Them (2021) s01e05 Episode Script

[film projector rattling]
♪
[narrator] The American dream
is alive and well.
Uncle Sam and his
G.I. Bill of Rights
are hard at work getting
our boys back on their feet.
Affordable college,
job training,
low-interest mortgages and more.
Already,
the Veterans Administration
has put five million
young families into new homes.
And where, might you ask,
are many of these
ambitious Americans
choosing to settle down?
Well, the City of Angels,
of course,
the fastest-growing city
in the United States.
All over Los Angeles,
brand-new housing developments
are being built.
Go west, young man.
The future of America
is in sunny California.
[city planner] So,
a few years back, West Compton,
green as can be not a Negro,
Mexican or Jap in sight
but as you can see here,
in less than a decade,
the entire neighborhood's
completely flipped red city.
In fact, they had to build
more housing
just to accommodate all the
Negroes who want to live there.
So, what are you prepared
to do for us?
Seven percent interest on loans
for all properties
Southland Trust Realty acquires.
Seven? We can get four
from SunTrust.
Len, don't bend us over
on the interest here,
not with all the business
we're about to toss your way.
You guys are gonna sell the
houses for double what you paid
and charge, what,
20% on the mortgages?
Wait. You're charging Negroes
more than 20%?
There's no way anyone
can get out from under that.
If your bank wasn't
legally prohibited
from lending to Negroes,
- you'd do the same.
- Within reason.
Six percent, fellas, huh?
Let's get this done.
The city will approve any new
Southland Trust development
in East Compton once all
the original owners have sold.
- Not a given.
- [Mitch] Tell me my fucking business.
Chicago, Baltimore, Lansing
[Murray] Oakland, Seattle.
[Mitch] Now, that was foresight.
Move just one Black family
into a decent
white neighborhood,
and the other homeowners
will throw
money at you faster
than you can count it.
Negroes aren't stupid.
Given a choice, even they
don't want to live
among other Negroes.
[commissioner] Nothing
more American than
people willingly paying
double for something
- they can't afford in the first place.
- [laughter]
And what happens once they
realize they have been swindled?
Well, you could always ask
Miss Koistra if you could borrow
- a sanitary napkin.
- [men laughing]
[Murray] If they make
their mortgage payments, we win.
If they default, we win.
Oh, you pray
they miss their nut,
and then you put those houses
right back on the market.
[Murray] At another markup.
And by this time,
it's an all-Negro neighborhood.
[city planner] An entire
population of Negroes who can't
- secure traditional mortgages.
- [Mitch] Do you need an abacus?
- Uncle. Six percent.
- Yeah, there you go.
[city planner] And what
are we projecting?
Well, Miss Koistra's
our man on the ground,
as it were.
Yes.
A good beginning.
Just today, we flipped
our second property
within a two-block radius.
These families,
especially Negro veterans,
they are coming west in droves.
Uh, I'm sorry, two families
in two blocks is "droves"?
I thought you said
she was a shark.
These families,
they are coming, and they are
ready to buy, sight unseen.
Just the two families
for now, but I think,
conservatively,
inside six months,
East Compton's gonna look
a lot like West Compton.
Look at the map.
This is our rush of '49.
- And we've got the monopoly.
- If I could just
I've been doing some research,
and just to say it,
Negro homeowners,
when they move in,
property values actually go up.
- Right?
- [Helen] I'm saying,
instead of creating this bubble
that can't be sustained
ruining neighborhoods,
people's lives
what if we offer mortgage rates
that were competitive?
What?
I'm not saying that
we don't make a profit.
[Mitch] Where did you
find this broad?
[Murray] We're not
communists, Helen.
Jesus, the naivete.
[Murray] You're here because
you've got drive, Koistra
more balls than any man
in the Compton office.
I'm-I'm just saying
that in the long run
You could be home taking care
of some kids or a husband,
but you've found
your life's calling.
