Underground (2016) s01e03 Episode Script

1 Previously on Underground Tell me what I think they are map to freedom.
It's a song, and the map may be hidden in the words.
WILLIAM: The biggest weapon that the Underground has is secrecy.
In the eyes of the law, we are the criminals.
I don't want James out in the field.
He'll be wherever you want him.
Once we get north, we're gonna need some freedom papers to stay free.
Papers ain't gonna matter without the massa's seal.
You gonna stop testing me.
Momma, is there more? Run with me.
PREACHER: Sunday is the day of reflection.
It's a day the Lord has given us to set aside our toil.
MOSES: To think on who we are and what's God's plan for all of us.
Been that way since the very first words of the Bible.
What's Sam got you making? He said he'd get us across that bridge.
PREACHER: God said, "Let there be light.
" So there was light.
Then he separated the light from the darkness, calling the light "day" and the darkness "night.
" And then the Lord, he said, "Let there be a canopy between bodies of water.
" (cheering) And he called it "the sky.
" Come on, now! PREACHER: "Let the waters beneath the sky come together into one area, and let dry ground appear.
" Now, then Lord, he fashioned two great lights, the larger one to shine during the day.
And he called the light in the day "the Sun.
" And he called that light in the night, he called it "the Moon.
" - Yeah! - When we gonna run? Moses: And them smaller lights up in the night sky Don't know.
We got to find the right moment.
Then he asked the land and the water to swarm with fish and birds.
He asked upon them to be fruitful.
MOSES: Then it was the sixth day, and the Lord said, - "I will make mankind" - (cheering) "in my image to be the master of the Earth itself.
" MOSES: Now, on the seventh day, God had completed the work.
(cheering) The Lord stopped working.
He rested.
I-I said he rested.
Hey.
Saturday, last thing, what happens? Final head count before quarters.
And when's the next one? Uh, at lineup, Monday morning.
That makes Sunday the Lord's gift to us.
Oh, yeah.
We go Saturday night.
Yeah, get a head start before anyone notice we gone.
Oh, in six days, while everyone else is resting, we gonna be running.
I've seen death But the moss stays the same The drinking gourd Runs through the blue haze And one day Jesus' hand Will lead us to the promised land One day we will stand Rejoice in victory We fall down Ooh-ooh-ooh To look up Ooh-ooh-ooh Waiting to see Heaven's door.
(panting): Now, when Massa Tom first came here, he was pulling in twice the cotton of old man Macon.
That old bridge was crumbling, falling down under weight of the new haul.
Now, this new bridge needed to hold 5,000 pounds.
Which means the support beams needed to be stronger and closer together.
What any of that got to do with us getting across that bridge without the rollers seeing us? Well, we built that new bridge the exact same time we built this here shop.
Which means that them beams up there, they're the exact same length and distance from each other as the ones underneath this there bridge.
(tapping wood) So what you're saying is we figure a way across these beams, we can get underneath that bridge.
Mm-hmm.
And them rollers standing right on top of us if they have to.
And we'll use this here harness and them there hooks.
And we'll each go across one at a time.
Uh, this gonna be tricky getting them hooks underneath that bridge, though.
(grunts) Hooks won't matter we can't get the harness to hold.
Well, maybe we try overlaying it.
Like a rope.
Reinforce it.
No, it ain't gonna hold you, let alone Zeke.
We need something stronger.
MOSES: Well, you gots to figure it quick if we leaving in six days.
Might be you overestimating your plan.
My plan works long as everybody do what they 'posed to.
- How them papers coming? - They finished.
Looking real nice.
But that ain't gonna mean nothing without the massa's seal.
NOAH: Only way I see it, we got to steal it, stamp our papers quick and get it back before he notice it's gone.
This the big house we talking about.
Massa's own office.
Yeah, you get caught there, ain't gonna be no lashes.
You gonna be swinging from a tree.
You right.
This got to be a crime of opportunity.
