Barkskins (2020) s01e01 Episode Script
New France
♪
♪
[gunshots]
[yelling]
[panting]
[whooping]
[man calls out]
♪
♪
MAN:
Charles. Huh?
-Charles.
-Mm.
I want to go back to France.
There'’s no going back.
We must ready for our new lives.
CAPTAIN: Hey, you! Sit down!
[grunts]
-He has a fever.
-CAPTAIN: I will have him
delivered properly
into the custody
of Captain Bouchard,
as that is my contract.
Then you will
serve your indenture.
I didn'’t take the dress.
Just the apples.
Yes, I'’m guilty
of stealing apples.
You'’re a thief there, but here
you can be whoever you want.
It was the dress.
My Jacqueline wanted the dress,
so I took it on credit.
But I couldn'’t pay for it.
So I became a thief.
It was prison
or this godforsaken place.
It doesn'’t matter
what happened before.
Here we can begin again.
♪
[praying indistinctly]
[indistinct chatter]
Wait.
[grunting]
Come.
Vite. Vite!
Ah, ah!
-Mud, Thom.
-Oh
Other room.
[door closes]
And the land?
Everything west of the creek,
like I told you,
has been cleared,
-just like you asked.
-Mm.
And the French settlers?
Killed.
Dead.
And the Iroquois?
I took care of them myself.
Captain Bouchard hung
their bodies from the trees.
You should go to the dock
and see them for yourself.
-Excellent.
-He made a right proper example
of them.
And what of the Hudson Bay man?
What of Cross?
Yeah, there'’s no sign of him.
He was there
when the killing started
and then he was gone.
He vanished into the woods.
Vanished?
And where is he, then?
I did what you asked.
Land cleared.
Iroquois blamed.
The time to move
on this territory is now.
Gus, there is no luck except
where there is discipline.
Now, I see things
that you cannot possibly see.
Angles and ways at coin.
-That is my gift.
-Well, I see
land that'’s rich
and ripe for the taking
and a crick
that connects it all.
The time to stake our claim
is now.
No. We must not appear anxious.
The Hudson Bay Company
must see us as allies,
and I will take care of that.
The time is now, Mr. Cooke.
-The land should be ours.
-THOM: Father?
No, uh-uh. Men are
discussing business, Thom.
Thom, do you think your father
here is threatening me?
Do not bring my boy into this.
No, I will hear him.
Step forward, Thom.
Don'’t be afraid.
Thom, would you like to know
exactly what it is
that your father does for me?
He does important work, Thom.
He does important work.
And someday,
you might be able
to do the same.
Would you like that very much?
Yes, sir.
Good, Thom.
Now, tell me,
what is it you came to say?
The boat is here
with the new men.
I counted a dozen.
[indistinct chatter]
Coming through.
Get out of the way.
-We want this one.
-Yes.
Eight. Yeah.
Strong back.
Do you want him?
-COOKE: No.
-CLERK: Cochon!
-This one.
-Oh?
Hey.
Woodcutter?
-Yes.
-Yes.
C'’est bon.
Cochon!
-Open.
-What are you doing here,
Lafarge?
Ah. I'’m with Mr. Cooke.
We need men.
We will pay for them.
Come.
The barrel king
and beard splitter.
[chuckles]
He should know his place,
and his place is
he shall get no men.
-Number three, we will take him.
-He'’s spoken for.
They are for
French citizens only.
Now move away
until I have their marks.
CLERK:
Gasquet!
Make your mark and be quick.
I am prepared to double whatever
the offer, Captain Bouchard.
And double I say
he is spoken for.
He is Monsieur Trepagny'’s.
Now step away,
or I shall knock you back
to some manners, English.
CLERK:
Claude Trepagny!
Claude Trepagny!
Perhaps, uh,
the heretic Monsieur Trepagny
has suffered the same fate
as the recently slaughtered
French settlers.
I have hung fair warning
down by the docks.
The Iroquois
are no threat to us.
Well, that was very convincing,
Captain.
Now, let us discuss this man
who has no claim.
Monsieur Trepagny will have
his allotted time to claim.
Go!
CLERK:
Claude Trepagny!
-[man singing indistinctly]
a-Claude Trepagny!
Now it'’s time for you to die♪
For you are nothing♪
But a little traitor.♪
[laughs]
Behold, I am arrived.
In glory.
Ah.
Yes.
What sort of a man are you?
-Rene Sel, sir.
-No, no, no, no, no, no.
Your name matters no more
than the mouth of a fish.
I will ask you once again.
What sort of a man are you?
-I am your man.
-Yes.
Come.
Come!
RENE:
Do you need another man?
He could be had on the cheap.
He is a sickly malingerer.
No, no.
A bad tooth is all.
Charles Duquet?
CHARLES:
Yes?
Well, he does not
look like much.
Do you vouch for him?
-Yes.
-[grunts]
Yeah.
I will take him.
He'’s yours.
Pleasure.
Hey.
Take the ram, too.
I will have his name.
Charles Duquet.
Perhaps I can show
Monsieur Duquet
the path back to the light
so that he may
bathe in the grace of good labor
on my Doma.
You will contemplate
your contribution to this realm
before I knock you from it.
Look at me.
Look at me!
Now rouse him, and I will
procure us some meat.
Huh?
Get up.
Come on.
Here.
We are Monsieur Trepagny'’s now.
We make good for three years
and we will be granted
our freedom
and a parcel of his land.
The chance to work the land
and someday raise a family.
Pass that land down to them.
Raise your name up.
[scoffs]
Work will raise my name?
I believe that.
Your father worked, yes?
Yes.
A woodcutter.
-And his father before him.
-And so on and so on and so on,
and yet here you are,
same as me.
Two landless fools.
Tell me,
how many rich men do you know
with calluses on their hands?
Do not grind your pearls.