Don't fuck it up by succumbing
to the weaker nature
of your sex.
[Mitch] If you can't
flip East Compton,
then get yourself
a decent haircut
[Ella Mae] Oh, my.
Twenty percent?
On the principal?
It's quite standard
for this kind of purchase.
I know it seems high, but
we're assuming all the risk
since, as you know,
a traditional bank
won't lend to Negroes moving
into exclusive neighborhoods.
See, darling, 30 years,
and we own it outright.
[Helen] And you can
pay it off early,
- as your circumstances improve.
- [Roland] Mm-hmm.
[Roland] Us on rocking chairs,
mess of grandchildren
running around.
You can't put a price
on your family's future.
What's this?
Oh, don't pay that any mind.
Is it even legal
for us to live here?
[Roland] I told you
what Miss Helen said.
The world is changing,
and you get to be part of that.
It's exciting.
I'll play it straight
with you folks.
Like any change,
there's gonna be growing pains,
but nothing that won't
blow over in a few days.
[Roland] We read about
some incidents.
In Bell, West Compton.
[Helen] Old news. Now
[scoffs] you couldn't imagine
a nicer place to live.
Do you live there?
Oh, I'm still putting my pennies
in my piggy bank, but
[chuckles softly]
You know best.
Now, I don't expect any trouble,
but moving in at night
might create less of a stir.
[softly chuckles]
[upbeat song begins]
♪
[Wheatley chuckles]
[Wheatley] You seen
today's "Alley Oop"?
Huh? Kills me every time.
[Wheatley] How'd we do?
Just manage your end.
[Wheatley chuckles]
Eat something.
You'll feel better.
- I'm busy, Bull.
- Uh-uh.
Come on. Come on.
Stay.
Let me ask you something
how many you think you can flip?
- Properties.
- How should I know?
We just got started.
'Cause I'll tell you,
we could run this thing
all over the Southland,
make a mint.
- "We"?
- Yeah.
[chuckles] Don't get greedy.
- It's free money.
- Free?
I'm the one making sure
goddamned race riots
- don't break out all over East Compton.
- Keep your voice down.
If it weren't for me keeping a
lid on things, you'd have coons
swinging like wind chimes
from Palmer Drive to the 10.
And we pay you for it.
I don't get you, lady.
A man has five, he wants ten.
- It's human nature.
- Yeah, well,
couple more of these deals
and I'm done. Out.
Bullshit.
Whatever makes you
sleep better at night.
You brought me into this.
And now you're gonna
blue ball me
before we even get cooking?
You think I don't know the law?
It's my fucking job.
And what you're doing
- is illegal.
- For both of us.
No. You pay me in cash.
I don't exist.
I might as well be a ghost.
But those contracts you're
signing for your company?
That's all on paper, Helen.
And that's all on you.
Hmm?
Your bosses
I bet they don't put
their names on those contracts.
So you try to give me up
it's your word against mine.
- Listen, Bull, I
- No, no, no, no, no.
Cry about it to the bulldaggers
in Tehachapi Prison.
We do this
till it gets done.
Two down.
[crunching]
Who's next?
The Emorys.
They arrive today.
[chuckles]
You still home?
- Anything else I got to know?
- No.
They're just a family
husband, wife, couple of kids.
Daughters, I think.
- He's an engineer
- I'm not putting them on the cover of fucking "Life" here.
All right?
I don't care who they are
or where they're from.
I just need to know how much
force I'm gonna need in case,
uh, Kong decides to go apeshit.
Our little neighborhood
welcoming committee's
liable to, uh,
spook 'em, so to speak.
[laughs]
You really should eat something.
Your color's not so good.
Fuck you, Bull.
I didn't think I was
your type, Koistra.
[chuckles]
[engine starts]
You're the one.
Selling houses to niggers.
You heard what they do to women?
They don't take their time
like a white man.
- Listen, I
- Something like that. Hmm?
