Mercy Street (2016) s02e01 Episode Script

Balm in Gilead

1 Dr.
Summers: We are soon to have a visit from the President.
Dr.
Jedediah Foster: The Lincolns? Mrs.
Green: Sign the oath.
Sign it.
-James Green: I cannot.
-Samuel: Aurelia! Dr.
Jedediah Foster: He's worsening? Mary: I'm trying to keep him alive.
-Mrs.
Green: Frank's doing better? -Emma Green: He's back in Alexandria.
Frank Stringfellow: What is it you need? Alice Green: To do my part in the struggle.
Booth: We're going to blow King Lincoln straight to hell.
Silas Bullen: What in the hell is this all a- Dr.
Jedediah Foster: You did all you could.
Careful, now.
These stairs be a thing out of Dante.
"All hope abandon, ye who enter here.
" Oh.
Watch this last one, now, sir.
Never mind, never mind! -Oh, shh! -I can manage fine! Fine.
Let's find that blasted steward.
Mr.
Bullen?! Bullen?! Well, he promised biscuits and punch.
Indeed, you said, for the President's departure.
-For the President's departure.
-Ah, you mentioned.
Mr.
Bullen? Bullen?! Bullen? Bullen?! We're sure to find him dozing away, bloated with drink, his chins all covered in biscuit crumbs! Aye, a good steward does have a tendency toward distraction.
-Bullen?! -Mister-- Oh, my.
Is he dead? [Applause.]
-Mr.
Lincoln.
[Indistinct talking.]
Woman: Blessings.
Man: God bless you, sir.
Woman #2: He is here! I'll write a letter to his wife.
[Applause continues.]
Miss? Did I hear something about biscuits and punch? I believe the matron is seeing to the refreshments, Mister Pinkerton.
Union Intelligence.
Yes, miss, that Pinkerton.
Oh.
Pickleton-- Ought I to know him? -I'm as good as done.
-He could at least remove his hat.
Gonna ship me off to the Minnesota Territories.
They eat moose there, you know-- Vikings.
Redeem yourself with Foster.
Redeem myself how? You must reveal to him, as the President might put it, the better angel of your nature.
The better what of my what? Oh, do I have one of those? The steward's been gutted! [Panting.]
[Knock on door.]
[Gun cocks.]
[Knocking continues.]
Come in.
Frank? [Horse whinnies in distance.]
Oh.
Frank, I did it.
I swore my oath.
Oh, they're such good, committed people, the Knights.
And they have wonderful plans for the future and truly believe a girl like me [Dog barking in distance.]
Frank? Did someone die? No.
Someone didn't.
Praise the Lord, he's breathing.
-Mr.
Bullen, can you speak? -[Groans.]
-He seems to be in collapse.
-Who'd have done such a thing? A number of people come to mind.
The wound is deep, but the kidney seems to have been spared.
He's a good Catholic, he is.
You must save our dear Mr.
Bullen.
The intestine might be nicked.
I've seen it with a bullet wound.
-Well, fix it, then.
-Yes, Dr.
Hale, fix it.
Uh Well, we'd have to pull the intestine out, I think.
Pull it-- Pull it out of his body? Yes, to find the cut and repair it.
And then we-- we put it back in and close him up.
Have you done that before? [Bullen groans.]
-Yes, once.
-Very well.
But not here.
We need instruments and more light.
I'll fetch men with a stretcher.
Can he be revived? Dr.
Hale has seen far worse and lived to tell the tale.
I'm sure Hale has.
The question is, have his patients? Be a much more humane procedure with chloroform.
True, but if ever a man was deserving of additional agony [Chuckles.]
Oh, forgive me.
Private thought.
This tunnel will be discovered, Frank.
You must run.
Where to? I can't leave now-- not with so much to be done.
Is that why? Or is it because you can't bear to leave Emma? [Breathing heavily.]
I see a way out of this.
Oh! Oh! [Gasping.]
Frank? Hit me-- hard.
I don't understand.
Consider this your first mission to subvert the Union.
Hit me, Alice.