CHARLES:
Come on, they'’re beautiful.
TREPAGNY:
They are the king'’s,
not of your station.
It is men like myself
who will have a wife
to fill this land
with sons and daughters.
MAN:
Indians.
Not French.
Wendat?
Montagnais?
Mi'’kmaq?
-The sort matters, Yvon.
-Matters to you.
And your book.
Precision, Yvon.
Yes, I know.
We must be precise
with all things,
or it will all go to mud.
[sighs]
Just go examine them.
[flies buzzing]
Iroquois.
Iroquois are the wrong sort
to be put on display.
Hopefully, we will be gone
from this backwater
before payment comes due.
Do you wish to take them down
and bury them proper?
I wish to be gone from here.
Let'’s find Cross and be quick.
♪
[door opens]
Compliments of King Louis.
So that you may begin
your new lives properly attired
and fetching to the eye.
Where are the silks?
We were promised silks.
The king has invested
deeply in you,
and I am the guardian
of the king'’s investments.
There are no silks, dear child.
I'’m sure you will make do.
[chuckles]
How does it look?
Better.
Blue is not your color.
Don'’t be modest.
There is no one here
except perhaps Mother Sabrine
who would care to see
-Stop it.
-Comport yourselves modestly.
Speak to no strange men.
Follow my rules,
and I will steer you towards
godly and prosperous husbands.
You will learn
how to bake breads,
how to brew beer,
how to shoot a gun
and dress game.
In a few days, you will meet
the men you will marry.
Unlike back home,
you have the upper hand.
Choose wisely.
I will choose richly.
[tittering]
Either way,
you will spend eternity
together.
Wash your hands and faces,
and below,
so that I may check
that you are intact
as God made you.
We were vouched for back home.
Do you think our virtue
couldn'’t withstand the journey?
Then wash, Melissande.
It seems that you will be
the first to reveal your virtue.
Francis.
There'’s an Englishman
waiting for you.
These tables are no good.
No good at all.
He is from
the Hudson Bay Company.
I gave Lafarge
exact measurements.
A table that
will not tilt or list,
that is all I asked for,
a proper table, but this
We will deal with the table
at the proper time.
There is a man.
He is wanting to see
I said not now, Mathilde.
You have ruined my refinement.
Now what will we do?
We don'’t have money
for these refinements, Francis.
It is the floor that is tilt,
not the table.
I advised
against greenwood planks,
but did you heed my advice?
No.
Everything here is poor
and broken and made wrong.
Even this.
-It is no use.
-Oh
These are unrefined tables
to serve unrefined food
for unrefined men.
That is our business, Francis.
[footsteps approaching]
A minute is a minute
and not five.
My apologies. My husband and I,
we were just
Discussing refinements.
-Uh, after a room?
-Aye. Two, actually.
He is my equal
and will be treated as such.
I, uh, have the other guests
to consider.
I wish to be civil
in all enterprises,
but I will not be denied
a proper room
for my coequal Yvon.
Though he can speak for himself.
YVON:
Aye. He is deadly
with that book.
I am not his equal in that.
My apologies.
We will ready the rooms.
Thank you.
Mathilde Geffard.
Aye, Mathilde.
I wish to know
about a recent guest
in your inn.
My husband keeps
very careful records
of all the guests.
Well, then, I am looking for
a Mr. Randall Cross.
The name is not
familiar to me. Hmm.
He was an agent
for the Hudson Bay Company.
His correspondents indicate
that he was a guest at your inn.
He describes the food
as adequate.
Though he did have a few words
of praise for the prune tart.
"Exceptional," he wrote.
It can be, on occasion.
We would like to see
the room Mr. Cross stayed in.
Well, first I must check to see
if he was a guest.
-Francis.
-Stay out of this.
Aye, Mr. Cross was a guest.
He stayed in the Rose Suite.
He left us some time ago.
FRANCIS:
I just want to
-make sure before, uh
-I am sure.
These men do not have time
for games, Francis.
CHARLES:
What is that?
RENE:
I heard there was a massacre
just outside of town.
-Families killed by Indians.
-Iroquois.
What does that
have to do with us?
I'’m done for, Rene.
I can walk no more.
You will get the drizzles.
Rise and put your legs to it.
I can'’t.
You can'’t?
Or you won'’t?
I can'’t.
My tooth has cankered.
Man does not walk on his teeth.
You will walk!
Or perhaps I shall leave you
and your cankered tooth
to the loup-garou.
A beast you do not wish to meet.
There is no such thing
as the loup-garou.
I have seen its terrible work.
It has the strength of ten men.
It knows murder.
It knows the proper butcher
of a weak rat man
such as yourself.
A bear.
It is not a bear!
But go on, tarry,
and you will find your end
at its jaws
with Monsieur Duquet.
Arise!
MATHILDE:
Uh, Mr. Cross took meals
by himself.
He avoided billiards.
He left an unpaid bill
and a bucket of night soil.
That is what I recall.
Add the balance to my bill and
all and sundry I shall incur.
Is Mr. Cross missing, then?
It'’s been a month
since his last report.
He was a punctual man.
I'’m here to discover his fate.
If I may ask,
why is this called
the Rose Suite?
Uh
Our dear daughter Veronique
left that for us.
It is all we have left
to remember her bright light
in this now dim world.
-It is a terrible thing
to lose a child.
-Ah, yeah.
May I ask how she passed?
That is not
for your ledger, Hamish.
Yes.
Forgive me.
We would like
to see our rooms now.
Tell me, Monsieur Sel,
what is your impression
of New France?
[short chuckle]
So many trees.
It is the forest of the world.
No one has ever seen its end,
nor will they.
You have not seen paradise
until you have lain eyes
on my Doma.
It is peaceful,
open, unwalled.
Soon it will blot out Wobik.
Come.
I do not wish
to be on this path
when night falls.
[rustling]
Shh.