Good.
Gonna cry?
Hmm?
So you're not gonna
do it anymore?
Sell to them?
We see any boofers without a mop
in their hands
in East Compton
Excuse me, but what is this?
[Helen] Oh, that's nothing
to be concerned about.
It's like I told you
on the phone, Mr. Emory,
these sorts of covenants are
no longer legally enforceable.
You knew.
This house is yours.
[takes a deep breath]
[woodpecker tapping]
♪
[insects trilling]
[Lucky] I think somebody
wants some peaches.
Hmm?
Mm, mm, mm. Mama's coming.
[gasps] I'm right here.
I'm right here.
Mm-hmm.
Be right back.
[Chester babbles in distance]
[Lucky] Hey, Sarge.
[growls softly]
[barking]
[whistling]
Beautiful day.
[Lucky] Yes. Yes, it is.
You're not lost, are you?
No, no. Not lost.
Just out walking around,
saw your beautiful home.
- Oh!
- Sergeant, come on.
It's all right. Oh, look at you.
Aren't you a good boy?
[whining]
You like me, don't you?
Gone are the days ♪
When my heart
was young and gay ♪
Gone are the toils ♪
From the cotton fields away ♪
My daddy used to sing that
to me.
Oh, I love that song,
Don't you?
- I don't know it.
- Gone from the earth ♪
To a better land I know ♪
I hear those
gentle voices calling ♪
Old ♪
Black ♪
Joe ♪
[laughs]
Sergeant!
Sergeant.
- [Chester crying]
- [exhales]
I'm right here.
- I'm right here, baby.
- [gasps]
[exhales]
Is that your baby?
Yes.
Yes, he is.
[exhales] What's his name?
[Lucky] Chester.
[quietly] Chester.
[chuckles]
I think
you better be on your way.
Now.
My husband's gonna be home soon.
That man left from here with
two little girls
'bout an hour ago?
Oh, we seen him.
Can I have him?
Ma'am?
Your boy.
I'd like him very, very much.
Will you give him to me?
Go on.
Go!
[creaking]
I'm right here!
[panting]
- [crying]
- Oh, baby, I'm coming
[whispers] It's okay. It's okay.
- I'm right here.
- [crying continues in distance]
[barking]
- [crying]
- It's okay.
[rattling]
[woman] Gone are the toils ♪
From the cotton fields away ♪
[singing indistinctly]
[Chester shouts]
- [babbles]
- [shushes]
- My head is bending low ♪
- [Sergeant whining]
I hear the gentle voices
calling ♪
Old Black Joe ♪♪
[crying]
[breathing heavily]
[Chester crying]
[fussing]
[crying]
[rattling]
[coos]
[cooing]
[soft rattling]
[muffled crying]
[knocking]
[glass shatters]
[footsteps in distance]
[creaking]
[window opening]
[door closes]
[shuddering softly]
[man whistling]
[loud tramping overhead]
[whistling]
[scraping, clattering overhead]
[whistling in distance]
[shuddering quietly]
[tramping in distance]
[muffled scraping]
[clattering]
[whistling]
[clattering continues
in distance]
[scraping, clattering]
♪
[clattering in distance]
[creaking]
- [panting]
- [creaking]
[breathing heavily]
[grunting]
[whimpering, grunting]
[man grunts]
[Lucky whimpering]
[zipper unzips]
- [crying]
- [breathing heavily]
[man moaning]
♪
- [man grunting]
- [Lucky crying]
[crying]
[Chester crying in distance]
[Lucky crying]
[panting] No.
No! No! No!
[Chester crying]
[shouting]
- [Chester cooing]
- [rattling]
[Lucky shouting in distance]
♪
[creaking]
- [crying]
- [gasps]
[shouting]
[rattling]
[panting]
[screaming]
[woman cooing]
- [rattling]
- [Chester crying]
[cooing indistinctly]
[shouting, panting]
Oh.