Or haven't you the courage? [Breathing heavily.]
[Grunts.]
[Groans.]
All right, quickly.
One, two, three.
-Oh! -We'll do it here.
-You, girl, some assistance.
-Yes, Miss Hastings.
We'll need ether, immediately.
So now you believe in anesthesia? Upon solitary contemplation, I admit to having been extreme in my prior views on pain.
See, Foster, he's trying.
Miss Green, silk, curved needles, tenacula, forceps, sponges, scalpels-- -now, please.
-Tenacula? Just tend to the bed and leave the proper nursing to me.
[Bullen groaning.]
-Is this the stabbing victim? Who are you, sir? Pinkerton, Intelligence Service.
Yes, that Pinkerton.
[Bullen screams.]
Yes, yes, of course! The famed detective.
You know the one, Dr.
Foster-- he never sleeps.
Isn't that so, Detective? You never sleep.
It's actually "We never sleep.
" Bromide of potassium, may cause impaired motion, diminishment of power, and loss of sexual appetite, but you'll be out like a light.
[Chuckles.]
[Laughter.]
A murder during a presidential visit is cause for concern.
Let's hope it's an attempted murder.
In any event, I'd like to question this man.
He is not fit to be interrogated.
[Bullen groaning.]
I'll wait.
And watch.
Biscuits and punch coming right up! Besides being a pompous policeman with a sleep condition, who is he? He works for McClellan and Lincoln-- a direct line to the top.
Out then in.
And under my command.
There it goes my desk in Washington City.
Who did this to you? Scoundrels broke in.
I didn't get a good look.
Poor thing.
I found him crying on the floor.
I can't imagine what they wanted.
My, they've done quite a job.
Yes.
Those boys were merciless.
All right, I'll need bandages and sponges.
[Man coughing.]
Why didn't you meet me at the tree spot? I'm sorry, Frank.
There was urgent business here.
I had to remain.
This wouldn't have happened if you kept your promise.
Frank would have been with you.
I stayed because I was trying to help Father.
I don't see what that has to do with some scoundrels beating Frank.
I'll fetch those dressings.
I can't keep lying to her.
She doesn't understand, Frank.
Not like we do.
Stick to the plan.
[Thinking.]
"Dear Mrs.
Starks This morning, your husband, Phillip, faced his maker with all his might, thinking only of you.
I share this to reassure you that his devotion was constant, and that even the thought of you and the love you shared eased him in his final moments.
I hope you may carry this with you in the life you have before you.
" [Groaning.]
Foster: No.
Nothing.
You? -No, all clear.
-Moving on, then.
Delicately.
Miss Hastings, rinse, please.
-Water.
-[Groaning.]
More ether.
Can't you hear him moaning? Be sure to wash away any fecal matter, Miss Hastings.
-Hmm.
-Mind you, be quick, gentlemen.
My future hangs in the balance.
I would say that is somewhat truer for Mr.
Bullen than for you.
On the contrary, he faces fleeting death.
I face an eternity of exile and humiliation.
Save this man.
Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes! The forceps, please.
Aha.
A minute nick in the small intestine, just as we suspected.
Dr.
Foster, I would be honored to perform the procedure, under your supervision, of course.
Go on, Foster.
He's got excellent hands.
I can vouch for that.
[Bullen groans.]
Will you be using Reybard's technique or Lembert's? Well, Jed-- may I call you Jed? No, no, of course not.
[Sighs.]
I do what I do.
And what I do do has served me well for many years.
Having said that, I will defer to whatever suturing technique you-- you instruct me to.
Where I not here, would you be inclined to use an interrupted inverting suture or a continuous inverting one? Mm-hmm.
I would definitely say that first thing.
Lembert.
All right, then.
Proceed.
[Bullen groaning.]
Pinkerton: Agent Cahill, find where this tunnel terminates.
Quiet, now.
Don't need all creation knowing someone's trying to kill him again.
[Chains rattling.]
Get in there.
[Grunts.]
There you are, rebel! I'll rot here before I sign your damn oath! [Guards chuckling.]
[Groaning.]
