Strange Empire (2014) s01e04 Episode Script

Previously on Strange Empire There was some suggestion that your part in this was to rid these good, God-fearing women of their men and set them to whoring.
I would have to be a genius or a madman to work such evil.
Give me three months payroll and I'll repay it myself.
What is your surety? Strange Empire 1x04 The Whiskey Trader Where the hell is Trig? Up and gone.
Rode out last night.
For what reason? Trig said we're all going to hang for what we done.
He said we're all going to hell.
And you believe it? I got trouble shutting my eyes.
Demons, and wraiths, and devils comin' at me, chewing up my flesh, and crunching my bones.
Well, hell, if it isn't Babylon herself.
I cannot speak the abomination of you.
Cornelius Slotter forced himself on me, that's what you saw.
Was a whore's face I saw.
Yours.
Smiling and play-acting passionate.
It was against my will.
It was an abomination, and I will speak it to the Captain.
And destroy him? Be warned that will be the result.
Those ladies got some money to spend.
For meat and meal, not your whiskey.
Yeah, but you don't got no food, now, do ya, marshal? Shipment's late is all.
Whiskey trade's illegal.
It's legal t'other side of the line.
Get yourself outta here, or I'll arrest you.
You ain't got no cause.
There's no whiskey in here.
You're welcome to search.
Get out.
Stay out.
There's talk in camp was us killed those men.
There's no investor likes talk.
Where the hell's Trig? Gone south sometime yesterday.
And you were planning on telling me when? Trig's no rat.
Be his own neck in a noose.
Briggs is bringing her husband's corpse in.
That'll fire things.
We post a bounty for the Indians did the massacre.
Blackfoot or Cree, don't matter none, so long as someone's seen to pay.
I'm not saying what we did was right or wrong.
It be done now and best forgot.
Matter is keeping it to ourselves.
Meaning anything you robbed off them should be taken up and destroyed.
Come on, boys.
You got yourselves some plunder, you got to give it up.
May be them ghosts'll go with their furnishings? May be, Chase.
Bring some peace to us.
Hell, look what I'm giving up.
There's blood on 'em.
No good to me.
Blisters on blisters.
Grow 'em up on the roof, away from the bloody rabbits.
You've gone to trouble.
Bread's a trade from the Blackfoot women were here today.
I owe them meat, which isn't here.
Too much for the likes of us.
Pleasure to see a family together.
Not together.
Missing our pa.
I'm hungry.
Of course you are.
Here, let me.
$500? Captain Slotter's put up for it.
Something's being done.
That's an oddly selfless generosity from a man like the Captain.
Reward urges justice forward, set men to hunting the murderers down.
Which murderers are we speaking of, ma? You keep your opinion to yourself.
Mr.
Sloat? Ma'am? Miners are fetching my husband's body from the grove.
I want him buried closer to me.
I will pay you to dig his grave.
Not my line, ma'am.
Excuse me.
Three little injuns out upon a spree One dead drunk and then there were three Three little injuns out on a canoe One tumbled overboard and then there were two One little, two little, three little, four little Five little Indian boys Your Neill's looking out for you.
He's being the man of the house.
Standing in for Jeremiah.
Could be your man's gone north.
Or south.
Or east or west.
He's a Scot? You a Cree and me a Blackfoot.
We should be enemies.
Not in these times.
No.
That's for certain.
You don't own to the Indian in you, do you? Not even with them? Sometimes, that's a wise thing.
"William Briggs, beloved.
" Good lord above God in heaven Come out of there, John Slotter.
I'll have to come in there after you! You get in, I dare you.
That's cash money? Mm-hmm.
Ah.
Who's backing it? Captain John Slotter.
Well, if you're lookin' for them Indians, I'm the one can show you where to find 'em.
Best thing happens to a whiskey trader is when the meat comes late to the depot.
That way, you got Indians with robes to trade, maybe money, too, and nothing in their guts.
A hungry Indian will drink almost anything you put in front of him.
Then you got Indians fighting Indians.
Let's get out of here.
Hold up.
We ain't finished.
Get behind here Hey, I've got her.
Gently She's been beaten with something.
She smells like whiskey.
But she hasn't been drinking.
It's her clothing.
It's soaked in it.
She's cold, but sweating.
Her breathing's shallow.
- Her heartbeat is faint.
- Lift her feet.
Pull up the robe, keep her warm.
I know.
You speak their language? You're Indian.
It's half of me is Indian.
The other half's white as you.
Whoa Your murderers.
The man here is Roy Arnold.
He's the one that found 'em for us.
You the gentleman who put up the bounty? I am.
Get Briggs.
Tell her we'll be hanging the Indians killed her men.
I heard about you, and your doings, Captain.
I understand your need for these Indians.
You'll get your money and get the hell out of my sight.
I'll stay for a hanging.
See your conscience cleared, being I'm dispossessed of me own.
I heard the talk in the camp.
Tell me the truth.
It was Jared killed those men, wasn't it? You could never be involved in such a thing.
