Jamestown (2016) s02e02 Episode Script

1 My husband has died and it seems as though my head has been cut off.
At dawn, you will find yourself on the street.
I've more pressing matters than a widow's comfort.
(THUNDER) Since that baby's been born, Verity has such a need in her.
I dare not look her in the eye for fear of it.
If you buy me from Master Massinger Your master does not wish to sell you, Pedro.
Each man shall have his rightful share.
You can read that? I was returning them to Recorder Castell.
- He was teaching me.
- You promised you would help.
- I'll come and speak with ya.
- Who were you talking to? What you heard was your husband singing.
An informer has been placed amongst us.
A Catholic spy.
Why might the Governor concern himself with spies? I want my home returned to me and then I will tell you who the Judas is.
(PIGS GRUNT) (PIGS SCREECH) (SIGHS) (GROANS) (GROANS) - That's his percy! - Hm.
(SIGHS) Can you recall how you came to be out here without a stitch of a rag on ya? - (DOG BARKS) - Hm.
- Gambling.
- (SIGHS) Then a brawl? You cleared the tavern of every drinking man, so that you might show your rising affections to your wife.
Hm.
Did I? Is it any wonder I'm childless? I've been better pricked by a thistle than me own husband.
Hm.
Is this what love looks like? I want a babe and you rip out your own senses with the drink.
How long before I give up, Meredith Rutter? Huh? How long? (SIGHS) (BIRDSONG) Alice? Where is Silas today? What do you mean? Is he gone? Did he not say where he was going? No, Pepper, I'm well enough.
Truly.
Go back to work.
(COUGHS) Taff and bran that passes for manhood.
(DOG BARKS) Sir.
Master Massinger.
You should sell me to Governor Yeardley - before he takes me from you.
- Hm.
Your insolence, Pedro, will see you chained here for another day.
Huh? Read.
Damn it, Pedro.
Have you not had enough of chains? What about you, James Read? Have you had enough of chains? James will you speak to Mistress Castell? Tell her that her husband promised he would arrange for the Governor to buy me.
You think I can make her keep that pledge? But you will speak with her, because you want Pedro's respect.
(HUBBUB) You look fine in a cloak, my lambkin.
Taffeta.
I picture you in velvet trim.
We're not paying what they charge.
Every piece of cargo on every ship belongs to the Company.
They make it the law, so that they can sell it at blood-sucking prices to line the pockets of Company men.
- It's robbery.
- Yeah.
The purpose of trade, madam, is profit.
The Company exists to breed profit.
Since the Company are the only ones that supply the colony, they will decide what profit they will make.
(CHUCKLES) There's a certain economical logic to it that's charming.
Secretary Farlow, did ever such truth ooze from a man? We know our place here and we welcome it, don't we, Verity? We do.
Well, the finest silk-ribboned doublet and the most expensive leather girdle.
Such fine clothes, sir, a dog would look well in 'em.
(SIGHS) Aren't you even cock enough to curse the wrong of it?! (LAUGHTER) You'll soon see the man I am, my ladybird.
Dr Priestly was most eager that I should alert you to the discovery of the totems in Samuel's cabinet.
As though he might find relief if Samuel were named the papist of Jamestown.
If the King of Spain has a hireling here, our whole endeavour is made frail.
Then why not arrest him now? Search and interrogate him? The last traitor caught here, a hole was bored in his tongue, both his arms were broken and he ran a phalanx of militiamen armed with clubs.
And we threw the Judas into the wilderness.
In truth, Governor, I am indifferent to a man's faith.
Encourage the doctor to woo you, Jocelyn, so he comes to believe that he can entrust you in whatever secrets he holds.
Doctor Priestley.
Good morning, Governor.
A fine day for it.
Sir, there are those who wonder why the widow has such a scented sway over our governor.
They see not her guile only your gullibility.
I appreciate your concern, gentlemen, but my whip hand is firm enough.
Perhaps you've made some progress on the purchase of the negro Pedro? (BABY CRIES) - (BABY CRIES) - Shh.
Shh.
Shh.
(CRYING CONTINUES) - (CRYING CONTINUES) - Shh.
Shh.
Shh.
(CRYING STOPS) (CRYING CONTINUES) - (CRYING INTENSIFIES) - Shh.
(CRYING CONTINUES) Mistress Sharrow? (DISTORTED) Alice? Alice? (CRYING CONTINUES) - Oh, no! - Shh! Look what this has done to me! Walking off without a care for my precious babe! What has this done to you, Alice? I I'm married to a traitor! A traitor to you? All of us.
Silas? Dear Alice, what has so beset you? She might sit out of the sun and take a drink.