[Panting.]
[Door closes.]
Name's Quincy.
I stole food for my family.
That's Private Miller.
He a mutineer.
I'm I'm James Green.
Uh-huh.
What did you do, sir? It's hard enough with him jailed just across town, but now Miss Jane, Washington City ain't but so far.
We can ride there soon.
Are you used to it, Belinda? Being alone? No woman ever gets used to it.
It won't be long now, Mother.
I'm confident he'll be released soon.
What makes you so confident about that? I've signed the oath.
Soon he will be released.
By law, he must be.
It's only a piece of paper.
[Chuckles.]
He didn't want to sign it.
Now he needn't.
I saved him from that.
No, no, Jimmy.
You're a good boy.
Your father will understand.
Oh.
Good boy.
[Groaning.]
Careful, careful.
The stitches should be An eighth of an inch apart.
Pass through the serous and muscularis, keeping the mucosa intact.
Precisely.
[Bullen groans.]
I must admit, your fingers are agile.
-And so say all the ladies.
-[Chuckles.]
Pardon me.
There's a man here who received a severe beating.
He's been here quite a while.
His wounds need to be looked at.
-Quite busy here, miss.
-Is that the dentist? A beating? What sort of beating? Scoundrels broke into his shop next door.
Not now, miss! These men are up to their elbows in entrails.
And my desk depends upo-- His life depends upon it! Ask Smithson.
He's never too busy.
How did he come to be like that? No one knows.
He's unable to speak.
He'll likely die.
What a shame.
Miss, did you hear me? Yes, so you went to steal the beehive from an abandoned farm.
I'm new to battle.
It fell to me.
And as you were running back I swear I was cradling that beehive like a newborn babe.
You dropped it.
And they swarmed.
[Sighs.]
I-Is this blood on my head? -I believe that's honey.
-Oh.
Man: as complete a list as we have at this point.
Man #2: Johnson? If you could add it, if you'll allow it Deep bruising.
Nothing broken.
Should heal in good time, son.
[Indistinct conversation.]
Quite a blinker you've got there, son.
Someone gave you a good anointing.
How'd you come by it? I have an office next door.
Culprits were there when I arrived.
How many? How many culprits were there? [Chuckles.]
Three, sir.
-Caught me by surprise.
-Yes.
Well, all the world paying mind to the Presidential visit, bandits see an opportunity for a quick score.
Or maybe it was something more nefarious.
You heal up, son.
The steward's not talking and probably never will.
Come.
I've arranged a place for you to stay.
Mary: That was quite a risk you took.
You could have been caught, Samuel, sold into slavery.
But Aurelia sees a future now that she never saw before.
We both do.
And we've got you to thank for it, Nurse Mary.
Why did you not go with them? I have no travel papers.
We used what money we had to get the three of them on the boat.
I figure if I stay here, earn more wages, then head up North in a week or so.
I'm thrilled for you, Samuel.
As am I.
Dr.
Foster.
Samuel Diggs.
Back in Alexandria.
Never been so glad to see my advice disregarded.
I didn't intend to stay away.
Only long enough to find Gabriel.
The fact that you found the boy and got him here is it's a miracle.
Mm.
I heard about Mr.
Bullen.
I never wish a man to die, but maybe he had it coming.
-Long day.
-Mm.
I'm off to my room.
Oh, well, I'm going upstairs as well.
Allow me to walk with you.
Oh, Emma! I must speak with you.
Your mother got me preparating something to send off to the mister.
If you want to put something inside, you can add to it.
-Thank you, Belinda.
-Thank you, Belinda.
Mother? He'll be all right.
I'm sure of it.
I'll do whatever it takes to make it so.
We all will.
Your father and I are blessed to have such good, honest children.
Thank you.
Frank is in the cellar room.
It's not safe for him out there.
What has he gotten into, Alice? I imagine he was transmitting information, spying, not-- Such worriment, sister.
That's all he's doing.
Nothing dastardly.
Go, tend to him.
This morning when you suggested I go outside to meet Mr.
Lincoln, I was too adamant in my refusal.