Is it the beast?
It is not the beast.
It is providence.
And so a spirit
is born of the spirit
and flesh of flesh,
and so the kingdom of Satan
is accomplished in this world
and among all nations.
[chitters]
Behold.
HAMISH:
As a representative
of the Hudson'’s Bay Company,
I aim to discover the reason
for Mr. Cross'’ disappearance
so that I may report back
and suggest a course of action.
Now
I'’ll have what you know
of the time here.
[short chuckle]
First
another brandy
on the company'’s tab.
It is cut with some base
and poisonous spirit.
Mm.
It agrees just fine.
Another.
And a coin
for my troubles.
Aye.
I remember your man,
poking about for the company,
as your type do.
He felt strongly of the need
that we should expand
our operation here.
Long way from the bay
to be expanding.
You are in New France,
Mr. Goames.
It'’s bad enough
the English have been allowed
to creep north along
with the Iroquois.
But soon,
the peace will be broken,
and the English
and French will go back
to the way
things have always been.
Throat slitting,
lies and land grabs.
As you may well know,
one does not prosper
to empire with timid strokes,
Captain.
I keep my distance from empire.
That is for others to sort.
I serve the king
and keep the peace
in Wobik for Intendant De Fer.
Then we will speak
to Intendant De Fer.
[laughs]
He prefers to spend his time
in Quebec.
[laughs]
It is my job
to speak to English scum.
Now, who might you serve,
Mr. Goames?
The truth, Captain.
We were told of
the recent tragedy west of town.
The settlers burnt out,
killed by Iroquois.
We saw the bodies
on display by the docks.
It was a small raiding party.
The rest ran off.
You should know the Iroquois
always collect their dead.
And you should know
better than most
that the Iroquois
have animal hearts
that will pump
until the last drop leaves them,
and then their sons
will take up the cause
and pray to their wicked god
that death finds you.
Now,
that is some witchcraft
I wish to avoid.
[laughs]
We have the Iroquois
well-managed.
[laughing]
Managed?
There is no managing
the Iroquois.
They outnumber you 40 to one.
YVON:
Silent as deer.
You can'’t tell them apart
from the trees.
Seen one gut a trapper
with nothing more
than a flint knife.
Baby on her back, too.
God will not judge me
for hanging those savages!
Go! Go see for yourself
what they have done.
Was Cross there?
[scoffs]
Hey, he could be anywhere.
Then we will have a look,
Captain.
The woods are filled
with the bones
of men like you, Mr. Goames.
The sooner you find your way
out of Wobik, the better.
COOKE:
Captain?
-Elisha Cooke.
-Hamish Goames.
BOUCHARD:
Mr. Goames has come to town
looking for
the Hudson Bay agent
who went missing.
Randall Cross was his name.
The company sent you all the way
out here to find him?
They did.
Perhaps his absence
is merely discretion.
These are French territories.
A fact that I am
reminded of every day.
Mr. Cooke is the barrel king
of Wobik.
You don'’t want to enter into
trade with him, that'’s for sure.
Did you happen
to meet Randall Cross?
Might I just say what a relief
it is to hear your voice?
Uh, it is so good
to have another Englishman
in town.
I was born in Kirkwall.
E-Even so, our numbers swell.
BOUCHARD:
Hey!
Were it not for your late
French wife and barrels,
you'’d be outside the gate
fending for yourself, Cooke.
I'’d ask you to join us
for a drink, but [laughs]
I don'’t want to be seen
with so many English.
No.
It would not be wise for you.
Mr. Goames.
Friend.
[footsteps departing]
-[door opens]
-[bell jingles]
HAMISH:
Mmm.
-The crust.
-[door closes]
It'’s exceptional.
Try some, Yvon.
Prunes don'’t agree.
Good day, Mr. Goames.
[footsteps departing]
[door opens]
[indistinct chatter in distance]
I won'’t take my dress off.
Not for her or anyone else.
You will for your husband.
It will be good practice
for you.
What sort of husband
are you hoping for, Delphine?
Kind.
And, uh,
generous.
And you?
Rich.
With a well-appointed house,
which I will run.
But first, we must brave
the long, bony fingers
of Mother Sabrine.
Pray that she doesn'’t
pop it herself.
Come in, ma petite.
SABRINE:
Lie down.
Lay back.
[sighs]
Pray, if you like.
Then think about
your fine husband
and the fine land
you will share with him.
[sighs]
[gasps, sighs]
Is something wrong?
Was the child born alive?
What child?
It is a sin to lie.
Do you think
you are the first girl
to come to me with a secret?
I have seen
everything, my dear.
Now tell me.
Yes, Mother, there was a child.
Did the child survive?
Please don'’t send me back.
I was young,
and I wish only
to grow New France.
I promise to be a good wife.
Lamb'’s blood.
On your wedding night,
sprinkle this on the bedsheet.
Tell no one.
Yes, Mother.
My Doma!
[sing-songy]:
Mari, Mari,
dame jolie--
the men are here.
Hey, Theo.
Only God points.
Now, where is God?
-Where were you?
-A trip to town
for the men
who will help us build the Doma.
Mm.
[sniffs]
Mm.
Is that all you did?
I have not spilled seed.
Now, I brought a quill pig
and a fine black ram.
-[laughs]
-That is not a gift.
I have another special something
I will bestow on you tonight.
Mm.
What is your name?
Rene Sel.
The weak one-- he will help you
butcher the ram.
I don'’t need help.
You will show him
and you will be pleasant.
He is a stranger to the knife.
No!
He sees you pointing
with your stick.
Well, he will learn
without pointing.
You.
Come with me.
Have you never
seen an Indian before?
Not alive, sir.
Well, her blood is split.
She is Wendat and French
from her father.
We will expand your knowledge
of their kingdoms,
but first, you must learn
the paths of my Doma.
Always stay on the path.