Lady Yeardley, I'm sure Mistress Sharrow will be restored.
(BABY CRIES SOFTLY) (DOG BARKS) I can see how much Silas loves ya.
And I'm certain that he would do nothing to put his family at harm.
Do you take me for some weakling woman cowering before nothing?! I heard him! I witnessed the very words of betrayal as he spoke them.
Today, he's gone from our fields to meet with Pamunkey.
- James! - Say nothing or all hell will open up.
(SIGHS) Ain't you the lucky one, Alice Sharrow.
(SIGHS) My man is nothing but tripe and scum.
- Hm.
- Yes! Tripe and scum! I deserve my full due, Verity.
Tripe and scum and cunning.
Ha! I ain't seen no cunning.
Then look beyond the daylight, my ladybird.
Within the dark there will be such raw tricks.
Huh? (LAUGHS) Did we not search the faraway mountains together for your brother when he was lost? I have shown you my thanks.
Words are not enough, Silas.
Promises are not greatness.
Chacrow, I am here now to face ya.
Now, show me a way that I can pay my respects, release my debt to you without betraying my own people.
My king asks me, "Why do we trade with Silas Sharrow when he makes empty pledges to us?" I tell Opechancanough that Silas Sharrow is not possessed by greed.
"He will be our friend because his god will speak to him.
"He will not leave us today without giving us what we ask.
" - Chacrow - If my king wanted war, he would strike now before more English come.
We love peace.
If you speak to us about Yeardley's plans, you will preserve the friendship between the English and the Pamunkey.
I must go now.
Do not leave here with a refusal between us.
You give me no choice, Chacrow! I hope that we can be friends.
I want that with all of my heart.
You humiliate me before my king and my people, then you, Silas, will be my enemy.
Yeah.
(LAUGHTER) (HUBBUB) (ALL SING DRUNKENLY) (DRUNKEN SINGING CONTINUES) (LAUGHTER) I know mariners, my love, and they know me.
- MAN: Let's have another drink! - (LAUGHTER) My time on the ships, well, we wore those well enough.
(HUBBUB) Nicholas, did we not agree that you would quit purchasing what is beyond your means? Debts and obligations, do they not make us feeble? There is more that I must tell you.
In England there are two pretty young men who are running up extravagant debts in my name.
Word of your young favourites will reach these shores and you'll be perceived a hopeless weakling! Weak! Weak.
Nicholas Farlow! Weak! (HUBBUB) (LAUGHTER) I see the brain working ya face, ladybird.
What have you done, Rutter? The Company may own the cargo, but whose hands does it stand in? Huh? Mariners.
And what does a sailor like best in the world? Coin.
Okay.
Are you proposing that we rob the Company.
The bettermost folk might have their trade, lambkin, but we have ours.
A backstairs operation, where we'll sell what we buy.
We'll be washed in pretty profits.
Two fine gentlemen will provide me with cargo - tomorrow at dawn at Dancing Point.
- Don't you so much as think of giving them one lone pin of what I have tucked away.
You will call me a man amongst men and you will pepper me with thank-you kisses.
Rutter how much did you give them? It was necessary.
The cargo will make us plentiful.
How much did you give them? All of it.
(BIRDSONG) Where did you go to yesterday? Alfred Ash needed some help to dig up an old tree root.
I heard you speaking with that natural Chacrow.
I saw you together in the dark with your secrets.
- Alice, you misunderstood.
- Do not suggest that my mind is cracked.
No, but it is a mistake.
Words bent out of shape by the wind.
Tell me the truth! Me, your wife! Or you'll see, Silas, I would rather tear down this shack with my own hands than have you lie to me.
I refuse! Do you understand? I refuse to let one more day pass until you tell me the truth.
(SIGHS) We must trade more, before the ship leaves.
(BABY CRIES) Ma'am! It is the doctor at the door for you.
Doctor Priestley.
Knocking.
I was awake the night long, the notion of it upon me, to look out the spot where Samuel was found.
How do you know where he was discovered? The Sharrows reported it.
(SIGHS) The marshes by Dancing Point.
(BIRDSONG) I doubt Samuel was a Catholic.
Those trinkets were placed there to implicate him, or worse to lay blame on to you.
I could not bear to let that happen.
Jocelyn did you give those totems to Yeardley? Look.
The Sharrows heading out to trade.
(BIRDSONG) - (BIRDSONG) - There.
He was found there.
'Tis all too ghostly.
I cannot abide sorrow.
Please, take me back.
Jocelyn, it pains me to tell you this, but I believe that Samuel was killed.
I feared as much myself.
I do not know who to tell, or who to trust.
