Kindred (2022) s01e07 Episode Script

I need to get this baby
out. One, two, three.
Dana.
This is too hard.
Do you want a hint?
- Why can't you just read to me?
- I could.
But you need to learn
to read on your own.
Why?
Because it's important.
Maybe we're going too fast.
Yeah?
Let's um
Hey.
Do you want to come
closer so you can see?
You know, if you both learn,
you can write to each other.
Come on. Show Carrie what you can do.
This is the letter M.
What sound does the letter M make?
- Mmm.
- Good.
Good. Okay, and the next one?
- Uh
- Carrie. Carrie.
You must be crazier than I thought.
Luke asked me to teach
Nigel how to read.
- I thought Carrie might want to learn
- Carrie, come here.
Carrie.
You're the only one who
really understands her.
- What happens when you're gone?
- Ever since you've got here
with all your good intentions,
bad things been happening.
Tom starving us out over
Winnie. Celeste dead.
- That wasn't my fault.
- You sure about that?
If this was Luke's idea and
I don't believe for a second
that it was, but if so, then
he ain't in his right mind.
And you know what would
happen if you get caught
doing something like this?
He ain't got no right to
take us all down with him.
But at least Luke is doing something
to give Nigel a better chance at life.
Luke don't even know what
a better life look like.
Carrie, you are never to be alone
with Miss Dana again, you hear me?
Now go.
You got any sense, you run along too.
'Cause you lucky it was me and
not Massa Tom or that evil Jake.
Your father and this
one gonna get you killed.
Or worse.
It's okay, Nigel, nothing
bad is gonna happen.
We'll do more tomorrow.
Okay.
I'm really glad you're coming to Easton.
He thinks we're friends.
Can't say I'm not excited
to get off this farm, though.
See more of the world.
If you got stuck here,
could be fun to travel.
Sure, sounds fun if you're white.
Okay. Or we could go home.
I told you, I told Luke
that I'd teach Nigel to read.
Yeah, but how long will that take?
I just I don't feel like
I've done everything I came here to do.
You were brought here to
save Rufus's life. That's it.
What's gonna happen to
these kids when we leave?
And Carrie, what's gonna happen to her?
Is it just gonna be Tom
and Celeste all over again?
It can't just be Rufus,
we have to save them all.
I don't know what will happen, Dana,
but I know that if we
try to save the world,
we will lose our fucking minds.
Oh, Maggie, my sister.
Rufus, come greet your Aunt May.
Come here.
What a very fine young
man you've become.
Every year he looks
more like our father.
And this is Mr. Franklin.
Mr. Franklin? Not the musician?
May.
How do you do?
I seem to recall my sister making
very fond mention of you in a letter.
How is it you've come to
return after all these years?
Yet to be decided, I see.
- Will you be visiting long?
- Oh, no.
I'll return to Baltimore tomorrow.
I'd hate to deprive Rufus of
his bed for too many nights,
seeing as the guest room is occupied.
Kevin, Rufus.
May, what a pleasant surprise.
It's not a surprise. We
planned this visit for months.
Yeah, well, it must've slipped my mind.
Rufus and I will see you when we return.
Must he go with you? May has
come all this way to see Rufus.
Should I leave my son
to gossip over tea?
Come along, Franklin. Luke
has a horse ready for you.
Maggie. Maggie.
A horse, like, to ride?
You planned this knowing
my sister is to visit.
Do you see how inconsiderate you are?
Uh, we'll be meeting a few
other planters in Easton.
Rufus is old enough to
be learning a few things.
What business must be done
today besides drinking?
Hush woman.
A pity. I so hope to spend at least
some of this time with my nephew.
We'll only be gone half the day.
Your horse, Mr. Franklin.
I got Oh, I got it.
Okay.
Uh, should Dana ride with me or
Nonsense, this trip
is for men. Let's go.
It's just a few hours,
okay? Stay close to Rufus.
Mr. Franklin!
My sister and I desire
tea in the parlor.
Fetch it for us. Now.
Uh Oh Uh I Actually,
I I told Mr. Franklin I'd
You and I both know that's not true.
Tea. Now.
Miss Margaret and her sister want tea.
You know where the kettle is.
Fuck.
Where are we?
This is where your father grew up.
When my daddy first taught
me how to till the soil.
Taught us. Ain't that right, Luke?
- Master William was a fine planter.
- Mmm-hmm.
I was half your age, son, when
he failed to return from battle.
You two grew up together here?
We did.
I was born right after Luke.
We were the only boys here.
Two sisters before me, one after.
But Luke was the closest
thing I had to a brother.
I had two brothers in my home.
Died of fever.