I have cut them
to conform to the grand pattern.
Do you know
of the grand pattern?
-No, sir.
-It will be made clear.
But if you look,
it is all around.
I will stay on the paths.
And do not cross the bog.
There are things in there
you do not wish to meet.
And stay away from the cabin
unless you are invited.
Do I have your word
you will convey these rules
to Monsieur Duquet?
Yes.
Do not deceive me, Monsieur Sel.
I can see through the trees
and around the whole
of the land.
And what I do not see
comes to me in dreams.
I shall make it clear to Duquet.
Now, tell me,
what is the most
important thing?
Blood.
Family.
I have no family.
Well, that'’s not possible.
Just a brother,
but he drowned under river ice.
Well, you must build another
here. Sow anew.
Give me that knife.
You will cut your foot.
I need a word with your father.
He is indisposed.
-[growls]
-[grunts]
You should teach this boy
some manners.
Pointing a knife at a lady.
Is that true?
Huh? Out.
Out.
Everyone, out, out.
-[banging on table]
-Out! Out!
There is a man at the inn.
He is asking after Mr. Cross.
His name is Mr. Hamish Goames.
In what manner is he asking?
He'’s from
the Hudson'’s Bay Company.
Mr. Cooke has already met him.
What else?
And I have kept my ears open,
as you have asked.
I don'’t know what you
and Mr. Cooke are up to,
nor do I care,
but I will have my payment now.
I have no money. It'’s all on
the table with a pair of queens.
Well, get a marker.
I will club your balls
into your belly.
-LAFARGE: Henri, away. Here.
-[coins clinking]
I won'’t be party to any crime.
There is nothing to worry about.
Just tell me
where is this Mr. Goames.
He is searching west of town,
near where those poor families
were killed by the Iroquois.
He is not a man
to come at frontwise.
Go back to your inn
and sit on that little husband
of yours.
We will be asking for a refund
for those tables
you built for us.
They are coarse
and poorly constructed.
We will not
be taken advantage of.
[Lafarge chuckles]
[gas hissing]
-This ram is not fit to eat.
-[scoffs]
It is fine.
There are good bits in all,
even this ram.
You will have to learn
how to make do here.
Three years is a long time.
I will not serve three years.
Mm.
Then you should have
never left France.
Here.
Give me the knife.
[sighs]
Go on.
Make the heaven cut.
I can'’t.
You will not survive here.
[gasps]
It is a sign of Strendu.
Where did this come from?
What is the matter?
What did you see?
Hurry.
HAMISH:
If Cross was at the scene
of the massacre, he'’s gone now.
YVON:
Maybe.
Would you like a poem
while the potatoes fry?
I will have to see
the settlement for myself.
Then I shall give the trees
verse then.
"I feed a flame within,
which so torments me,
"that it both pains my heart,
and yet contents me;
"'’tis such a pleasing smart,
and I so love it,
"that I'’d rather die
than once remove it.
"Yet he, for whom I grieve,
shall never know it,
"my tongue does not betray,
nor my eyes show it;
"not a sigh,
nor a tear my pain discloses,
"but they fall silently,
like dew on roses."
TREPAGNY:
Give us this day
our super substantial bread.
Remit our debts
and forgive our debtors.
Keep us from temptation
and free us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
[quietly]:
Amen.
Perhaps Monsieur Sel
could pass
the sel.
[chuckles softly]
Was the ram not fit
for the stew?
Spoilt.
Through and through?
MARI:
Yes, it was.
Putrid, it was.
And the hide?
Worms got to it.
A shame.
It would have made nice hinges
for the cabin.
We will see about the hide
tomorrow.
One must not waste
what God has provided.
[singing indistinctly]
She is beautiful.
Find yourself
an Indian wife then.
[sighs]
I will find a wife
back in Paris.
You can'’t leave.
We'’re bound to our word.
My word means nothing.
Trepagny
will hold me responsible.
How can he?
There is nothing here for us,
just trees and bugs
and dead things.
We have been tricked
into serving a mad squatter.
He will hunt you down
if you leave.
Then we shall make a game of it.
[grunts]
Can you hear it?
God in the whirlwind.
He can feel us
trampling his kingdom.
In the waste,
we shall build a divine city.
A settlement
under the banner of heaven.
What, here?
Yes, here.
You will see.
And I will have that tooth.
Monsieur Sel, assist me.
-Assist me!
-Come.
-Come. Come, it'’s better.
-No.
-It'’s better. [grunts]
-No, no, no! No!
-Get off me! No.
-Yes,
-we shall excise the rot
and have you
-No! No! No.
-on your way to productivity.
-No. N
-No. No. [grunts]
-Open.
-Open! [grunts]
-No.
-Open '’em up!
-[grunts]
-Yes.
-[groaning]
I have it, I have it.
[grunts]
Now he will rise
and be twice the man.
And in the meantime,
Monsieur Sel,
I wish you to fell the ones
with two blazes.
Men must change the land
in order to live in it.
Someday, my children
will grow cabbages
and grapes here.
If the dirt will have it.
The dirt will have
what we put in it,
as God sees fit.
We are its stewards.
Never forget that,
Monsieur Sel.
Now clear all,
that we may live like men
on clear and open land.
I am building a city
that will live in eternity.
Now, swing, Monsieur Sel!
Swing!
And you--
fetch the ram'’s hide
you so carelessly wasted.
It was Mari who left the ram.
You put the idea in her head.
Now find it.
Before the ravens
peck it full of holes.
Go!
Now!
[rustling]
[grunting]
Where is Duquet?
He'’s not come back
from your task.
Find him.
Bring him back.
♪
♪
♪
[squawking]
My God.
[man speaking Latin]
Show yourself.
[man continues speaking Latin]
♪
Don'’t you see it?
It is Azazel
sprung from the abyss.
Come, Father.
