next expedition?

Kelvin

Either Appalachia or The Deep.

Solomon

Good choices. I look forward to reading about them.

Kelvin

And I look forward to writing about them… but first we must complete the ritual.

Kelvin

Is now really the time to carry around a board game?

Solomon

Chess is so much more than a game.

Kelvin

I don't know if metaphors are going to keep you alive in a firefight.

Solomon

Metaphors, no. But I have something else in mind.

Solomon

You know how to play chess?

Rat King

I don't care about chess.

Solomon

You should. It's the game of kings. And when you're ruling long island you gotta be ready if some dignitary wants to play.

Rat King

Can you teach me?

Solomon

As long as you're not afraid to lose.

Rat King

I'm not afraid of anything, crumbum.

Solomon

Then I'm ready to start when you are.

Rat King

Why do you spend so much time in Central Park.

Solomon

Because humanity is magical. And there's no better place to watch people than the park.

Rat King

I get it. That's how I feel watching the pinkies eat at the dumpster behind Enzo's Pizzaria.

Solomon

The one on 3rd?

Rat King

8th.

Solomon

Yeah that makes sense.

Solomon

New York awaits, my king.

Rat King

Why are you being so nice.

Solomon

Because it's my nature.

Rat King

But you got an angle.

Solomon

Everyone has an angle… mine is just benign.

Solomon

If you'd like I can teach you how to play chess.

Rem

No.

Solomon

Really? It's a fun game.

Rem

Solomon. I'm sorry to tell you this. No one thinks chess is fun.

Solomon

Seven, don't go through with this.

Seven

I'll do as I wish.

Solomon

It's not too late to change course. You think you're about to cast off some kind of husk that's holding you back - but you're going to lose more than you think.

Seven

Nothing of import.

Solomon

You're wrong. And you'll regret it.

Seven

I won't.

Seven

Why do you waste your days in central park?

Solomon

Living life, making connections, challenging myself - how are those a waste?

Seven

You're sitting around playing a game when you could be changing the world.

Solomon

I don't want to change the world. I want to know it. Experience it.

Seven

Then you're more foolish than I thought.

Solomon

Perhaps. But I'm content. And that's something you'll never be, even with all the power you could dream of.

Seven

Solomon, how does it feel knowing you'll be complicit in my ascension.

Solomon

It's not my place to stop you. Though if I were you, I wouldn't give me a reason to change my mind.

Seven

Your too committed with the ritual to stop me

Solomon

And what do you think the Patron will do if I sacrifice my wish to cancel yours?

Seven

You wouldn't.

Solomon

Who knows what will happen. That's what makes life exciting.

Solomon

May I ask why you're doing this Ritual, Victor?

Victor

To understand my past, the truth about my creation.

Solomon

That's brave of you.

Victor

Anyone would want to know.

Solomon

That's not true. There's plenty of people who prefer ignorance… the lies we tell ourselves are often less painful than reality.

Victor

I'm not concerned with pain.

Solomon

Even if we win, Victor, be careful trusting what the Patron tells you.

Victor

Why? What do you know?

Solomon

It's what I don't know. Who's to say if these beings offer half-truths?

Victor

Even a half-truth would give me something to go on.

Solomon

You're a resilient man Victor.

Victor

I don't have any other choice.

Solomon

Sure you do. But you took the hard path… and that's to be commended.

Victor

That's kind of you to say.

Solomon

You're very brave.

Viscous

Really? I thought that the tingly feeling means I was nervous.

Solomon

Being brave isn't about not being nervous or scared, it's about accepting that whatever it is your afraid of is less important than what you need to do.

Viscous

I'm brave!

Solomon

The Adversary is a threat to us all.

Viscous

You know about the Adversary?

Solomon

I do, Viscous... and that's why I'm standing with you today.

Viscous

Why do people like to talk to you so much?

Solomon

Because I give them my honest opinion, not just say what they want to hear.

Viscous

Wouldn't that make everyone mad at you?

Solomon

No. You can be honest without being cruel.

Viscous

Then why don't more people do that?

Solomon

Kindness takes more effort than indifference.

Viscous

That's sad.

Solomon

I agree.