Or I was too careless in my urging.
After Private Starks died, you said I did all I could.
I feel you do that, too.
I admire you for it.
I'm not certain that's always been so.
In these past few months you've had an effect on me.
Good night.
[Door closes.]
Yes.
[Sighs.]
Good night.
The men who did this to you was it because of the work you've been doing for the Confederacy? It was only to rob me, I believe.
Do you remember when we were little? We'd play knights and princesses.
[Chuckles.]
You always rode a a unicorn.
[Chuckles.]
We were on the side of right-- you and Tom and Jimmy, Alice and me.
[Bandage tears.]
And our cousin, Henrietta.
Mm.
She used to crack eggs on our heads.
-[Laughs.]
-I deplored her.
[Chuckles.]
I miss Tom.
Everything bad was over the horizon or hidden behind a bush, always threatening to come, but never coming.
The difference is this war is real.
Don't.
I wish we could go back.
We will.
Once we drive them back from the peninsula, a truce will be struck.
And our lives will be like they always were.
Pinkerton: The dentist is a slippery sort.
He claimed he was overtaken, but to plan this, dig this tunnel [Lid slams.]
[Chuckles.]
That would take days.
So Either Mr.
Griffin ain't the observant type or he's deceptive.
Whoever stabbed that steward is part of the plot.
Find him, and we solve the whole Goddamn thing.
[Both breathing heavily.]
Never lie to me.
Do you promise? Never again, Emma.
I promise.
Woman: How lost Was my condition Till Jesus made me whole Driver: They say that Lee drove the blues back across the Chickahominy.
Little Mac ain't afraid of him.
He's no chicken.
He's like a fox, waiting to make his move.
-Where? Where?! -This way! Stop here.
Stop the carriage.
Whoa.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[Horse nickers.]
-I'll return momentarily.
[Bell tolling.]
This ain't the mansion house.
To make the wounded whole There is a balm Soldier: Let's move, let's move.
Come on.
Keep this line moving.
To cure this sin-sick soul We gonna miss it! Come on! [Groaning.]
You'll be all right now.
- Praise him - He makes no hard condition -Yes, sir! -Yes, Lord! Man: Thank the Lord There is a balm In Gilead To make the wounded whole There is a balm In Gilead To cure the sin-sick soul There is a balm In Gilead To make the wounded whole There is a balm In Gilead To cure the sin-sick soul There is a balm In Gilead Keep the child warm.
To make the wounded whole There is a balm In Gilead To cure the sin-sick soul And Mother gave you her blessing? Well, with Mister gone and no money coming in from the factory, she said I'm free to hire my own time.
My! How accommodating of her.
And I said I need money just in case I want to run off with a man some day.
[Chuckles.]
Well, I spoke with Dr.
Summers.
He said that as the steward is still incapacitated, there might be something in the kitchens.
Down there, with them people? No one knows this hotel or those kitchens better than you.
Mm-hmm.
I also know what sort of men them is.
[Sighs.]
And so by decree of Surgeon General Hammond, it is confirmed that there is a God in Heaven, and he is merciful.
By which I mean to say, you are all invited to visit me at my new mahogany desk in Washington City.
[Applause.]
Hear, hear.
The Medical Department will be sending my replacement -within a few days.
-Perhaps an improvement.
Hammond's man is sure to be more by the book.
In the meantime, the baton is passed to our most eager executive officer-- Dr.
Foster.
[Applause.]
Foster: [Clears throat.]
Yes.
Well, um Miss Phinney will assist me in the daily management until our new leader arrives.
-Won't you, Miss Phinney? -Will I? Yes.
Yes, of course I will.
The penny drops.
Lord Macbeth, meet your lady.
Oh.
My chariot awaits.
And so I bid you all Godspeed.
[Sighs.]
Try not to make a mess of this war.
[Chuckles.]
[Applause.]
[Clears throat.]
I think I shall miss the odors least of all.
Are you sure I can't convince you to come with me to Washington City? Sorry, sir.
I've got folks waiting on me up North.
Of course.
Yeah.