And, uh, which one of us has that kind of opportunity? (thumping) (laughter nearby) SARAH: If you believe the rumor and I do that Mr.
Cato had his way with the old mistress.
And she was clashing her faith.
(laughter) ERNESTINE: Sarah, stop all that gossiping now and watch out for them frog eyes.
I don't want none of my 'lasses burnt.
SARAH: I was just telling Corra Miss Shaw gonna want 30 pieces this time, and at two cent apiece since she getting so much.
I said I'd ask you.
You already know the answer.
HOUSE GIRLS: It's three cent apiece for the white folk.
Always.
No exceptions.
Lord knows they can afford it.
Sam, what's wrong? Ain't nothing wrong, Momma.
Can't I just say hi to my kin on my day of rest? Long as you keep your hands out of my 'lasses.
Oh, here, here.
Uh, let-let me help you.
Let me help you.
Is it true? You running with us? Noah ask, but I ain't made up my mind yet.
Your momma know? No.
You better not tell her nothing.
I ain't.
You don't want me to go.
You ain't cut out for something like this.
You ain't gonna do nothing but slow us down, get us caught.
And if a catcher get a hold of a girl like you, he just gonna he gonna eat you up.
I ain't scared.
Fine.
You get a chance to prove that you ain't.
Noah want you to steal the massa's seal.
You've been quiet.
I was unprepared for that for Kyle.
(train whistle blows, John clears throat) Bitsy.
I thought that was you.
- (chuckles) - (grunts) Where you two coming from? Uh, John's brother's, down South.
By way of Pittsburgh.
ELIZABETH: Of course, we were getting off a southbound train.
Oh, he didn't think anything of it.
- You can't be sure of that.
- I certainly can.
One doesn't just forget an engagement.
KYLE: How long has it been now? I-I-I'm not really sure.
You're wearing your hair like you used to when we were kids.
ELIZABETH: With Mr.
Still everything happened so fast.
I never gave any thought as to how our new roles would affect our everyday lives.
Not until Kyle dropped those slave bills.
- Let me help you with your bag.
- No, it's fine.
It's fine.
Oh, I'm sorry.
No (sighs) JOHN: I wasn't aware it was the constable's duty to recover escaped slaves now.
It's not.
A, um, recent promotion has me wearing a marshal's star.
JOHN: I suppose we're gonna have to wear two faces now.
One for our new duties, the other for our public lives.
And what if we lose ourselves in all the lying? Well, congratulations are in order.
And I hate to cut it short, but we're a little worn from the travel.
(chuckles softly) Hope to see you again soon, Kyle.
You'll see me tonight.
I've been invited to the governor's ball.
A perk of the new job.
Don't you two go every year? We do.
Yeah.
And we will definitely see you there.
(birds twittering) (sighs) NOAH: Zeke's the key to getting across that river.
Me and him will sneak out to the bridge every night.
Get two hooks in at a time.
All right? That'll get us across ten beams by Friday.
Now, we need to get that harness strong enough to get everyone across by Saturday night.
Why don't we just cut up the whole saddle instead of taking a piece off of each? Be faster.
Somebody will notice a saddle missing.
We got to be patient, invisible.
For six more days, anyhow.
Well, can I come with you to test out the new harness? No, you ain't got no business in the shop on a Sunday.
Be too suspicious.
I can help if you let me.
Hey.
You want to help? You think on that song.
It's the most important part of our plan.
Gourds and wolves and the devil's grin.
Can't make no sense of it.
Hey, you got an advantage over all of us.
All right? You hear a lot in these stables about the travels of white folks.
Maybe something you remember could be key.
Yeah.
Yeah, okay.
All right.
MOSES: Zeke! Where's Zeke? Zeke! Zeke! (panting): It's your It's your wife, Seraphina.
(panting) Zeke, they's taking her.
The slave traders, they taking her.
They-they taking It's a nasty bit of business on the Lord's day.
