It's weird. It's starting to feel normal.
Being here, I mean.
Yeah, I never thought I'd be okay smelling this bad.
It's like the present almost feels fuzzy now,
which is, like, really fucked.
Yeah.
-This one time… -Mm-hmm.
…I was at Big Bear, and I was tripping acid, like, real acid.
And I just fully forgot what life was before tripping.
And so, I just ended up sitting cross-legged next to my friend in a tent,
just chanting the names of chain stores like a mantra.
Like, "Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Walmart."
Why?
I don't know. I guess they just represented
a return to the real world for me, or…
Mmm.
Oh, I know, I could just, like, hold you underwater, super gently.
-That sounds horrible. -Mm-hmm.
That's kind of the point.
It wouldn't work because I'd know what you're up to.
Okay. Got it.
I hire someone else to stab you.
No.
-Just, like, almost stab you. -No. What if I actually die?
You don't like any of my ideas.
Because you're not the one getting stabbed.
I'm weirdly into this book, Robinson Crusoe.
Rufus had me read it to him, like, all day yesterday,
and I'm, like, actually invested in it.
It's so good.
If you can somehow shut out the fact that this whole thing
is happening in a terrifying and horrible time and place…
Mm-hmm.
…it's-- it's kind of like a retreat.
So is that technically a cornrow?
What?
♪ As lucky as me ♪
Shit.
♪ Struck it rich ♪
♪ Dirty rich ♪
-♪ No work… ♪ -We're gonna have to ration.
If we listen to three songs a night, I think we could last about a week.
-A week? -Mm-hmm.
Do you think we're really gonna be here that long?
The sun's up.
I should, um-- I should go to the attic
before they start waking up.
"What marks were there of any other footstep?
And how is it possible a man should come there?
But then to think that Satan should take human shape upon him in such a place."
I'm bored.
Can we read something else?
What? You're bored?
You don't want to see how it ends? It's-- It's getting good.
Nah.
What about you? What do you think of Robinson Crusoe?
Carrie?
Carrie!
That I deigned to search for my own attendant
is cause enough to box your ears.
It's my fault, Mama.
I-I asked her to listen to Dana with me.
Rufus, I should have it that Dana shall no longer read to you.
But Mama, you--
Mr. Weylin will better see Dana's value elsewhere in the house.
You understand, Mr. Franklin?
In any case, young man, your piano lessons start presently.
I don't want any damned piano lessons!
Rufus Weylin!
I will not tolerate such language.
It's okay, Rufus. It's okay.
Mr. Franklin's a great teacher. You'll have fun, promise.
You might want to start with emptying Mr. Franklin's bedpans.
-Oh-- -Yes, Miss Margaret.
All right, so this is C position.
So your thumb is on the white key before the two black keys.
Good day.
-May I watch? -Yeah, yeah.
We're just, uh, getting acquainted with the instrument.
Um…
Rufus. Why don't you show your mom what you learned?
Rufus!
That is marvelous.
We shall display your progress to Mr. Deighton tomorrow.
-Mr. Deighton? -Yes.
A widower and solicitor.
And he and his daughter, they are to dine with us tomorrow.
Rufus, I hear that Philippa is very handsome.
I don't wanna meet her.
Hush.
You are to be a gentleman, and a gentleman ought to be in love.
Don't you agree, Mr. Franklin?
Whoo! The thought brings forth remembrances of my own coming out.
You would've found me quite becoming, Rufus.
Relish the opportunity to meet one half as good as your mother in Philippa.
Go on.
Um. So, F.
We've scoured the woods from here to Easton.
The girl is nowhere to be found.
Go on.
It makes absolutely no sense.
She can't have traveled as far on foot in such short a time.
Nothing.
Listen, about last night.
-I wasn't trying to-- -The more I know,
the more danger you put me in. You hear?
I'm already in enough trouble.
Something the matter with Luke?
I suspect it's that runaway that happened under his watch.
He know about our talk?
-Do anybody? -No.
You need to keep it that way.
Carrie!
Come here.
Take off that dress. Now.
I don't care what that bitch Margaret wants.
You take it off before you step foot in this cookhouse, you hear me?
What you looking at?
I keep Carrie in that tow linen so she don't end up like Celeste
or any of them others.
Last one might've gotten away, but Carrie ain't gonna be the next.
You hear me?
Knock, knock.
Mr. Franklin.
How goes the search for Winnie?
Yeah, we'll find her soon.
She's proven herself to be rather a canny bitch,
but I'm cannier still.
I don't suppose you have any leads?
How goes Rufus's playing, hmm?
Well, uh, not bad for one day,
but, uh, I feel that I-I should manage your expectations.
Margaret seems to think that he'll be concert-ready by tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
Oh, Christ.
Deighton visits tomorrow.
Unfortunately, Kevin, a man's appointment to the Agricultural Society
is dependent upon that blethering loiterer's judgment.
It doesn't help that he considered himself betrothed to Hannah in their youth.
I do suspect that he half believes this estate ought to be his.
I do hope you're not planning to wear that to dinner tomorrow.
Uh, I-I don't really have anything else to wear.