Well, I've spoken to Foster about securing your travel papers.
Thank you, sir-- for everything you've done for me and-- Oh, no.
No need.
Without you, Samuel, I'd I shall never be clean-shaven again.
Oh, Peggy Gordon You are my darling Come sit you down upon my knee And come tell to me The very reason Why I am slighted So by thee [Grunts.]
[Chuckles.]
-Sir? -Thank you.
Go on, now.
Driver: Hyah! [Horse nickers.]
I am the bean boiler here.
Of course! But lacking a steward, the thought from upstairs was that perhaps you could use another hand.
You want a job? I need money.
You fit to cook for all these men? As much as you is.
I can go speak with Dr.
Foster if further approval is required.
[Gasps.]
Start by cooking up some gruel.
Well, this is the beginning of a wonderful partnership, I am sure.
[Loud clang.]
[Loud whack.]
Good, then.
I'll leave you to it.
[Gasps.]
He's awake.
Mr.
Bullen, are you awake? [Gasps.]
Dr.
Hale? Is that-- Is that you? Yes, Mr.
Bullen.
[Groans.]
Miss Hastings? It is, indeed.
Am I in Hell? No.
You-- You were stabbed.
-Uh -Have you any recollection? Stabbed? No, I I recall seeing a light.
-I figured I was dead.
-You are very much alive, and I, for one, am most enthralled to see it.
I need to make a confession.
Confession? I cannot expire with this burdensome guilt on my soul.
All right, calm down.
Shall I get the chaplain for you? No, no, not him, he's a rotten Protestant.
Must be Catholic.
Oh, Sister? [Gate hinges squeak.]
[Woman coughing.]
[Groans.]
Pardon me.
-Where's the steward? -Sick.
You got to go see the matron if you're looking for work.
You a contraband? No.
Uh, are you? No, miss.
Sorry, miss, I'm-- I'm free.
I'm looking for Miss Phinney.
Ah, Chief Foster.
Paperwork alone will bury a man.
You cut a very Lincolnian figure.
All you need is the stovepipe hat.
About the other evening when we were outside your-- [Knock on door.]
Pardon, Dr.
Foster.
This lady asked to see Miss Phinney.
I'm Miss Phinney.
I'm Charlotte Jenkins of the New England Freedmen's Society.
Miss Jenkins! They told me you were coming, but they didn't say when.
It's wonderful to meet you.
This is Dr.
Foster, our acting chief.
As of an hour ago.
After receiving missives from Miss Phinney, the Society dispatched me here with funding and supplies in order to help acclimate those making the transition to freedom.
You sent a missive? My friends up North are hungry for information.
I described for them what is happening here.
It became apparent that help was needed.
So here I am.
Uh, what, precisely, do you do? Educate, support, fortify.
It's all there in the letter.
We are most happy to have you.
Well, you are free to move about among them doing your business.
Something more pressing has come to my attention.
You have the makings of an epidemic here.
Smallpox.
-If something isn't done-- -Smallpox? I know it has been a problem in Washington among the Negroes.
Not only Washington, sir, and not only the Negroes.
I'd like to establish a quarantine tent outside this hospital.
Bring the smallpox closer? We'll isolate it to prevent spread.
We have seen typhoid.
No smallpox yet.
-When the disease comes-- -It is already here, sir.
I've seen signs of it within your own staff.
We do not treat Negro patients.
It is not a Negro disease, sir.
The depleted state in which freed people are kept allows the disease to find its hold among them, but it quickly spreads to soldiers-- white people.
At which point, those who would blame the Negroes are quick to say, "See what the slaves bring? See what freedom has wrought?" I can get it started, sir.
The space out back, near the stable.
What I'm proposing, sir, it's in the interest of everyone.
[Sighs.]
[Knock on door.]
Uh, Chief, you must join me at the bedside of our good steward.
Pardon me.
As you seem to have your own resources, I will not prevent you.
It is remarkable.
He woke up, just like that.
-But he remembers nothing? -No.
All he seems concerned with is making right with God.
Mr.
Bullen? Our steward? Yes, a Herculean task.