Can Nigel and I go play?
Yeah, go ahead son.
Owner finally passed and
this land is for sale again.
What say you, Luke? Should I acquire it?
You know, we could expand.
And this land would
be under your charge.
Go ahead. Grab a handful.
Tell me how you find its prospects.
I don't need to touch it
to see the lands worthless.
But why should that stop you?
Wouldn't be the first
thing you took for yourself
just for the sake of taking.
I'm ready to move on. Fetch the boys.
You'll have to excuse Luke, uh
he had a friendship with a
slave who recently passed.
I thought bringing him along on
this trip might cheer him up some.
- He's grieving.
- Yeah, I'm aware.
But there's nothing more tiresome
than a melancholy slave.
Oh, thank you.
My sister is upstairs
freshening up with the mute.
You belong to Mr. Franklin, do you not?
- Yes, ma'am.
- He's giving Margaret piano lessons?
- Yes.
- Funny.
I never knew Maggie to be very musical,
but if he's lifting her spirits
Hi. What a beautiful day.
Won't you give me a tour
of the grounds, Maggie?
And I suppose I should
meet our cousin Jake.
My husband did pay for
his voyage over, after all.
- It's cold.
- I'm sorry, I'll go get
Stay.
You and Mr. Franklin share a room,
well aware that it is against my rules.
So which one of you is it
that can't control themselves?
Answer me.
- Margaret.
- Answer me.
You can fetch me a proper cup.
Hey, Willy.
Come on, son.
That's a boy.
Go along now and fetch
my order at the printer.
Yes, sir.
Hey.
I heard about Celeste.
Wanted to check and see if
you were feeling all right.
No, I'm not all right.
You worrying about me,
it ain't good for anybody.
Mr. Franklin.
Where are we, Daddy?
Oh, it's a momentous occasion.
You, my son, are getting
your first proper shave.
As are you. I need my
company looking distinguished.
A barber will sort you.
Uh, how much does a barber cost?
I'm short on funds.
Don't worry yourself, Mr. Franklin.
I'm well aware of your shallow pot.
Master Weylin. Master Weylin.
I don't got no whiskers.
- What'll they shave?
- Don't worry.
Uh, I think shaving makes
your whiskers grow sometimes.
I don't know. I read that once.
- Put them up front with your father.
- Yes, sir.
Meet me at the barber when you're done.
Tea was too cold, huh?
Benjamin.
Tommy, my boy.
- Ben, how are you, sir?
- Ah.
Fine, but what a boon to
find you off the plantation.
May I introduce Mr. Franklin?
He's a musician and a guest in my home.
- Pleasure to meet you.
- A musician?
Who knew you to be a patron of the arts?
And who is this fine young man?
Get up, son.
I'm Rufus Weylin, sir.
Rufus Weylin?
I did not recognize you beneath
all of that shaving cream.
- No school today?
- No more school for me.
Learning the planter business.
- That right, Daddy?
- Indeed, son.
You here for an appointment?
Me? Never.
I have a boy at home for my grooming.
More convenient. I picked him
up on a trip to South Carolina.
I was just passing by on
the way to fill my belly
and I saw your slave driver, Luke,
getting a shoe shine.
You are a gracious
master to allow that, Tom.
Though I suppose if any of that
kind deserves it, it's Luke.
He is a fine tiller of the land.
I had Nancy take care of they tea.
Now you can go on and get,
because there ain't no reason
you got to be up in here.
Maybe, uh, Rufus shouldn't be drinking.
- Why not?
- Because you're 12.
Had my fair share of drink at
his age. Part of the business.
Yeah, it's part of the business, Kevin.
Mmm-hmm, which part?
Come on, have a drink,
Mr. Franklin. Relax.
You know, I find your temperance
rather feminine in nature, to be frank.
It's no wonder you
were Broadus's downfall.
I jest. I jest, lighten
up. We're celebrating.
- What?
- I just made a great deal with Benjamin.
What'd you do?
Well, I had something he wanted
that I didn't need anymore.
- Uh, no.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
How about that, Rufus?
Handsome, don't you think?
- I don't know.
- You're not looking, son.
She's all right.
Now, you see a woman like that,
you look, but you don't marry.
- Why not?
- Because she's below you.
I I don't even want to get married.
All men must find a wife.
Kevin didn't.
You don't want to end up like Kevin.
Yes, I do. Kevin has Dana.
- That's not what your dad means, Rufus.
- Dana's a slave, Rufus.
No, she's not. She's special.
Ruf, I think you've
had too much to drink.
I have not.
Yes, I quite agree.
Nigel will deliver you home.
Go on, he's outside.
Leave, before you embarrass me forever.