(chains clinking) But I cannot have a child killer on my plantation.
(whimpering) Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for thou art with me, for thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
(sobbing) (sighs) (bellowing) (horse whinnying, men grunting) You're mine, boy! (grunting) Settle down.
Settle down.
You gonna Settle down.
You gonna get yourself killed.
(grunting) Our property was destroyed by yours, and my boss is strict about these things.
Which is why your cargo is on one of my wagons as we speak.
We'll repair your wheel while you go about your business of the day.
And when you come by on the way back tonight, we swap wagons, it'll be like this never happened.
Well, there is another issue, I'm afraid.
This, uh, Seraphina, she appears to be more broken than you described.
I may not be able to take her in that condition.
Tell you what.
I'll cut the price on her as well.
How's that sound? I don't know.
I really should talk to my boss about that.
What do you think of that whiskey? Oh, that's some of the best I've ever had.
Secret's in the branch water.
The Macon stretch of the Yellow River is the best, bar none.
(blows) Consider both the whiskey and the water yours, for your own trouble.
Your boss need not know about it.
Everyone gets what they want.
One of our own out there being sold off, you in here starching your shirts.
Preening like a peacock.
I ain't care much for that girl anyway.
She was lazy even before she kilt that baby.
You need to get Zeke out the box.
Why don't you do it yourself? Oh, I would if I could, but you the one got Bill's ear.
And that's because I don't go sticking my neck out for nobody.
You think I like coming down here, asking you for anything? We need him.
He part of the group.
From what I see, your group ain't made of nothing but bitches.
And that's before you let women and little girls run with us.
I guarantee each and every one of them gonna fold under the slightest pressure.
Zeke nearly broke a wagon and Bill's nose for a wife he ain't even talking to.
Didn't fold for nothing.
That kind of strength, that kind of loyalty.
We out there on the road facing God knows what, you rather have Zeke by your side or not? You want him free, I think it's about time you teach me that song.
Who are they? I have no idea.
Mr.
and Mrs.
Hawkes.
We're here to begin construction on your nursery.
Construction? Believe there's been a mistake.
A friend of a friend sent us.
- Oh.
- Oh.
- Yes, of course.
- Sorry.
We weren't expecting you so soon.
Sorry.
My name's Clyde.
The man with the lumber is Theo.
And this is Hollander.
You know each other? JOHN: He's a bailiff at the courthouse.
I never would have guessed.
As is the design.
Pardon the ambush, but we have a pressing need for the help y'all have offered.
CHILD: Can I have some now? ERNESTINE: After dinner.
Oh, please, we just want one piece.
I said you got to wait.
Now, I hear any more of that whining, I'm-a sick Patty Cannon on you.
(laughing) Y'all better run.
PEARLY MAE: Y'all got the plantation smelling so sweet, we thought we'd see if we could help.
Oh, yes, please.
Thank you.
ERNESTINE: Boo, keep those boys in line, okay? I got the papers whenever you're ready.
There goes the massa.
As long as the mistress playing, you safe.
(piano playing) (piano playing stops) (piano playing resumes) SAM: Can't turn no house girl into no field slave.
Shoot.
She ain't been tested like the rest of us she's soft.
Sam, you talking to yourself? Oh, no, no, no, massa, I was I was just Uh This, uh I was just, uh Oh, there's no need to be embarrassed.
I do it myself sometimes.
Some say it's a sign of a strong mind.
How's the slaver's wheel coming along? Uh, almost all put together now, sir.
Just go to, uh, finish curling the felloes.
I'll get right to it.
Come get you at the big house when it's finished.
How about I give you a hand? Oh, no, massa, don't-don't Don't-don't go troubling yourself.
Ain't no trouble at all.
Pass me a hammer.
A-All right, here, sir.
Uh, hammer there now quick, quick before it lose its shape.
You know, this shop is one of my favorite spots in the entire plantation.