I want to find out what he was doing here on the river.
(GASPS) (BABY CRIES) (SIGHS) (CRYING CONTINUES) Alice.
Did I ever see a soul at such earnest prayer.
I only wish to speak to God.
I'm questioned like a criminal.
We might talk to God at any time, indeed, all of the time.
(BABY CRIES) What is it you seek the Lord's guidance about, Mistress Sharrow? It's just, I've committed some wrong.
A faithful servant! - Who says we Sharrows are not? - Alice, you protest your innocence as though you would before the law, not a friend who seeks to comfort you.
(BABY CRIES) Maria.
I never thanked you for the kind help you gave me when our Silas was born.
(BABY CRIES) Give the child back, Maria.
(BABY CRIES) It comes, it goes The light from heaven - Maria had children of her own.
- Yes, I know.
- She was taken from them.
- Yes, I know.
- It comes, it goes - My children are in England.
- The glorious vision - (CRYING STOPS) A child to save us Rejoice Rejoice (FROGS CROAK) (GROANS) (CHATTER) (INDISTINCT CHATTER) (HORSE WHINNIES) Excuse me, gentlemen.
(DOG BARKS) Governor, I fear I was mistaken.
I confided to you my thoughts about the doctor in haste.
My distress perhaps outran my reason.
And why do you doubt your own conclusions, Jocelyn? Christopher suggested that Samuel was killed.
Why would he do that if he himself were the culprit? He sorely wishes to know the truth about what happened to my husband.
And he carried about him every aspect of innocence? Yes.
This, Widow Castell, is the ready trade of a spy.
My senses, sir, know a liar and a lie.
You accused the man, Jocelyn, and you will see this matter through at my bidding.
Soon enough, he will offer up the name of a suspect.
And then we will know that he is building a trap for us to step into.
(LAUGHTER) (LAUGHS) My wife, when she feasts her eyes upon this, she will sit upon my lap, stroke my beard, and say, "Rutter, you're a man amongst men after all!" (BOTH LAUGH) Why why must your companion stab at that tree so? What's that poor stick of wood every done to him, eh? Morrow here ain't got no words.
He was born without a voice.
Oh, I just took him for a quiet sort of wag.
So Morrow has his own way of conveying what it is he wishes to say.
Yeah, well, gentle sirs you have my coin, I have me goods.
This is what I call dealings well done.
(GROANS) (SPLUTTERS) Morrow believes you to be a drunken sot who might boast and brag about our business, and so put our lives at risk.
No.
No, sir.
You have my solemn word.
(GROANS) (PANTS) Morrow once cut out a man's liver for speaking too freely about matters that belong in the shadows.
My lips will not utter nor mutter nor chat nor chew nor gab nor not so much as speak of your existence.
(LAUGHS) Well, that's as fair a promise as any man may give.
(SIGHS) Now, sir, if I can just take me bounty.
- (MORROW GRUNTS) - (GROANS) (GROANS) (SOBS) - Argh! - This this will lay your promise to your memory, should this try to escape your mind.
Yeah? Are you suggesting I'm obliged to keep a pledge that my husband made? No.
I'm only here to deliver a message that the negro, Pedro, give to me.
I saw you giving tender comfort to Mistress Sharrow.
Well, that's in my nature, to give comfort to any woman might need it.
Is that so? Mistress Castell, I wish Will you permit me to ask your pardon for taking hold of your arm so fiercely? My emotions (SIGHS) You have Samuel's folio of poetry? You husband loaned them to Pedro.
He wishes me to return them to you.
(CHATTER) I I said to 'em, I said, "I paid good coin for this cargo.
And I made a promise to my sweet wife.
So I ain't leaving without it.
" Well, such a fight came about.
One man's a dilly down.
I made 'em eat crow.
(LAUGHS) My Lionheart! Oh, Verity! Might you say that again? My Lionheart! (CHATTER) (DOG BARKS) If you refuse Opechancanough, there are more English men who seek our favour and kindness.
Let's do as the king wishes, Henry.
Here.
Pamunkey love the Sharrow brothers.
You are always welcome here.
We know you love us, because we are warm to you.
What would you do if we refused you? Well, you have no reason to refuse us, Chacrow.
I ask you only to consider this, so that you value our alliance as we do.
The captain of the ship has reported to me that Virginia Company cargo has been stolen.
He believes rogue mariners are trading with locals.
That is piracy.
And the Company looks darkly on freebooting.
Ain't that just greed run amok.
You spent time as a mariner, didn't you, Rutter? (SPLUTTERS) You know these men.
Oh, so perhaps you'd like my husband to ask among his old companions, help discover who the shameful villains might be.