There's your quality time
between father and son.
I can't say it feels right.
He's been coddled by
women his whole life.
Should have taken him
under my wing sooner.
Oh, come, Mr. Franklin.
You won't waste a drink, will you?
I've been quite generous with you.
You can't toast with an empty glass.
Without it, you'll
give us both bad luck.
And I think you've had
enough of that for a lifetime.
Don't you agree?
Now drink, Mr. Franklin.
Oh, Dana.
I've been looking for you.
I'm sorry for my sister.
She was terribly unfair to you.
I hope you find me less
formidable than Maggie.
Prior to our residence in Baltimore,
my husband and I, he's a doctor,
we spent time in Boston amongst
many liberal thinkers.
My sister and I diverge in that way.
How has she been? My sister?
Is her unhappiness as
apparent to you as it is to me?
She doesn't really confide in me.
But surely you have eyes.
You can tell me. Is Tom
the source of her misery?
Then tell me this.
Is it true that Tom starved his slaves
after his concubine escaped?
Scarcely. Maggie is too
humiliated to tell me such things.
She knows I never liked Tom.
That man is a heathen and a drunkard
who can barely spell his own name.
Dana, can you help me with Master Rufus?
Rufus, what what happened?
Master Rufus has had too
much whiskey, that's all.
Rufus. Rufus, what's wrong?
- He's drunk.
- Drunk?
- I feel sick.
- Who did this?
- Was it your father?
- Well, of course it was his father.
All that louse does is drink
and now your son is
old enough to join him.
Is this what you want, Maggie?
For your child to grow up
- to be just like his godless father?
- Don't say that.
Well, that is the course
you have put him on, Maggie.
His very soul is at stake.
Stop it, May, stop!
You think I don't know.
This is too much.
I have duties to uphold. Obligations.
It rips me in two to see you like this.
It's misery. Time has
come to do something.
Please leave us alone for a while.
- Mama.
- Oh, honey.
No.
I was thinking just this morning
there's so much I don't know about you.
Your people, where are they from?
I told you, I'm from New York.
But your parents?
New Jersey.
And they were musicians?
My dad was a bookkeeper,
an accountant, a bookkeeper.
Yet you have no books to keep.
You know, I I was thinking
maybe it's a little early for Rufus
to start his planting education.
Maybe stay in school a little
bit longer, don't you think?
I stopped around his age. A
man only needs to know his sums.
Right, but might be good
for him to spend some time
around some other boys at his age.
He says he doesn't have
any friends anymore.
Seems really sad to me.
Well, that's what you're for, is it not?
Or are you planning on
leaving us sometime soon?
- Oh, no. No, I'm not.
- You're not?
Well, the show must be starting.
- The show?
- Yes.
I was going back and forth
as to whether it would be
appropriate for Rufus or not, but
I feel you'll enjoy it.
Grab your drink.
Gentleman, place your bets.
Place your bets, we've
got three rounds tonight,
starting with the lovely Jane.
Oh, Franklin.
First up is Jane.
How long would the niggers
last before she is conquered?
Please.
Go on, get her.
Please, stop. Please, stop.
Kevin.
Shall we go?
Where's Luke?
He doesn't belong to me anymore.
He won't be returning with us.
Can Dana come with us?
- No, Rufus.
- What's going on?
Come on. Go back upstairs.
Fuck.
Jake! Jake!
They're running, they're
running, and they're taking Rufus.
You gotta stop you gotta stop them.
Come on, they'll be gone any minute.
Jake, come on. Tom left
you in charge, didn't he?
Someone ought to teach you
to mind your own business.
You're their cousin.
- Right.
- I best get going now.
Rufus, sit up.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, stop, stop.
Get out of the way. This
is none of your concern.
- You can't take him.
- My sister can do what she pleases.
- Margaret.
- Do not think I will save you
from being trampled if
you insist on impeding us.
- Margaret, he has to stay here.
- Get out of the way.
You cannot take him.
He has to stay here.
And who are you to determine that?
- Hmm?
- Do you remember when Rufus was younger
and someone saved him
from being drowned?
And then after that,
when there was a fire,
and somehow he was brought to safety?
That was me, Margaret, and I I
can't explain it to you right now,
but I can promise you,
I'm here to protect him.
She is raving mad.
I rem remember.
I'm here to keep him alive.
And he has to stay here.
The devil came into my house one night
and no one believed me.
And then again by the river.
How could I not see that it was you?
- No, no, Margaret.
- You're the devil.
- Devil!
- I I'm not!
- Margaret, I am not the devil.
- Be gone!
- Demon.
- Margaret please, please, please, please!
- You will not take him from me!