Would you believe me if I told you I was jealous of you? - (Sam chuckles) - TOM: It's true.
Uh, I think in another life, I would have liked to work with my hands more.
There's something about setting your mind to a task and seeing the tangible fruits of your labor.
(hammering) There, you done good now, sir.
Just, uh, the rest the rest is a one-man job.
You know? You should consider taking James as an apprentice.
He's as smart as you.
He might be a little bit smarter.
(chuckles) I'm sure he'd pick up things real quick.
How'd you like that? Oh, that-that'd be that'd be real nice, sir, real nice.
Now you let me know when that wheel's finished, straightaway.
Oh, yes, sir, yes.
All right.
(vomits) (coughing) At least we know the harness holds.
(piano playing) Quick now.
Here, let me do it.
Noah made sure there's one in there for you too.
If you comin' with us.
With Moses, h-how you know when you love him? Well, you ask him, he'd tell you we fell in love the night we met at a plantation dance.
But it took me a little while longer.
He was always talking about his preaching.
Enough so I'd go see for myself.
Back then, he was all lanky and sweaty.
All over the place.
His command for the Word was wanting, but his passion was not.
He went walking through the slaves spreading hope.
And when he came to me, he just stopped.
As did my heart.
And it ain't never beat right again.
(piano stops playing) Music.
It stopped.
Rosalee.
Yes, ma'am.
I'll have my lemonade out on the porch.
Not too bitter this time.
Did you need something? This tunnel will allow your cargo to enter the house when it's safe.
We can move the nursery down here and cover the hideaways.
There's a clear line of sight to the river from here.
This will let those seeking know this is a safe haven.
About how long should we be expecting to harbor runaways at a time? "Cargo.
" Right, "cargo.
" This is how you move cargo? How often do you cross with law enforcement? More frequently as of late.
The old governor turned a blind eye mostly.
But the new one is looking to D.
C.
I heard he's increased the marshal presence in the area.
Boat patrols as well.
Used to be a foot in Ohio is a foot in freedom.
Now the battlefield has extended across the river.
We need soldiers as well as saints.
And what about spies? Elizabeth and I are attending the governor's ball tonight.
That's an exclusive invitation.
One my firm gets every year.
If Ohio and the marshals are coordinating their efforts, evidence of that could be found in the governor's office.
Like patrol schedules and names of new marshals.
Information that would put us at a considerable advantage.
First time I hit a white man, shit that felt like freedom.
(metallic rattling) But it wasn't.
Landed me in the stocks, overseer's eyes glued on my ass.
That small taste of victory wasn't worth the trouble.
Nah, but you don't want to hear nothing about that, do you? You just want to kill them all.
I know what it feels like not to have control over nothing, not able to protect yours the way a man supposed to.
And all that anger, all that pain you feelin' there's gonna be plenty on the run to work that out on.
Maybe by the time we get up North, you'll be able to leave it behind.
Start fresh.
Noah was gonna leave you in this box.
Leave you behind.
But I stuck out my neck to Mr.
Bill for you 'cause I know the only person Noah's gonna look out for is that boy.
Now, I say we look out for each other.
NOAH: Run with me.
SAM: You ain't cut out for something like this.
ROSALEE: I ain't scared.
Everybody out front right now.
Momma, what's wrong? Miz Suzanna on another one of her warpaths.
Massa's seal gone missin' and she up my ass about it.
Don't worry.
If one of these girls got it, I find it quick.
SUZANNA: I don't ask much of you.
Work ethic.
Loyalty.
Honesty.
And what do I get in return? I get lying.
And thieving.
Bitin' the hand that feeds you.
That slaver is coming back tonight.
I would no sooner bat an eyelash than put the whole lot of you in my pocket just like that child killer.
CORRA: Miss Suzanna? I done seen one of the field slaves creepin' about earlier.
SUZANNA: Which one? I couldn't tell.
But I'll think on it.
No matter.
My husband will take care of it.