What is that? Plunder? There is something missing? Misplaced.
Jared was in here yesterday.
He's a turncoat.
He sent his man south to spread word against you.
- He's my friend.
- And he loves you, like Cain loved Abel.
I'm the one loves you, John, and I am dead afraid.
What is it missing? Ask yourself what it will cost you.
Two Indians? There be more to have done the murder.
Others are dead or run off.
Mr.
Arnold here found 'em near where was your men's massacre.
Your husband's funeral imminent and his killers caught is auspicious.
These were found on them.
Your men's things.
If you would be kind enough and see they are returned.
Belonged to my man, Seamus.
A gift from me.
We'll be building a gallows.
Have the killers hanged.
I would like them chained, Captain.
In a place they see what's to happen to them.
And I need a grave dug! Jared.
At your service.
The murderers, Mrs.
Loving, stinking of whiskey and blood.
_ _ _ _ _ You an Indian? Not an Indian.
Not white.
I am Metis.
Raised by my Cree father.
My good Christian mother, she ran off.
These men are Blackfoot, and they are sick, - and they need our help.
- They're murderers! These found on 'em! _ _ _ They're not your murderers.
Makes sense now, you blaming white folks for what happened.
Indian.
You've been lying to me since the day we met.
In league with them, or maybe it was you who set them upon us? You best get out of here 'fore something happens to you.
Ma, come on.
Neill, go ask Mrs.
Blithely to come see me.
Tell her to hurry, and bring my rifle.
Look at her cheekbones, so high and prominent.
A broad, half-circle dental palate.
Flattened nose bridge and almond-shaped eyes.
They are different than us.
I am different, too.
You are white.
You are also a prodigy, therefore more susceptible to nervous disorders.
The savage, I suspect, is more stoic.
The gentlemen at the royal society would be interested to examine her.
You would take her back with us? To Toronto? To London even.
No no! Shh, shh Female hysteria, it's a contagion.
Uh, Mrs.
Blithely? Strychnine.
It's bitter and it's poison.
It's called "Indian whiskey.
" Man who brought them here sold it to them.
They need to drink water.
They need shade, and The hammers - The sound hurts them.
- Yes.
Tell me about Nuttah.
They're together, a family.
Chogan is father to Wematin and Nuttah.
They were beaten, same as she was.
But what happened? This stuff makes you crazy.
I've seen what it does.
There's a pretty thing.
Mrs.
Slotter's sending it.
Never mind was me made it.
For your husband's wake.
She'll be here tomorrow.
Told me herself she was comin'.
Ain't that something.
Mrs.
Slotter and Mrs.
Briggs.
What is your trouble, girl? I ain't no girl and you ain't no lady.
Them red men didn't kill your mens, and you knows it.
And I'll tell you something else, you let them hang, be you hanged up in hell.
Hey.
Tell your ma we don't want no Indians here, unless they're dead.
Shut up.
She's only half.
You, too.
Dirty half-breed.
Hey! Hey! Leave her! Hey! Hey! You could've told us! You'll all be expected to attend Briggs's funeral.
Only right.
Not right given was us did the killing.
What's that? I ain't going.
And I ain't doing this.
You're going.
Pick up the goddamn hammer.
You killed Briggs.
- Yes.
- Hmm.
It be a circumstance you wish to fix in memory? It was a night for us, wasn't it? All fire and spark.
Widow's weeds.
You'll turn it to an advantage, mum.
Meaning what? Made your deal for food and shelter with John Slotter.
He's the murderer here, and I won't live under such a man.
- Was Indians killed your pa - Wasn't.
And you know it.
You got a dark heart to go with that widow's dress.
I see you've cleaned yourself up for the occasion.
And you look fetching in black.
Don't she, Ling? Like a big, old spider.
Burying a husband today.
Bet you wish it was yours.
I love my husband.
Mm, and his papa more.
Get away from me.
How about this celestial you got trained up as a lady's maid? You attached to him, too? You watch your speech.
You got feelings for that yellow man, missus? You being a little brown yourself? I don't want to be called "dirty" or "Indian" my whole life long.
Sit, missus.
Take my handkerchief.
So fine, and white, and pressed That Mrs.
Loving over there with her kinfolk, it's her and her talk that's the cause of this.
She's the one we need riddance of.
John? Indian.
Was you burned our wagons.
Was you killed our pas and grandpa Bill.
Nobody here hurt your kin, Toby.
You did! Killed and stole from us.
Toby! Toby! The rest of you, get back here! Get! Do you see down there? This is what it'll get 'em! Not from me, those boys that lost their pas! Savage.
Stronger is what you need, right? Sure Ruby, it is not your job to feed them.
You're taking after your daddy, hanging mens up in trees.
Last thing they swallow, might as well be sweet.
How are they? They won't die before they're hanged.
Twice as drunk and twice as wild.
Gallows dirt on your hands.
Wash it off, else the spirits smell it.
I saw you slap Jared.
Tell me why.
The way he speaks about you, the way he treats me is most disrespectful.
He calls me whore.