[screaming]
♪
♪
Captioned by
♪
[gunshots]
[yelling]
[panting]
[whooping]
[man calls out]
♪
♪
MAN:
Charles. Huh?
-Charles.
-Mm.
I want to go back to France.
There'’s no going back.
We must ready for our new lives.
CAPTAIN: Hey, you! Sit down!
[grunts]
-He has a fever.
-CAPTAIN: I will have him
delivered properly
into the custody
of Captain Bouchard,
as that is my contract.
Then you will
serve your indenture.
I didn'’t take the dress.
Just the apples.
Yes, I'’m guilty
of stealing apples.
You'’re a thief there, but here
you can be whoever you want.
It was the dress.
My Jacqueline wanted the dress,
so I took it on credit.
But I couldn'’t pay for it.
So I became a thief.
It was prison
or this godforsaken place.
It doesn'’t matter
what happened before.
Here we can begin again.
♪
[praying indistinctly]
[indistinct chatter]
Wait.
[grunting]
Come.
Vite. Vite!
Ah, ah!
-Mud, Thom.
-Oh
Other room.
[door closes]
And the land?
Everything west of the creek,
like I told you,
has been cleared,
-just like you asked.
-Mm.
And the French settlers?
Killed.
Dead.
And the Iroquois?
I took care of them myself.
Captain Bouchard hung
their bodies from the trees.
You should go to the dock
and see them for yourself.
-Excellent.
-He made a right proper example
of them.
And what of the Hudson Bay man?
What of Cross?
Yeah, there'’s no sign of him.
He was there
when the killing started
and then he was gone.
He vanished into the woods.
Vanished?
And where is he, then?
I did what you asked.
Land cleared.
Iroquois blamed.
The time to move
on this territory is now.
Gus, there is no luck except
where there is discipline.
Now, I see things
that you cannot possibly see.
Angles and ways at coin.
-That is my gift.
-Well, I see
land that'’s rich
and ripe for the taking
and a crick
that connects it all.
The time to stake our claim
is now.
No. We must not appear anxious.
The Hudson Bay Company
must see us as allies,
and I will take care of that.
The time is now, Mr. Cooke.
-The land should be ours.
-THOM: Father?
No, uh-uh. Men are
discussing business, Thom.
Thom, do you think your father
here is threatening me?
Do not bring my boy into this.
No, I will hear him.
Step forward, Thom.
Don'’t be afraid.
Thom, would you like to know
exactly what it is
that your father does for me?
He does important work, Thom.
He does important work.
And someday,
you might be able
to do the same.
Would you like that very much?
Yes, sir.
Good, Thom.
Now, tell me,
what is it you came to say?
The boat is here
with the new men.
I counted a dozen.
[indistinct chatter]
Coming through.
Get out of the way.
-We want this one.
-Yes.
Eight. Yeah.
Strong back.
Do you want him?
-COOKE: No.
-CLERK: Cochon!
-This one.
-Oh?
Hey.
Woodcutter?
-Yes.
-Yes.
C'’est bon.
Cochon!
-Open.
-What are you doing here,
Lafarge?
Ah. I'’m with Mr. Cooke.
We need men.
We will pay for them.
Come.
The barrel king
and beard splitter.
[chuckles]
He should know his place,
and his place is
he shall get no men.
-Number three, we will take him.
-He'’s spoken for.
They are for
French citizens only.
Now move away
until I have their marks.
CLERK:
Gasquet!
Make your mark and be quick.
I am prepared to double whatever
the offer, Captain Bouchard.
And double I say
he is spoken for.
He is Monsieur Trepagny'’s.
Now step away,
or I shall knock you back
to some manners, English.
CLERK:
Claude Trepagny!
Claude Trepagny!
Perhaps, uh,
the heretic Monsieur Trepagny
has suffered the same fate
as the recently slaughtered
French settlers.
I have hung fair warning
down by the docks.
The Iroquois
are no threat to us.
Well, that was very convincing,
Captain.
Now, let us discuss this man
who has no claim.
Monsieur Trepagny will have
his allotted time to claim.
Go!
CLERK:
Claude Trepagny!
-[man singing indistinctly]
a-Claude Trepagny!
Now it'’s time for you to die♪
For you are nothing♪
But a little traitor.♪
[laughs]
Behold, I am arrived.
In glory.
Ah.
Yes.
What sort of a man are you?
-Rene Sel, sir.
-No, no, no, no, no, no.
Your name matters no more
than the mouth of a fish.
I will ask you once again.
What sort of a man are you?
-I am your man.
-Yes.
Come.
Come!
RENE:
Do you need another man?
He could be had on the cheap.
He is a sickly malingerer.
No, no.
A bad tooth is all.
Charles Duquet?
CHARLES:
Yes?
Well, he does not
look like much.
Do you vouch for him?
-Yes.
-[grunts]
Yeah.
I will take him.
He'’s yours.
Pleasure.
Hey.
Take the ram, too.
I will have his name.
Charles Duquet.
Perhaps I can show
Monsieur Duquet
the path back to the light
so that he may
bathe in the grace of good labor
on my Doma.
You will contemplate
your contribution to this realm
before I knock you from it.
Look at me.
Look at me!
Now rouse him, and I will
procure us some meat.
Huh?
Get up.
Come on.
Here.
We are Monsieur Trepagny'’s now.
We make good for three years
and we will be granted
our freedom
and a parcel of his land.
The chance to work the land
and someday raise a family.
Pass that land down to them.
Raise your name up.
[scoffs]
Work will raise my name?
I believe that.
Your father worked, yes?
Yes.
A woodcutter.
-And his father before him.
-And so on and so on and so on,
and yet here you are,
same as me.
Two landless fools.
Tell me,
how many rich men do you know
with calluses on their hands?
Do not grind your pearls.
CHARLES:
Come on, they'’re beautiful.