This has turned out to be an eventful Sunday, now, hasn't it? Now we can do this all day.
And we will.
'Cause I'm a patient man.
Any one of you could end this at any time.
If I don't have that seal back in my possession by the time the last of these railroad ties hit the ground, it's gonna be 50 lashes for every single one of you.
CORRA: They always talkin' heaps about us stealin' when they know they done it first.
Went over to Africa and round us up like horses.
You really think she seen one of 'em round this way? You three, go get the rest of the wax paper from the storehouse.
Where is it? I don't know Lie to me again.
I'm sorry, Momma, I didn't mean nothing We gonna get to the why, believe you me.
But right now, I got to figure a way to fix your mess.
(music playing, indistinct chatter) ELIZABETH: Do you know where the governor's office is? Just upstairs on the left.
I'll have a better chance to slip up unnoticed alone.
You ready to do this, "Bitsy"? We own the night And we make it loud Gonna turn it up Yeah, we'll show you how We are, we are the wild ones We just want, just want to have some fun We are, we are the wild ones Wild ones, wild ones And it's good to be young You know we're going straight to the top Going all the way, never gonna stop We live it up, but we come alive Give it all we got Till the day we die When the lights go out tonight, tonight We're gonna start this party right quite different than it is here.
Or even up North.
Oh, and the shows.
Mon dieu.
There's this dance I saw.
It was splendid.
just want to have some fun We are, we are the wild ones And it's good to be young.
LINDEN: Oh, perfect timing.
John, my brightest barrister.
Help me out here.
We're discussing the Scott case.
KYLE: There's not much to discuss.
The law says his kind don't have rights in court.
LINDEN: Could you please tell the marshal it's more complicated than that? I can't.
My legal opinion actually falls in line with Kyle.
The current law has Mr.
Scott in chains.
Well, I've had too many.
John Hawkes is agreeing with me.
Well, we're both officers of the law.
Marshal Risdin.
You wanted a moment? Sir.
Yes, Governor, I want to show you the map of our boat patrols.
Let's talk in my office.
TOM: This looks to be a dying effort.
Your last chances are waning.
(groaning) And yet not one of you has said a word about my seal.
Go on, Rosalee.
Your eyes don't need to bear witness to this.
TOM: Just one group left, and there's lashes for all of you.
I got you, Ma.
I got you.
SAM: You already holdin' up her end.
You ain'thelpin' us none.
We all right, just just hold steady.
(grunts) No, no.
(grunting) (panting, grunting) No, no! Leave him.
I like his fire.
It won't burn forever.
(gasping) Come on.
We can do it.
SAM: Moses.
Move your right arm three fingers closer to your left.
Noah, kick that right arm back now.
Kick it! Henry, get under Pearly Mae's left.
Fight for it.
You know you can.
Fight for it.
Fight! (thumping, crunching) (gasps) Thomas Roberts! Where did you get that? Pa's office.
Ernestine! Rosalee! Clean up this mess.
And let my husband know I found his seal.
("Nous Etions Deux" by La Femme Begins) (laughter, chatter) Who takes a business meeting in the middle of a gala in their honor? A man with two left feet.
Risdin and the governor are blocking the stairs to his office.
You need a distraction.
You remember Boston? I wager I remember Boston far better than you do.
(giggles) You would win that wager.
I'm much less certain it's that sort of crowd.
It is always that sort of crowd.
Laney.
Teach us that dance.
Sure.
(whispering) (laughing) (laughter, conversations) (slam echoing) (discordant notes) (insistent knocking) (footsteps approaching) (knocking continues) (knocking continues) I'm sorry to call on you like this.
Came across some unexpected cargo at the river.
Trouble is, all the stations in the area are full.
Where's the cargo now? In your shed.
I know you're not fully prepared yet, but We'll figure it out.
I'll get some blankets and what food I can muster up.
Don't want to miss the cargo I was scheduled to pick up.
Let me walk you out.