I've stolen from children and cursed the elderly.
May the Lord have mercy-- And committed depraved acts against animals.
Including pigs, goats horses, and a lady's pet parakeet.
[Sobbing softly.]
[Horse whinnies.]
Man: All right, you can go now.
Alice? My dear.
Come with me.
There's a Union officer lodging at your home-- Captain Lance van der Berg.
He has documents-- battle plans, troop formations.
They would be helpful to our friends.
I am to retrieve them? Also, the hospital steward has awakened.
Union Intelligence continues to sniff around.
Frank must know-- he's not in the clear.
[Coughing.]
This is bicarbonate potassa.
It might help you feel better.
Will we be home soon, Mother? Rest.
I'll be back with more water.
What has he got? Typhoid.
Deep in the throes of it.
It began as a bloody cough and quickly turned worse.
Fever, rose spots.
Was screaming all night for an orange, that's all he wanted.
But there are no oranges.
Are you not fearful of contagion? As long as we maintain sanitary conditions, we should be safe.
It requires caution.
Nurse Mary, I'm concerned what my role might be since there's a shortage of rebel patients.
You would like to continue on? Do you have it in you to start saving blue bellies? I want to be of use.
I want to be a part of what's happening.
Then petition for a placement here.
As a Union nurse? As a nurse who heals the wounded.
-Your gruel is poison! -You cut the carrots too big.
Excuse me.
-[Coughing.]
-Oh, my! She near killed that boy.
Well, you might as well have strangulate the man with your own two hands.
I never once kill a man with my cooking.
Maybe not kill, but cripple.
Ain't gonna listen to none of it.
Mother, may I have an orange? [Coughs.]
Man: One, two, three-- up! Lift it up, there you go! Brannan: Mr.
Griffin! Ah, you're looking better.
I've come to get my wounds redressed.
Wait here.
I'll find you a doctor.
Bullen: Told vulgar jokes, such as what's the difference between a dog and a fox? [Chuckles.]
You.
I know you.
No! [Grunts.]
[Gasping.]
Mister-- Mr.
Bullen has fallen from the bed! Help, please! Good God! Mr.
Bullen? Get Dr.
Hale immediately! Mr.
Bullen, can you hear me? God, his throat's been slashed.
-Not so deep as to be hopeless.
-I'll go get the sutures.
This is rapid.
He's losing too much blood.
We must close quickly, but that won't be enough to save him.
-What else is there? -A doctor I met in London-- Blundell.
Odd man.
Sleeps till noon, sees patients late into night.
My, how fascinating! I need some tubing, some needles, and a glass cup.
How intriguing.
What does it do? Foster: Transfers blood from a healthy person in order to compensate for exsanguination.
Blundell calls it a transfusion.
Oh, my.
Why me, Foster? You're healthy.
Got good veins.
[Gasps.]
It is most bizarre.
Pulse is returning to normal.
You might save him yet, Dr.
Hale.
Oh, there, there, O valiant one.
All right, back to work, everyone.
Give him some air.
-Any word on your father? -Mnh-mnh.
This Bullen matter has become quite a scandal, hasn't it? Someone seems to want him dead rather badly.
I hear it has to do with a plot against the President.
A plot? Yes, they suspect radical Confederates were using the dentist's office to plant a bomb.
Bullen might have foiled the plan, making the steward a hero of sorts-- an irony even God might smile at.
The bedrolls can move over there.
Miss Jenkins, is there anything I can be of help with? I have money for ointments and dressings, but it would be a great help were you to procure them.
-Certainly.
-You've been vaccinated, I presume? Most of us working here have.
-What's all this ruckus? -A smallpox quarantine, sir.
Smallpox? It's a nigger disease.
It is until it isn't.
God's will, they say.
You emancipate them and what happens? Darkies ain't meant to be free.
Sir, if your work here is done, ride away.
Come on.
Let's get your mom settled in here.
-Thank you.
-Don't you worry.
In you go.
She's a force to be reckoned with, Miss Jenkins.
I wonder why no one has noticed this outbreak until now.