TREPAGNY:
They are the king'’s,
not of your station.
It is men like myself
who will have a wife
to fill this land
with sons and daughters.
MAN:
Indians.
Not French.
Wendat?
Montagnais?
Mi'’kmaq?
-The sort matters, Yvon.
-Matters to you.
And your book.
Precision, Yvon.
Yes, I know.
We must be precise
with all things,
or it will all go to mud.
[sighs]
Just go examine them.
[flies buzzing]
Iroquois.
Iroquois are the wrong sort
to be put on display.
Hopefully, we will be gone
from this backwater
before payment comes due.
Do you wish to take them down
and bury them proper?
I wish to be gone from here.
Let'’s find Cross and be quick.
♪
[door opens]
Compliments of King Louis.
So that you may begin
your new lives properly attired
and fetching to the eye.
Where are the silks?
We were promised silks.
The king has invested
deeply in you,
and I am the guardian
of the king'’s investments.
There are no silks, dear child.
I'’m sure you will make do.
[chuckles]
How does it look?
Better.
Blue is not your color.
Don'’t be modest.
There is no one here
except perhaps Mother Sabrine
who would care to see
-Stop it.
-Comport yourselves modestly.
Speak to no strange men.
Follow my rules,
and I will steer you towards
godly and prosperous husbands.
You will learn
how to bake breads,
how to brew beer,
how to shoot a gun
and dress game.
In a few days, you will meet
the men you will marry.
Unlike back home,
you have the upper hand.
Choose wisely.
I will choose richly.
[tittering]
Either way,
you will spend eternity
together.
Wash your hands and faces,
and below,
so that I may check
that you are intact
as God made you.
We were vouched for back home.
Do you think our virtue
couldn'’t withstand the journey?
Then wash, Melissande.
It seems that you will be
the first to reveal your virtue.
Francis.
There'’s an Englishman
waiting for you.
These tables are no good.
No good at all.
He is from
the Hudson Bay Company.
I gave Lafarge
exact measurements.
A table that
will not tilt or list,
that is all I asked for,
a proper table, but this
We will deal with the table
at the proper time.
There is a man.
He is wanting to see
I said not now, Mathilde.
You have ruined my refinement.
Now what will we do?
We don'’t have money
for these refinements, Francis.
It is the floor that is tilt,
not the table.
I advised
against greenwood planks,
but did you heed my advice?
No.
Everything here is poor
and broken and made wrong.
Even this.
-It is no use.
-Oh
These are unrefined tables
to serve unrefined food
for unrefined men.
That is our business, Francis.
[footsteps approaching]
A minute is a minute
and not five.
My apologies. My husband and I,
we were just
Discussing refinements.
-Uh, after a room?
-Aye. Two, actually.
He is my equal
and will be treated as such.
I, uh, have the other guests
to consider.
I wish to be civil
in all enterprises,
but I will not be denied
a proper room
for my coequal Yvon.
Though he can speak for himself.
YVON:
Aye. He is deadly
with that book.
I am not his equal in that.
My apologies.
We will ready the rooms.
Thank you.
Mathilde Geffard.
Aye, Mathilde.
I wish to know
about a recent guest
in your inn.
My husband keeps
very careful records
of all the guests.
Well, then, I am looking for
a Mr. Randall Cross.
The name is not
familiar to me. Hmm.
He was an agent
for the Hudson Bay Company.
His correspondents indicate
that he was a guest at your inn.
He describes the food
as adequate.
Though he did have a few words
of praise for the prune tart.
"Exceptional," he wrote.
It can be, on occasion.
We would like to see
the room Mr. Cross stayed in.
Well, first I must check to see
if he was a guest.
-Francis.
-Stay out of this.
Aye, Mr. Cross was a guest.
He stayed in the Rose Suite.
He left us some time ago.
FRANCIS:
I just want to
-make sure before, uh
-I am sure.
These men do not have time
for games, Francis.
CHARLES:
What is that?
RENE:
I heard there was a massacre
just outside of town.
-Families killed by Indians.
-Iroquois.
What does that
have to do with us?
I'’m done for, Rene.
I can walk no more.
You will get the drizzles.
Rise and put your legs to it.
I can'’t.
You can'’t?
Or you won'’t?
I can'’t.
My tooth has cankered.
Man does not walk on his teeth.
You will walk!
Or perhaps I shall leave you
and your cankered tooth
to the loup-garou.
A beast you do not wish to meet.
There is no such thing
as the loup-garou.
I have seen its terrible work.
It has the strength of ten men.
It knows murder.
It knows the proper butcher
of a weak rat man
such as yourself.
A bear.
It is not a bear!
But go on, tarry,
and you will find your end
at its jaws
with Monsieur Duquet.
Arise!
MATHILDE:
Uh, Mr. Cross took meals
by himself.
He avoided billiards.
He left an unpaid bill
and a bucket of night soil.
That is what I recall.
Add the balance to my bill and
all and sundry I shall incur.
Is Mr. Cross missing, then?
It'’s been a month
since his last report.
He was a punctual man.
I'’m here to discover his fate.
If I may ask,
why is this called
the Rose Suite?
Uh
Our dear daughter Veronique
left that for us.
It is all we have left
to remember her bright light
in this now dim world.
-It is a terrible thing
to lose a child.
-Ah, yeah.
May I ask how she passed?
That is not
for your ledger, Hamish.
Yes.
Forgive me.
We would like
to see our rooms now.
Tell me, Monsieur Sel,
what is your impression
of New France?
[short chuckle]
So many trees.
It is the forest of the world.
No one has ever seen its end,
nor will they.
You have not seen paradise
until you have lain eyes
on my Doma.
It is peaceful,
open, unwalled.
Soon it will blot out Wobik.
Come.
I do not wish
to be on this path
when night falls.
[rustling]
Shh.
Is it the beast?