I'm right here.
Here.
Oh.
I'm right here.
[chuckles]
[gasps]
[Lucky] No!
[Lucky crying]
Cat in a bag.
[whispers indistinctly]
Cat in a bag.
[Lucky shouting]
- Cat in a bag. Cat in a bag.
- [Chester crying]
[Lucky] No! No!
- [woman] Cat in a bag. Cat in a bag.
- No! No!
- [woman] Bag.
- [man grunts]
[woman] Cat in a bag.
Cat in a bag.
Cat in the bag!
- Guy, little guy.
- [woman] Cat in a bag!
[Lucky and Chester crying]
[grunts]
Cat in a bag. Cat in a bag.
Cat in a bag.
[Lucky screams]
♪
[muffled laughing]
- [grunts]
- Oh, cat in a bag!
Oh, cat in a bag!
Cat in the bag.
[overlapping chatter]
Cat in a bag.
Cat in a bag!
Cat in a bag! Cat in a bag!
♪
[digging]
[man] For God so loved the world
that He gave
His only begotten Son
that whosoever believes in Him
should not perish
but live everlasting life.
For God sent His Son
to the world
not to condemn the world
but that the world
might be saved
through Him.
He who believes in Him
is not condemned.
He who does not believe
is condemned already
because he has not believed
in the name
of the only Son of God.
[woman] And he said,
"Naked I came
from my mother's womb,
and naked I shall return."
The Lord gave,
and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Amen.
What did you say?
Oh, Lord Almighty's
got a plan is all.
He gave, and he take away
[grunts]
[gasping]
When He comes for your boy,
give my regards to your Lord.
[Emmett] More likely
to find the Klan
waiting over in Monroe than
the sumbitches who done this.
They hang niggas in Monroe
just for some shade.
Go on, get some of this in you.
You got a family.
Happened to me and mine?
Dying while wrapping my hand
around some cracker's neck
would be a whole sight better
than living in
[Shorty] Oh,
shut the hell up, Woody.
You ain't got a damn thing
to live for on any account.
This man does.
♪
♪
[Gracie] Mama?
Mama?
Mama?
We
picked them
for you this morning.
She scares me, Ruby.
[Ruby] She's just sad.
We're sad, too.
[Ruby] She'll get right soon.
You think so?
- Cat in a bag!
- [gasps]
[Gracie] I don't want
to be like Mama.
[Ruby] We'll never be like Mama.
Say it.
[Gracie and Ruby]
We'll never be like Mama.
We'll never be
like Mama.
We'll never be like Mama.
[Gracie] You'll protect us,
right, Daddy?
[Henry] I'll always protect you,
baby girl.
You don't have to worry.
Won't be coming
around here no more.
Promise you both.
I'm right here.
Nothing's getting to you.
[Gracie] What if
Mama never comes back?
[Henry] Your mama
hasn't gone anywhere.
[Ruby] Yeah,
but she's not the same, Daddy.
Can't you hear her?
[match strikes]
Talking to him?
It's like she's crazy
or something.
[Henry] Shh. Hush, now.
[Lucky crying]
You can't talk
about your mama like that.
What she's been through
There are no words
for what she been through.
But I got her.
Got all of you.
Promise.
[Lucky whimpering]
I promise.
[whimpering continues]
[phone ringing]
Hello?
This is he.
Yes. Yes.
I am still very interested.
Uh, I have some family
out in California.
Thank you. Thank you, sir.
I look forward
to meeting you, too.
[giggles]
Luck?
♪
It's time to go, Luck.
Got two little girls down there
who need their mama.
I need you, Luck.
I can't do it alone.
[Lucky breathing shakily]
We got this, baby.
Remember who told me that?
Doesn't matter where we go.
How far.
He'll always be with us.
[Lucky] He'll always be with us.
[birds chirping]
[birds continue chirping]
[birds continue chirping]
[birds continue chirping]