Any of our doctors, say? Maybe 'cause nobody was looking.
[Knock on door, door opens.]
Mountains of forms.
The new chief cannot arrive soon enough.
Did you hear what we did with Hale's blood? It's quite the feat.
I doubt it's ever been tried here.
Let me ask You are a perceptive doctor with a highly trained eye.
Why did you not see what she saw, the spread of smallpox? I'm in here, not out among them.
Yes, just as I thought.
-Because you weren't looking.
-Because I wasn't-- There are desperately ill people out there, even a woman with child.
What will become of them? What I expressed was a reasoned medical approach, informed by the limited resources of this hospital.
It's what I don't like about this position-- difficult, even unseemly choices must be made.
Does she believe you when you talk like that? Your wife, when you say one thing but mean another.
We are seeking a divorce, Eliza and I, if you must know.
I mustn't.
I have found an attorney in Sacramento.
No, I'm not talking about that.
-Then what? -You hide.
From yourself, from everyone.
If those people were not Negroes, would you sit there so forcefully arguing the same reluctance? Blaming a lack of resources? Unseemly, indeed.
You are angry about something other than the quarantine.
I'm angry about who you are, who you pretend to be.
-That is not what I mean.
-I know what you mean.
[Sighs.]
It was a mistaken exchange after a long, trying day.
A moment of weakness.
You beguiled me for a second.
I will not be beguiled anymore.
How could I have been such a fool?! I tried to explain it, Ems.
All those people-- people I work with, care for-- -you would have killed them all.
-But I didn't.
In the end, I thought better of it.
Why? Why did I do that? I don't care.
I don't want to know.
Because of you.
It was for you I called it off, gave up on the plan, put myself in jeopardy, risked everything.
-And that makes it all right? -No, I Now, I have a chance to be better.
I'm in the clear.
All I ever wanted was to defend our side.
You think of yourself as a hero.
You're no hero.
My father's a hero, sitting in jail for what he believes in, not killing people.
This is my father's house.
And I want you out of it by morning.
Man: Whoa! Whoa! Whoa, there.
Anne: Grander than I expected.
Foppish, I'd say.
I didn't imagine him so young.
-How old is he? -He's handsome.
Handsome enough.
Enough for what, Sister? [Door opens.]
Shouldn't you greet him, Matron? Brannan: Oh! [Chuckles.]
His emissaries made clear Major McBurney prefers to be left alone.
He'll remain behind closed doors assessing and asks not to be interrupted until he summons.
Sounds like a jovial sort.
[Woman coughing.]
Mary? I've decided to take your advice.
Pardon me, Doctor.
What advice was that? On remaining here-- as a nurse.
Would you be so kind as to petition Dr.
Foster on my behalf? I feel that coming from you, it-- Yes, you may have to do that yourself.
I suspect it will be better received coming from you.
Have you taken ill? Only a cold.
Hazard of the work.
Miss Emma.
Miss Emma? Elizabeth.
Mr.
Green, he home.
Au gratin, Franklin.
Belinda will show you how.
Where has she gone? [Man clears throat.]
Oh! Captain van der Berg, forgive me.
How clumsy.
Oh, let me-- let me help you, Miss Alice.
Have you heard the news? The man of the house has returned.
Yes.
You will like my father.
You remind me of him-- tall, handsome, passionate in your commitment.
To opposite sides, unfortunately.
Oh, well.
Passion is passion.
Ah.
Our prayers have been answered.
That place I started feeling like I'd never get clean again.
It's all over now.
You're home.
Wish I knew how it came to be.
They said nothing to you? Not a word.
Just put me in a Union wagon and brought me back here.
Well at last, they realized the folly of their ways.
Perhaps.
Or being rebuffed in Richmond, they know they must start looking towards conciliation.
A truce? General Lee has McClellan on the run.
This This can't go on forever.
[Applause.]
[Laughter.]
Well! Well, now! Father, we're so relieved! Oh, hello, my darling.
-How are you? -Oh! -Missed you so.
-Me, too.
Mister, this come from the provost.
-Ah.