Quite a beating you've taken there, Rutter.
Who was it did this to ya? Well, it might have been a bear, could have been a wolf, dog, whipping post.
Meredith Rutter drinks beyond his senses, there's no knowing where the wound's come from.
Virginia relies on healthy trade.
Be sure, I'll catch any criminal who defies the law.
(BIRDSONG) I know mariners, they'll thieve if they can.
If they were disturbed on the river whilst loading their spoils, they would kill the man happened upon 'em.
No business of ours who killed Recorder Castell.
You have changed, brother.
Not so long ago, you were the fair conscience of all Jamestown.
I'm the same man I always was.
Tobacco also known to vanish from the ships just like any other cargo.
I'll not work the whole year round to fill a sailor's pocket.
We'll search down the river tomorrow at dawn.
Together.
(BIRDSONG) The whole colony knows how you have coveted the negro, Governor.
Massinger owns the fellow, there's nothing that I can do about it.
A man hung out on public display to show that you do not have the power nor the wit to outdo a mere farmer.
It is not the negro that Master Massinger has tied to a tree, sir, it is you.
It is you, Widow Castell, you that undermines and disrespects me.
Dear Governor, it pains me that you do not see that I value you like a sovereign.
- (SCOFFS) - Please, I implore you, let me show my devotion to you.
Would you permit me to make a gift of the negro to you? (SIGHS) I've seen you in church.
It's Maria, isn't it? That is the name I was given.
Then, what do you call yourself? Ghinga.
It is the name my mother cried.
It is the name my husband whispered.
It is the name I will bear when I die.
This man is arrested under a charge of thieving! And who pressed such a claim? My husband treasured these poems, he would never have let them out of his hands.
Did you have these in your possession? I did not steal them, masha.
Widow Castell's maid witnessed you with the folio.
I was attempting to return it, sir.
Yet you had it still when the blacksmith took it from ya.
I gave it to James Read, masha.
Poetry stolen.
It's as though his grave has been defiled.
Who am I to believe? A fine-born English woman or a dirt working blackamoor? Who is it that can testify the Recorder gave you these written words? No-one, sir.
His kindness to me was between us two.
- Then, you are guilty.
- This man belongs to me.
I will punish him for any harm.
Crime is the law's employment, Master Massinger.
I beg the court for true reparation.
Let this man ought to have his tongue bored, his both arms broken, let him walk between 40 militiamen with clubs, and then have him cast out into the wilderness.
That, gentlemen, seems to me to be reasonable justice for the wrong inflicted upon my husband.
(MUTTERING) Ma'am, a nobleman never lies.
Widow Castell, is there nothing that can placate your claim for justice? The Angolans are so very valuable to us, you see.
If the negro belonged to you, sir, I believe I may forgo the acquittance I am due, - since you are our governor.
- Madam, the law is not so weak - as to bend to your every whim.
- Enough! You, you and you we will talk and seal this matter.
The marshal has accused the man of a crime, he will be executed.
You have one last chance, Massinger.
I will trade you those two men there for Pedro.
Then I am forced to deal.
Mark this, Governor, this varlet won you the negro but with it comes a rack of hate that will stretch to the very end of your living days.
Pedro, the charge is dropped.
From this day forth, you belong to our governor.
Do you see now, Maria, the Governor loves me.
He will not let me die.
He will not let Master Massinger keep me, he owns me now.
I will make him happy and it'll begin.
In time, we will be free.
- A gift.
- Yes.
I expect there is a reason you covet this negro so well, Governor.
The others look up to Pedro.
I see every advantage in such a man.
England craves tobacco.
That means our yield will need to grow.
That means we'll need labour.
Obedient labour.
Imagine when our fields are full of men such as Pedro.
When I think of the purpose of Virginia that's what I see.
Now, that's a fair price for ya.
Here.
(SIGHS) Keep this between us, yeah? Don't forget.
What are you doing? Verity.
Verity! Should we bring the marshal's attention to us, or the mariners, they will feed my liver to the worms.
Sweetpea, we're only selling a few stolen stockings.
It's breeches, candlesticks.
It's no more than our fair pickings from the thieving trade that the Virginia Company do.
(HORSE WHINNIES) Alice.
- Alice! - Let go of me.
I went to tell Chacrow that I cannot betray my own people.
I would never act as an informer.
Oh, Silas! When you told Chacrow that you refused, did he accept it? Chacrow is a man of honour.
As good as any that I know.
Alice, you haven't spoken to anyone about this, have you? No, I wouldn't.
(CHATTER) Thank you.
Oh, no! We've got more cargo.
My my fine friends, me wife and me, we're not cut out for pirating.