I need to share with you the information that we got from the governor's.
Ports, times, manpower (crickets chirping) (fire crackling) It's all my fault.
I froze.
Ain't know what to do.
It ain't just on you.
We all had a hand in it.
What went down today is just another example why we got to get out of here.
If we go, we leavin' James and Momma behind.
You know how much I love him, but Momma left me behind long ago, when she moved into that big house.
I know you think that but you don't know how hard she work to make life better for us.
Protect us.
And I needed it today.
It's suffocatin' bein' in the massa's house.
Ain't never a moment to be yourself.
At least, out here, no matter how small, least you got somethin' of your own.
Me and Momma just a shadow in somebody else's world.
You ain't scared? Not even a little? No.
No.
I am.
You were right.
I ain't made for runnin'.
Will you tell Noah for me? Way Noah talkin', I I think he'll need to hear that from you.
Hand me them hooks.
Ain't nobody gonna think twice about a fishing lure left at the riverbed.
These hooks are gonna be ready for a quick run, every night.
HENRY: We gonna cross that bridge in six days.
Seems longer than it did this morning, don't it? Five days, now.
We got a strong group.
Proved that today.
We can muster through it.
All I want to do right now is take that big old spoon in the sky and fill the whole river with it.
I'd drink every drop.
What spoon? Them stars.
Yeah, you see? Starting with the big one, right there.
(laughing) I'll be goddamn.
If massa hadn't near wore us out today, we might never cracked it.
See, the sun rises on the right, sets on the left, that means that that big spoon in the sky always points north.
Follow the drinking gourd.
(laughing) Come on, boy.
You just figured out a part of the map to freedom.
(both laughing) BILL: Hey, girl! Hey! I know you hear me talkin' to you.
Come here.
Come here.
That's a nice dress.
Nicer than anything my Peggy ever wore.
She was my wife.
Passed before I came here.
Sick one day, gone the next.
(scoffs) She's buried at the church.
Just a simple stone.
I know some people, they they go in for them real fancy gravestones, you know? Mausoleums, too.
(sobs, sniffles) I'm sure you seen 'em.
I think my Peggy would've liked somethin' simple, you know? She, uh she wasn't one for frivolities, you know? (sniffles) But still, I I-I liked to surprise her, you know, with somethin' nice, every now and then, you know? I could pick some flowers for you, put on her grave next Sunday.
That'd be real nice.
(grunts) You think you're better than me, don't you? Don't you? Speak up, girl! You like when the boss's uppity friends, they fawn all over you, but not poor, sad Bill, huh? Massa expectin' me back at the, at the big house, is all.
I ain't gonna let no nigga gal stick her nose up at me! (Rosalee screaming) (Rosalee grunting, shouting) (Rosalee screaming in distance) (thudding, clattering) ROSALEE (distant): No, no! Hey, go on and get started guttin' dinner.
I'm gonna take the long way around.
Trying to get a look at that girl, ain't you? BILL (distant): Get over here! - (Bill yells) - (thudding, clattering) (Rosalee screaming) (glass breaks, Rosalee screams) ROSALEE (distant): Oh, let me go! (thudding) (breathing with effort) - (Rosalee shudders, screams) - Rosalee? Rose (gasping) Rose, Rose, Rose, Rose, Rose.
What happened? We-we-we have to go.
Now.
No, we can't, we can't.
We got to plan.
No, we gotta run.
Now.
(panting) He dead.
Yeah! Oh, oh Yeah! Well, it's too long livin' in the same old lives Yeah, I feel too cold to live, too young to die Yeah! Will you walk the line Like it's there to choose? Oh! Yeah! - Oh, Lord! - Just forget the wit It's the best to use I said, Oh, Lord I said, Oh Won't you follow me Into the jungle? Oh Yeah! Won't you follow me into the jungle? I lost my mind in the city of lights - (gasps) - Yeah! I know you the man.
You sold my wife.
Follow me into the jungle.