Henry Scudder

Henry Scudder
Biography
Nicknames	"Hack"
Nationality	American
Gender	Male
Affiliations	Astoria Hotel; Hyde and Teller Company (formerly); Austro-Hungarian Army (formerly)
Occupation	Carnival geek (formerly); Miner (formerly); Farmer (formerly); Soldier (formerly)
Location	Damascus, Nebraska (formerly); Babylon, Texas (formerly); Milfay, Oklahoma (formerly)
Relations
Significant Other(s)	Flora Hawkins (wife); Ruthie (ex-lover)
Family	Hilton Scudder (father); Emma Scudder (mother); Owen Scudder (half-brother); Gilbert Scudder (half-brother); Alvin Scudder (half-brother); Ben Hawkins (son)
Additional info
Portrayed by	John Savage
First appearance	Milfay
Final appearance	Cheyenne, WY

Henry "Hack" Scudder was a mysterious figure that would enter the dreams of Ben Hawkins and Justin Crowe. He was an Avatar of Darkness.

Early Life[]

Henry Scudder was born August 1st, 1889 at his family's home on Old Cherry Blossom Road in Ingram, Texas.

Serving as an observer in the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1914, Henry Scudder was stationed on the Eastern Front during World War I. While there, he spent most of his time avoiding his responsibilities and robbing war casualties.

One night, Lucius Belyakov, a Russian soldier and Avatar of Light, discovered Scudder hiding in a trench. Having become obsessed with destroying his destined enemy, Belyakov sought to kill Scudder. However, before Belyakov could kill Scudder, Belyakov was attacked by an escaped circus bear, allowing Scudder to escape. While he fled, Scudder met Ernst Lodz, a member of a traveling carnival, who was searching for the lost bear. Scudder deserted his post and traveled with Lodz through Europe. While Lodz trained Scudder to use his abilities, the two of them used each of their talents to cheat people. However, Scudder realized that Belyakov was tracking them and ultimately decided to return to America. Lodz became angry at Scudder for wanting to leave although Scudder would subsequently grant Lodz the ability to read minds in exchange for his sight.

In America, Scudder married Flora Hawkins and the two settled down in Milfay, Oklahoma. Scudder bought a piece of land that the couple called Big Sky Farms. Flora became pregnant and gave birth to their only son, Ben. However, he would have to abandon his wife and son when Belyakov and Lodz drew near Milfay looking for him. Scudder wandered around the country for a while and descended into alcoholism while losing control of his abilities. While working as a miner in Babylon, Texas, Scudder placed a curse on the town after causing a cave-in, causing anyone who died within the town to be trapped in the ghost town as a literal ghost.

Afterwards, Scudder joined the Hyde and Teller Company carnival, during which he became romantically involved with Ruthie. After working as a sideshow geek for less than a year, Scudder sensed Belyakov was getting closer and ran from the carnival before Belyakov could get to him. In Saint Louis, Scudder was almost caught by Lodz and some of Belyakov's henchmen but was taken instead by agents of the Order of the Knights Templar.

Season 1[]

Milfay[]

Henry Scudder is first seen in Ben's dreams running through a cornfield being pursued by a tattooed man and then in uniform during World War I. Later, when Ben is seen dreaming in Lodz's trailer, Lodz, at Lila's insistence, reads his dreams and recognizes Scudder.

After the Ball Is Over[]

In a dream shared by Ben and Justin Crowe, in which they both appear, Scudder is seen in a diner in Mintern, California sitting across from the Russian soldier from Ben's previous dreams. In another dream, Scudder is seen during the war wandering in a trench with a bunch of dead soldiers, one of whom he steals a helmet from. He notices a body moving and picks up a rifle and goes to investigate. Meanwhile, the Russian soldier has made it to the same trench and aims his gun to shoot Scudder. Before the Russian can shoot, a bear comes from around the corner and causes Scudder to fall. Before we can see the outcome, Ben wakes from his dream. In Ruthie's trailer, Ben shows Ruthie the photo of his mother that he found earlier and she tells him that she was Scudder's girlfriend before showing him a picture of him. Ruthie tells Ben that Scudder was a drinker.

Season 2[]

Damascus, NE[]

Ben makes his way to Damascus, Nebraska to search for Scudder. While driving past a pig barn, he has a vision of a man with a disfigured face wearing eye goggles that makes him stop in front of the barn. He sees Scudder standing in front of the barn in his tuxedo. Scudder goes inside the barn and Ben follows. Inside the barn, there is no sign of Scudder but Ben has another vision of the disfigured man yelling and pouring vinegar on his face. Through the crack in the barn doors, Ben sees the letters H and S on top of each other and says aloud, "Henry Scudder." Opening the doors, the letters are seen to belong to a Hotel Astoria sign. At the hotel, Ben asks for Scudder; the hotel clerk tells him that he lived there for a year and snuck out owing rent. Ben goes to Scudder's old hotel room and has more visions of the disfigured man. Ben soon finds out that the man is Scudder, who used sulfuric acid to disfigure his face and is the white-haired man in the office downstairs. After avoiding Varlyn Stroud, also looking for Scudder, Ben finds his disfigured father who tries to deny who he is. Ben heals Scudder and drives him back to the Carnivale.

On the way, Scudder tells Ben that he had to leave him and his mother because Belyakov was getting close to finding him and that he wouldn't have hesitated to kill Ben and Flora to get to him. Ben chastises him for leaving him alone with a crazy Flora and Scudder tells Ben that he never wanted to be part of the madness. He says he just wanted peace and a family but that he couldn't walk away from who he is. Scudder tells Ben that Belyakov means to kill him; Ben says that he'll protect Scudder.

At the Carnivale, Ben and Scudder go to Belyakov's trailer. Belyakov demands that Scudder tell who Ben's opposite is. When Scudder tells that it's Alexi Belyakov, Lucius's son, Belyakov refuses to believe it, springing from behind his curtain and physically attacks Scudder. In a panic, Ben then takes out his knife and fatally stabs Belyakov, saving Scudder.

Outskirts, Damascus, NE[]

Amidst the confusion, Scudder flees while suffering the effects of Belyakov's transfer of power to Ben, being sighted by Ruthie, before collapsing within a row of cars. Having caught up with him, Stroud sedates Scudder and makes off with him in an automobile.

Lincoln Highway, UT[]

Coming soon...

Cheyenne, WY[]