He was down at the station house.
Went down and posted bounty.
Hmm, and comes back with two Indians to hang, just like that, and a whiskey-trader to take your money.
I say Jared took half.
That marshal south of here, he's got an affection for Indians, being half of one himself.
Hanging them will only rile him against you.
If Jared spoke to that marshal God damn I'm gonna kill now, huh? Tried once already.
Two's the charm now.
You! It would be my pleasure to shoot you.
He is not dead.
That he is still here is a testament to the hardness of his head.
There's blood on it, and hair.
The marks on her body, this is what they're from.
Roy Arnold is a murderer.
There's the proofs.
Cuff buttons, wedding rings.
Tell me, Mrs.
Briggs, what does an Indian need with cuff buttons? Indians did the killing.
Indians should die for it.
I suspect, mother That Indians bleed and feel their grief same as we do.
Come to sit atop your table, recall your pleasures? You get out of here, or I will scream.
I will speak the truth of you.
You are turning him against me.
He is my dearest friend, my very brother Jared Conner You speak your piece to me.
Leave Izzy out of it.
Your missus, John, is the worm in the apple.
I'm accusing her of faithlessness.
Say it.
Your wife Has desire for that chinaman.
We shall take the woman back to her camp.
Mr.
Slotter and I, we'll find out what the truth is.
Truth's staring you in your face.
John! John! I've no need of speech from you, Jared.
Ssihh meek.
You've come to know them, Mrs.
Blithely.
Their wounds are healing.
The whiskey trader's gone, and Mrs.
Briggs, I am sure she will come to her senses.
I have arranged to send my boy south to work at the station house there.
I would ask that you find a place for my girls.
What? I intend on leaving.
The children are harmed by me.
Here they are with With their own kind, their people.
No.
No, no, you can't! They will come 'round.
They will see your value.
I lost the mother who raised me, and And I am quite lost myself, but.
.
But for you, at times, it Please, Mrs.
Blithely, see that they are cared for.
Buried in the trees, closer to their gods.
You ever heard of anything like that? Indian can't take his liquor, that's the truth.
Sets to burning and killing.
Is any man drinks that would do the same, missus.
Was Roy Arnold did this.
Mrs.
Blithely told us you'd go from here.
She said you're saying you harmed us.
You never, ever did, ma.
I'm sorry for what I said and stupid for it.
You're our ma, and gone through hell and back for us, and we will do for you best we can.
I would ask that you do for yourselves.
Is best for you.
For them chains.
I took it, easy.
Jared and them down there drinking that whiskey - and blind with it.
- Drunker than fish in the ocean.
You keep a lookout.
_ _ _ _ You've advised the marshal of Mr.
Arnold's whereabouts? I believe he sold his stock of liquor and left Janestown.
Nothing I can do to him till he crosses the boundary.
Same goes for you.
What are you meaning? Justice for those murdered.
I'm saying, one day, they will get it.
There be testimony against you.
Written by a man through here days past.
It's hard evidence you need.
And I shall have it in time.
Glad to be back in business, Mrs.
Briggs, I'm sure.
Sold my soul for business.
Was him As they say.
Your husband the murderer and the whoremonger, and God's wrath upon you both.
Your accusations are unfounded.
Was your man had their furnishings.
Give to him by Jared Conner.
Here's to Roy Arnold's poisoned whiskey.
It's good enough for me.
Ma! Leave her.
Kat Loving, you're coming with me.
You come easy, or else I'll cut your girl down.
Was you who caused hell to descend upon the Captain.
Your mouth turned man against man here.
And your death will be the cure.
Her or you! What's it to be? You leave them be.
Go on, walk.
Get! Whoa, whoa! What the hell? Come on.
It's Jared, he's taking your place.
The way that marshal treated you, I believe Jared spoke to him, tried to exonerate himself.
He's the one has the evidence goes with Trig's testimony, it'll be you hanged, but Jared did this.
Look at me, Izzy.
Jared, the men, it was me made them drunk, it was me roused them to blood.
I am not who you think I am.
You are my husband, and I stand with you against anyone who wishes you ill or does you harm, forever and ever unto death.
Then get the goddamn trunk hidden under his bed.
Go! Let's get this done.
No No! No! No! No! No! No, please! It needs to be higher! No, it needs to be higher! A ladder or something, something so her neck breaks quickly! So she doesn't feel the pain! She's the woman, Captain Caused all our troubles, pointed us out when no other would, stirred and stirred, when all would've settled.
Let her off the rope, Jared.
Listen to me, man! It's a woman, set on earth to sour our sleep and waking, to deceive and lay snares! Take her off the rope.
Your wife is Babylon, and Judith And Magdalene.
She's poison, John.
And you The best of men.
John Slotter, I will tell you what I saw! No! Mrs.
Briggs Your man's watch.
Jared Connor killed him for it.
You crossed the line, Roy.
Montana.
Your trade's illegal here.
I am seizing your wagon.
Dynamite? You find things.
And marshal or not, ain't no damn Indian telling me what's what, or where I am.