Dr. Jack York is a physician in Victorian London who turns to absinthe and other addictions in order to cope with several recent tragedies in his life. But he finds a new purpose when he witnesses a horrifying entity that is murdering women throughout London.
Opening narration[]
| “ | Even in the darkest corners of despair, there are glimmers of a light we call "truth." But what if it is a light to which the rest of the world is blind? | ” |
Plot[]
The story is set in London in 1888. After Dr. Jack York's misdiagnosis ends up costing a patient's life, he has descended into absinthe addiction, and spends his evenings at a brothel. Although tempted, he ignores the women and only reads his book. On his way home one evening, he hears two women inside a warehouse. When he enters he witnesses a being of blue light "ripping" out of the woman's chest, and entering the other woman.
Soon Jack discovers an alien creature that lives inside women and kills them: after a time it leaves its host body by bursting out of the chest and enters another human host which it has selected.
Jack follows this creature, trying to unveil the truth. His only lead is a green substance that the infected women cough up. But in the meantime the bodies are discovered and police are searching for a mass murderer they dubbed Jack the Ripper. The creature uses this to its advantage, planting further evidence that Jack is the ripper.
In the end, Jack is discovered killing the alien, while still inside the body of a woman. He is sentenced to a mental institute. His fiancée Ellen visits him to tell him that she is leaving for America. Directly after the Inspector visits Jack to tell him that he is retiring and is going to follow Ellen to America. The Inspector calls America "the land of opportunity" and coughs up the same green substance as the infected women.
He leaves Jack alone in the asylum with the message "...Don't worry, she'll hardly feel a thing..."
Closing narration[]
| “ | The universe is a labyrinth so vast and mysterious that those who choose to plumb its depths may wind up lost... forever. | ” |
Trivia[]
David Warner played Jack the Ripper in the science fiction film Time After Time from 1979.
The concept of Jack the Ripper being an alien parasite was also used in an episode of the 1960s series of Star Trek.
The episode "Better Luck Next Time" is a direct sequel to this episode.
Cast[]
- Cary Elwes as Dr. Jack York
- Clare Sims as Lady Ellen
- Eliza Murbach as Lady Sophie
- Robert Saunders as Appleby
- France Nuyen as Madame Li Yu
- Frances Fisher as Lady Julia
- David Warner as Inspector Harold Langford.
- Deni DeLory as Annie Chapman
- Marnie Alton as Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Stride
- Colin Skinner as Worthington
- Scott Elam as Lord Reston
- Mary Ann Skoll as Mary Jane Kelly
- Candice Connelly as Woman in Cream Dress
- Brian Linds as Reporter
- Danielle Ayotte as Newsboy