It is not the beast.
It is providence.
And so a spirit
is born of the spirit
and flesh of flesh,
and so the kingdom of Satan
is accomplished in this world
and among all nations.
[chitters]
Behold.
HAMISH:
As a representative
of the Hudson'’s Bay Company,
I aim to discover the reason
for Mr. Cross'’ disappearance
so that I may report back
and suggest a course of action.
Now
I'’ll have what you know
of the time here.
[short chuckle]
First
another brandy
on the company'’s tab.
It is cut with some base
and poisonous spirit.
Mm.
It agrees just fine.
Another.
And a coin
for my troubles.
Aye.
I remember your man,
poking about for the company,
as your type do.
He felt strongly of the need
that we should expand
our operation here.
Long way from the bay
to be expanding.
You are in New France,
Mr. Goames.
It'’s bad enough
the English have been allowed
to creep north along
with the Iroquois.
But soon,
the peace will be broken,
and the English
and French will go back
to the way
things have always been.
Throat slitting,
lies and land grabs.
As you may well know,
one does not prosper
to empire with timid strokes,
Captain.
I keep my distance from empire.
That is for others to sort.
I serve the king
and keep the peace
in Wobik for Intendant De Fer.
Then we will speak
to Intendant De Fer.
[laughs]
He prefers to spend his time
in Quebec.
[laughs]
It is my job
to speak to English scum.
Now, who might you serve,
Mr. Goames?
The truth, Captain.
We were told of
the recent tragedy west of town.
The settlers burnt out,
killed by Iroquois.
We saw the bodies
on display by the docks.
It was a small raiding party.
The rest ran off.
You should know the Iroquois
always collect their dead.
And you should know
better than most
that the Iroquois
have animal hearts
that will pump
until the last drop leaves them,
and then their sons
will take up the cause
and pray to their wicked god
that death finds you.
Now,
that is some witchcraft
I wish to avoid.
[laughs]
We have the Iroquois
well-managed.
[laughing]
Managed?
There is no managing
the Iroquois.
They outnumber you 40 to one.
YVON:
Silent as deer.
You can'’t tell them apart
from the trees.
Seen one gut a trapper
with nothing more
than a flint knife.
Baby on her back, too.
God will not judge me
for hanging those savages!
Go! Go see for yourself
what they have done.
Was Cross there?
[scoffs]
Hey, he could be anywhere.
Then we will have a look,
Captain.
The woods are filled
with the bones
of men like you, Mr. Goames.
The sooner you find your way
out of Wobik, the better.
COOKE:
Captain?
-Elisha Cooke.
-Hamish Goames.
BOUCHARD:
Mr. Goames has come to town
looking for
the Hudson Bay agent
who went missing.
Randall Cross was his name.
The company sent you all the way
out here to find him?
They did.
Perhaps his absence
is merely discretion.
These are French territories.
A fact that I am
reminded of every day.
Mr. Cooke is the barrel king
of Wobik.
You don'’t want to enter into
trade with him, that'’s for sure.
Did you happen
to meet Randall Cross?
Might I just say what a relief
it is to hear your voice?
Uh, it is so good
to have another Englishman
in town.
I was born in Kirkwall.
E-Even so, our numbers swell.
BOUCHARD:
Hey!
Were it not for your late
French wife and barrels,
you'’d be outside the gate
fending for yourself, Cooke.
I'’d ask you to join us
for a drink, but [laughs]
I don'’t want to be seen
with so many English.
No.
It would not be wise for you.
Mr. Goames.
Friend.
[footsteps departing]
-[door opens]
-[bell jingles]
HAMISH:
Mmm.
-The crust.
-[door closes]
It'’s exceptional.
Try some, Yvon.
Prunes don'’t agree.
Good day, Mr. Goames.
[footsteps departing]
[door opens]
[indistinct chatter in distance]
I won'’t take my dress off.
Not for her or anyone else.
You will for your husband.
It will be good practice
for you.
What sort of husband
are you hoping for, Delphine?
Kind.
And, uh,
generous.
And you?
Rich.
With a well-appointed house,
which I will run.
But first, we must brave
the long, bony fingers
of Mother Sabrine.
Pray that she doesn'’t
pop it herself.
Come in, ma petite.
SABRINE:
Lie down.
Lay back.
[sighs]
Pray, if you like.
Then think about
your fine husband
and the fine land
you will share with him.
[sighs]
[gasps, sighs]
Is something wrong?
Was the child born alive?
What child?
It is a sin to lie.
Do you think
you are the first girl
to come to me with a secret?
I have seen
everything, my dear.
Now tell me.
Yes, Mother, there was a child.
Did the child survive?
Please don'’t send me back.
I was young,
and I wish only
to grow New France.
I promise to be a good wife.
Lamb'’s blood.
On your wedding night,
sprinkle this on the bedsheet.
Tell no one.
Yes, Mother.
My Doma!
[sing-songy]:
Mari, Mari,
dame jolie--
the men are here.
Hey, Theo.
Only God points.
Now, where is God?
-Where were you?
-A trip to town
for the men
who will help us build the Doma.
Mm.
[sniffs]
Mm.
Is that all you did?
I have not spilled seed.
Now, I brought a quill pig
and a fine black ram.
-[laughs]
-That is not a gift.
I have another special something
I will bestow on you tonight.
Mm.
What is your name?
Rene Sel.
The weak one-- he will help you
butcher the ram.
I don'’t need help.
You will show him
and you will be pleasant.
He is a stranger to the knife.
No!
He sees you pointing
with your stick.
Well, he will learn
without pointing.
You.
Come with me.
Have you never
seen an Indian before?
Not alive, sir.
Well, her blood is split.
She is Wendat and French
from her father.
We will expand your knowledge
of their kingdoms,
but first, you must learn
the paths of my Doma.
Always stay on the path.