-Compensatory payment, I hope.
Or better yet, an apology.
Hear, hear.
Jimmy: Father! Vindication! Now I know it was worth it.
It's what you meant for me to do when you beseeched me to look after the family.
What? What did you do? [Chuckles.]
Why, I got you free.
[Coughing.]
Thank you.
[Coughs.]
You got to take care of yourself, now, Miss Mary.
It's but a cold.
Well, my mama give me seed of the balm to make a sick like that go away.
That's what you need.
Balm in Gilead.
[Sobbing softly.]
There, now.
Your mama's in a better place.
Mary? I've thought for many days about our last conversation.
And you are right.
I would like to be of greater help to Miss Jenkins.
Your timing is bad, Dr.
Foster.
The contraband with child-- I'll see her tomorrow-- first thing, to determine what might be done, at least for the baby.
Too late.
The baby was stillborn.
The mother died.
Pardon me.
I'm truly sorry, I wish-- Samuel: Nurse Mary, Dr.
Foster?! I've been looking for you both.
[Grunts.]
Are you soused? [Laughs.]
Telegram came from Boston.
They say Aurelia's arrived safely.
So with the papers you procured for me and my wages I bought this.
Steamer leaves Tuesday next.
And I have I have you to thank for it.
Hmm? [Humming happily.]
You're working yourself too hard.
You seem depleted.
I do not need a doctor, Doctor.
The oath? Why would you do it?! To get you out of jail.
To do what was best for the family.
It is the one unpardonable thing! Dishonor, disgrace, treason! No! Not this! I do not deserve this! I deserve your pride and appreciation-- for once! For once! [Sighs.]
James.
Be forgiving.
He brought you home.
No.
He didn't.
It seems Emma did.
"By executive order of the President of the United States, you are hereby granted a special reprieve.
" At least you didn't destroy our name to do it.
I-- I can fix it.
Have it revoked, say they forged it.
You will do nothing! Everything you do only deepens our shame.
Sweetie, I'm sorry.
Sorry.
Well, old man, our paths diverge-- you being fitted for an eternity box, me heading down the peninsula to fry other flounder.
Maybe you'll get God's reward.
Or maybe the Lord will say "Silas, you good-for-nothing rum pot, you should have opened your eyes and told that Pinkerton the truth.
" They have nothing.
A few Union men came by here.
I offered them a drink, told them repairs were coming along fine.
As long as the steward doesn't wake, I'm free and clear.
And that sweetheart of yours? She won't betray me.
I'll talk to her.
Come to pay my respects.
Alexandria is a dead end.
I must go and catch up with the general.
He relies on me, you know.
Matron.
Matron! He's moving! Mr.
Bullen's awake.
Dear God-- a sign from on high.
Like Lazarus hisself.
Arisen once more.
Blood of my blood.
My God.
Has it actually worked? Pinkerton: Mr.
Bullen, before you pass on again-- not that you will, sir-- I must ask, who did this to you? You will tell the new chief that it was, you know it was my blood that-- that did this.
Tell him, Mr.
Bullen.
For the love of God and country, tell him! [Groans.]
What? Louder, Mr.
Bullen, louder! It was the Goddamn dentist.
Quickly, men, over there! Quickly! Find him! [Panting.]
Man: Put some wood on the fire! So, Boston, huh? It's a whole other world.
Being free there is really being free.
You going somewhere? Headed North soon.
Well, we'll be sorry to lose you.
Isaac will take care of things.
Uh, that man there, he's new to town.
He's looking for a woman he believes found her way here.
He heard she got a job at the hospital.
They were separated in North Carolina five years ago when he was sold off to Tennessee.
Just after the woman bore their baby.
Woman's name is Aurelia Johnson.
Got a boy named Gabriel.
So? Anything to tell him? You think we can be of help? Tell him-- Tell him that it's hard to find people once you lose them.
Make the wounded whole There is a balm In Gilead To cure [Coughs.]
The sin-sick soul There is a balm [Coughing.]
In Gilead To make The wounded whole There is a balm In Gilead To cure The sin-sick soul
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