- Rufus! Rufus! Rufus!
Rufus! Rufus!
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Rufus!
I wouldn't get too
sentimental about Luke.
He needed to see just how
good he had it with me.
- Mr. Franklin.
- What?
You seem ill-tempered.
Is it from the drink?
Is this why you abstain?
Or is it the entertainment
that's affecting you?
I thought that you of all
people would appreciate
that sort of spectacle,
considering your taste.
Are you talking about Dana?
So it's just as Rufus said.
I know what you're talking about.
I fear that you actually are
in love with your chattel.
And if so, you must know
that those feelings you
have, they're unnatural.
- Like you're any different.
- Do not compare me to you.
I would never feel
love for such creatures.
It'd be a cruelty unto them.
- Ah, wouldn't you?
- Wouldn't I, what?
Seems like you feel
more than you'll admit.
At least about Winnie.
It seems it's time our
arrangement come to an end.
Fine.
Then let us tidy our books, shall we?
You owe me $10.
- What?
- For the haircut,
the drinks, the entertainment.
- For the very clothes on your back.
- I don't have any money, Tom.
You know I don't have any money.
Very well. Dismount.
Tom.
I said dismount.
The reins.
Our arrangement is hereby terminated.
Tom, I've got to get to Dana, please.
You ever step foot on my land
again and I will shoot you dead.
Believe me when I tell
you I am a man of my word.
Where's Kevin?
Margaret? Where are you?
Margaret?
- She's gone.
- Gone where?
To Baltimore with May.
They took Rufus.
They did what?
Christ sake.
Where's Kevin?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold it.
It's me. It's Kevin.
Please tell me Dana's here.
Why would she be? What's going on?
Dana's in danger.
She's trapped with Tom on the plantation
and I can't go back
there or he'll kill me.
- What did you do?
- Not my it's not my fault.
It's not I'm
Tom and I got into an
argument, he pulled a gun on me.
Please, someone has to
get her out of there.
I'll find Luke. He'll help.
He can't, Tom sold him.
- He what?
- Earlier today in Easton.
It's gonna be hard for me to get Dana.
Tom will know enough
to search for her here.
He's seen us together.
We have no choice but to leave.
Leave and go where?
North. Philadelphia.
Sooner than I planned.
Alice, pack your bag.
We're gonna have to flee.
Okay?
You stay here. I don't want you
getting into any more trouble.
I don't care how late it is.
So you get out there and you
find him and you bring him back
right fucking now.
- What about Margaret?
- Leave her.
Nosy bitch.
What are you doing standing there?
It's all right, Jake.
Let her come in here.
Where is Mr. Franklin?
What an odd thing you are.
- How old are you?
- Twenty-six.
You've been with a child before, yes?
What do you think of
Mr. Franklin as a master?
- Excuse me?
- Well, you must tire of his instability.
A master without a home,
that's kind of funny, isn't it?
How would you like to
stay here permanently?
Rufus seems to like you too.
And you would continue
on as his companion.
And you'd live here
instead of being dragged around
the country by a traveling minstrel.
What say you?
Would you like that?
No, sir.
I belong to Mr. Franklin.
Where is he?
I don't know. Stop asking.
What do you mean, you don't know?
I mean that I don't know.
Did you do something to him?
He'll return when he returns.
Or maybe he won't.
And fool you are to expect
anything else from that louse.
You really are a loyal
breed, aren't you?
Do you even know what's good for you?
Leave my sight.
Hello.
Don't open that.
- Mr. Franklin.
- Oh, my God.
- Winnie, you're still here?
- Don't let her out.
I was just hoping
I could stretch my
legs for a little bit.
Yeah.
Are you are you okay?
May I have a glass of water?
Yeah, yeah. Yeah, sure.
You okay?
Holy shit.
- You have to go get her.
- Shit, shit, shit.
Winnie!
Kevin.
Sarah.
- What are you doing here?
- Massa Tom wanted me to bring you some food.
- I'm not hungry.
- You really ought to eat something.
Why are you here? I thought you
never stepped foot in the house.
The reason I never
stepped foot in this house
don't seem to be a reason no more.
Because of Margaret?
- Where's Luke?
- He didn't come back neither.
Is he with Kevin?
No child, he gone.
So
see Luke never cared
about keeping the peace.
I told you he was always doing
exactly what he wanted when he wanted.
Serves him right.
I don't know where your Massa is
but it sound like he ticked
Marse Tom off something fierce.
Now, I would imagine that
he's gonna be risking his life
to come back around here for you.
What do you mean by that?
No, no, no, no, no, Winnie!
Winnie!
Winnie!
Massa Tom own you now.