We haven't got the balls for it.
We sail to England in less than a week, we want to trade before then.
Tomorrow at dawn.
Aye.
Give me the money.
I'm to go out at dawn tomorrow and collect more cargo.
I thought you were done with mariners? Well, it seems, he ain't done with me.
(DOG BARKS) Meredith.
Meredith! The cargo! Wake up! - (SNORES) - (SIGHS) (FROGS CROAK) (BIRDSONG) (BIRDSONG) - (GASPS) - Who's there? (GASPS) (GASPS) (WHIMPERS) (WHIMPERS) (GASPS) - Would you kill a woman? - (GASPS) Yeah.
See I walk back to the river.
I will leave you be.
Don't you go! Don't you go, Henry Sharrow! He will kill me! - (SILAS GRUNTS) - (MORROW GASPS) (SILAS GRUNTS) (GRUNTS) (GRUNTING CONTINUES) (GASPS) (PANTS) - MAN: Bring him through! - (GASPS) (DOGS BARK) (GROANS SOFTLY) (SIGHS) Let us out the truth! Which man here is your companion? This fella? Him? Which of them? Get him up! Who is it? Who is it here in Jamestown you were intent on trading with? Master Sharrow believes the Recorder disturbed them at their foul business and they killed him lest he report them.
Gentlemen, if this man is not tended soon, he will bleed to death.
Blacksmith! (MORROW GASPS) Declare your guilt, you devil! Admit the murder.
Admit the murder or you will see what our authority looks like.
- (WHIMPERS) - Behold the justice inflicted upon the man who killed Recorder Castell! (GROANS) (WHIMPERS) - Sir! - (GASPING) Mercy! Mercy! Do you see? Do you witness what merciless authority our governance is built upon? What were you doing out in the woods at that hour, Mistress Rutter? Water.
I was fetching water.
Do you imagine the wind has blown my wits away? Water?! Water?! I'm the one who had my throat cut.
Huh? There were others there.
The Sharrows.
Ask them.
Verity.
My axe is all that I had, I believed the man would kill ya.
- I ain't blaming you.
- And if I hadn't struck him hard enough Silas, I'm nothing but grateful.
Now, that'd tell us why you used your axe, Silas.
Why did you take your fist to the face of a man bleeding on the ground? I ain't condemning you, brother.
The only difference between you and me is I know I'm a beast.
Let's go.
Why did Farlow insist that we all must conclude the mariner killed Samuel? Christopher, you sound suspicious.
For good reason, Jocelyn.
I learnt from England that Farlow is followed by a plague of debts.
If there is a spy amongst us, wouldn't he be bought by Spanish gold? I thought you preferred to ignore politics? What matters to me is that you are safe.
Dear Christopher.
(BIRDSONG) Pedro! Master.
You and I, Pedro, we'll become trusted companions.
No need for the club or the lash.
A plantation such as this can only work with harmony.
Wouldn't you agree? You will see my thanks in every day's work, sir.
Peace and prosperity can only come with obedience, noble Pedro.
The Angolans here respect you.
I trust that you will become my voice amongst them.
I will look to you to teach them that we will all enjoy the best of blessings if they love their master.
We will labour, sir, until the day might come when Pedro might have his own farm.
I treasure your pride, Pedro.
It's why you're so esteemed to me.
- Esteemed? - Valuable.
The woman, Maria, she knows well how to farm tobacco.
What a benefit the Angolan women are to our fields here.
My wife loves her as an intimate.
You should speak to her.
Tell her that when her master passes, she might bow more lowly.
(CHATTER) The Chastity will sail in a day or two and then it'll be done.
I'm sorry, Verity.
Our money is lost.
But we've swallowed no molten lead.
I saw where the mariners hid the chest of cargo.
We dare not go near it.
(SIGHS) We won't so much as think on that cargo ever again.
Ever.
Silas, you were protecting Verity.
Any good man would have done the same.
Because whatever it is we think we have here, we're going to have to fight for it.
It was a strange sort of charity that you showed to Pedro.
But a good turn all the same.
And a benefit to me.
For that, I must thank you for, Widow Castell.
(GASPS) You'll be proud of me.
I want to serve our Governor.
When God puts a musket into the hands of a man of Albion, - he makes a mighty foe! - (CHEERING) Mysteries are only mysteries to them that are ignorant.
(GASPS) Politics is a dangerous preoccupation.
Well, how else might a widow enter survival? Everything I do is insanely inspired by how I feel for you.
You do not know my heart, James Read.
- Something is wrong, Alice.
- Silas, I'm sorry! I Something is terribly wrong.
(GUNSHOT)