I have cut them
to conform to the grand pattern.
Do you know
of the grand pattern?
-No, sir.
-It will be made clear.
But if you look,
it is all around.
I will stay on the paths.
And do not cross the bog.
There are things in there
you do not wish to meet.
And stay away from the cabin
unless you are invited.
Do I have your word
you will convey these rules
to Monsieur Duquet?
Yes.
Do not deceive me, Monsieur Sel.
I can see through the trees
and around the whole
of the land.
And what I do not see
comes to me in dreams.
I shall make it clear to Duquet.
Now, tell me,
what is the most
important thing?
Blood.
Family.
I have no family.
Well, that'’s not possible.
Just a brother,
but he drowned under river ice.
Well, you must build another
here. Sow anew.
Give me that knife.
You will cut your foot.
I need a word with your father.
He is indisposed.
-[growls]
-[grunts]
You should teach this boy
some manners.
Pointing a knife at a lady.
Is that true?
Huh? Out.
Out.
Everyone, out, out.
-[banging on table]
-Out! Out!
There is a man at the inn.
He is asking after Mr. Cross.
His name is Mr. Hamish Goames.
In what manner is he asking?
He'’s from
the Hudson'’s Bay Company.
Mr. Cooke has already met him.
What else?
And I have kept my ears open,
as you have asked.
I don'’t know what you
and Mr. Cooke are up to,
nor do I care,
but I will have my payment now.
I have no money. It'’s all on
the table with a pair of queens.
Well, get a marker.
I will club your balls
into your belly.
-LAFARGE: Henri, away. Here.
-[coins clinking]
I won'’t be party to any crime.
There is nothing to worry about.
Just tell me
where is this Mr. Goames.
He is searching west of town,
near where those poor families
were killed by the Iroquois.
He is not a man
to come at frontwise.
Go back to your inn
and sit on that little husband
of yours.
We will be asking for a refund
for those tables
you built for us.
They are coarse
and poorly constructed.
We will not
be taken advantage of.
[Lafarge chuckles]
[gas hissing]
-This ram is not fit to eat.
-[scoffs]
It is fine.
There are good bits in all,
even this ram.
You will have to learn
how to make do here.
Three years is a long time.
I will not serve three years.
Mm.
Then you should have
never left France.
Here.
Give me the knife.
[sighs]
Go on.
Make the heaven cut.
I can'’t.
You will not survive here.
[gasps]
It is a sign of Strendu.
Where did this come from?
What is the matter?
What did you see?
Hurry.
HAMISH:
If Cross was at the scene
of the massacre, he'’s gone now.
YVON:
Maybe.
Would you like a poem
while the potatoes fry?
I will have to see
the settlement for myself.
Then I shall give the trees
verse then.
"I feed a flame within,
which so torments me,
"that it both pains my heart,
and yet contents me;
"'’tis such a pleasing smart,
and I so love it,
"that I'’d rather die
than once remove it.
"Yet he, for whom I grieve,
shall never know it,
"my tongue does not betray,
nor my eyes show it;
"not a sigh,
nor a tear my pain discloses,
"but they fall silently,
like dew on roses."
TREPAGNY:
Give us this day
our super substantial bread.
Remit our debts
and forgive our debtors.
Keep us from temptation
and free us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
[quietly]:
Amen.
Perhaps Monsieur Sel
could pass
the sel.
[chuckles softly]
Was the ram not fit
for the stew?
Spoilt.
Through and through?
MARI:
Yes, it was.
Putrid, it was.
And the hide?
Worms got to it.
A shame.
It would have made nice hinges
for the cabin.
We will see about the hide
tomorrow.
One must not waste
what God has provided.
[singing indistinctly]
She is beautiful.
Find yourself
an Indian wife then.
[sighs]
I will find a wife
back in Paris.
You can'’t leave.
We'’re bound to our word.
My word means nothing.
Trepagny
will hold me responsible.
How can he?
There is nothing here for us,
just trees and bugs
and dead things.
We have been tricked
into serving a mad squatter.
He will hunt you down
if you leave.
Then we shall make a game of it.
[grunts]
Can you hear it?
God in the whirlwind.
He can feel us
trampling his kingdom.
In the waste,
we shall build a divine city.
A settlement
under the banner of heaven.
What, here?
Yes, here.
You will see.
And I will have that tooth.
Monsieur Sel, assist me.
-Assist me!
-Come.
-Come. Come, it'’s better.
-No.
-It'’s better. [grunts]
-No, no, no! No!
-Get off me! No.
-Yes,
-we shall excise the rot
and have you
-No! No! No.
-on your way to productivity.
-No. N
-No. No. [grunts]
-Open.
-Open! [grunts]
-No.
-Open '’em up!
-[grunts]
-Yes.
-[groaning]
I have it, I have it.
[grunts]
Now he will rise
and be twice the man.
And in the meantime,
Monsieur Sel,
I wish you to fell the ones
with two blazes.
Men must change the land
in order to live in it.
Someday, my children
will grow cabbages
and grapes here.
If the dirt will have it.
The dirt will have
what we put in it,
as God sees fit.
We are its stewards.
Never forget that,
Monsieur Sel.
Now clear all,
that we may live like men
on clear and open land.
I am building a city
that will live in eternity.
Now, swing, Monsieur Sel!
Swing!
And you--
fetch the ram'’s hide
you so carelessly wasted.
It was Mari who left the ram.
You put the idea in her head.
Now find it.
Before the ravens
peck it full of holes.
Go!
Now!
[rustling]
[grunting]
Where is Duquet?
He'’s not come back
from your task.
Find him.
Bring him back.
♪
♪
♪
[squawking]
My God.
[man speaking Latin]
Show yourself.
[man continues speaking Latin]
♪
Don'’t you see it?
It is Azazel
sprung from the abyss.
Come, Father.
[screaming]
♪
♪
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