I'll have something arranged.
Celeste, let me help you.
Thanks.
My head feels something awful.
It's really hot.
You shouldn't be exerting yourself.
You don't think I know that?
Go and tell Miss Margaret.
Thank the Lord for that meal bell.
Soon, two days will have come and gone since Winnie's flight.
I suspect some of you know where she went and how she went about going.
I also reason it's in your nature to keep mum.
Maybe you don't think it's your business, hmm?
You'd rather keep your black eyes to the ground and wait for the supper bell.
But maybe some of you will afford me your obedience.
Where has the negress gone to?
Where?
Hmm.
A half square of corn bread a day until the negress is recovered.
Or until one of you comes forward with her designs.
No evening meal till then!
Am I clear? Hmm?
Is that clear?
-Yes. -Yes, Master Tom.
Yes.
You see any of these mongrels even think about lapping it up, you shoot.
Now, back to work with you!
How long are we expected to work off half square of corn bread, Luke?
We're practically starved as it is.
Ain't sensible.
Master Tom's liable to lose half his stock in this heat
if we keep on with empty stomachs.
You're right, Jupe. And Master Tom know that.
He just sore on account of his shine for Winnie.
But he's a reasonable man.
Give it the night, Peter. Master Tom gonna come to his senses.
You better hope he does.
You was the one that was supposed to be watching out that night.
Why'd she go off?
Celeste doesn't seem to agree with you about Tom being reasonable.
Celeste just think I know something about Winnie.
You think Tom will really do this if someone doesn't come forward?
No slave is supposed to leave Tom Weylin's plantation that way.
If you ask me, it's fixing to be a hard few days.
He wouldn't turn you in, would he? Like-- Like, if things got worse?
No.
I don't think so. No, this just needs to blow over.
What about Nigel or Celeste? You know, if something happens to them?
How can we help take the pressure off?
I don't know, uh--
Help them.
Hmm?
Luke.
Dana, you shouldn't be creeping around this late.
Jake's on watch tonight.
You're not on watch?
Not by myself. Not anymore.
Look. I brought you something.
-What is that? -It's food.
I promise it's good.
There's enough for Celeste and Nigel.
That should hold you over for a couple days at least.
What about everyone else?
I don't have enough for everyone.
All right.
Come to me with whatever you need, okay?
We're gonna get through this together.
Does Miss Olivia have anything to do with this?
She know anything about Winnie?
Where she might be?
Mm-mmm. No.
Did you take her wherever it is you go?
Yeah.
Winnie's gone for good.
Night.
Morning, Mr. Franklin. Making friends with the ducks, were you?
Something like that.
I'm jealous of you, piano man.
No rest for the likes of me.
Soon, Tom's gonna have me out there looking for that damn girl of his again.
She must've had some real talents for him to be so upset about her.
Your own must as well.
What do you mean by that?
Oh, you tell me.
That Dana mouthy in more ways than one?
Whoa, whoa, whoa. You all right, Jupe?
Pitiful sight, isn't it?
Get up, you good-for-nothing--
Back off, damn it!
The man ain't ate in a day. He's weak. We all are.
You know, from the feel of that shove, you don't seem too weak.
Tom hasn't been sneaking you any crumbs from the dinner table?
Get the hell out of here.
You best start watching the way you talk to me.
Things going so south for you, you might just regret it.
Come on, you're all right.
Don't be touching me!
That Jake right.
You just a right hand to all that evil up in that house.
Back to work.
What are you doing in here?
I was re-- retrieving the book for Mr. Franklin.
You were reading it.
You are never to linger in this room.
Do you understand me?
Hmm.
Mr. Franklin.
A word?
I found your slave reading in my library.
Oh, I'm-- I'm so sorry. Uh, she-she didn't, um--
She may collect books for you,
but she's never to read alone while on this estate.
Nor in the presence of my stock.
I have policies to uphold.
Yes. Yeah, of course. I understand.
It is not enough to understand, sir.
I have a damn runaway on my hands,
and I can't afford anybody filling my slaves full of ambitions
inappropriate to their stations.
I'll fix it.
Are you okay?
No.
Tom told me what happened.
You have to be more careful, Dana.
That library is like a shrine to his dead wife.
Careful?
I should be careful?
Sorry, I-I forgot for a second that I wasn't a human being here.
Why should I give a fuck about his dead wife?
You're right. I'm sorry, okay?
Everyone's a little tense.
When I was outside earlier, I saw someone collapse.
I really thought everyone was going to turn on Luke right then and there.
This starvation situation is-- it's bad.
You're right.
Luke's not gonna stay quiet.
I'm gonna go to Olivia's.
-What for? -I have to tell her what's going on.
If these people starve any longer, Luke or Sarah will break.
They'll tell Tom, and if they don't, someone else will.
Okay, uh, shall I come with?
No.
No. Someone will notice if we're both gone. Just…
keep playing piano.
Oh, yeah? Shh!
Olivia?
It's Dana.
-You alone? -Yeah.
Get in.
What is going on?
What the fuck is going on?
These crazy heifers trying to cut all my hair off. That's what's going on.
If somebody sees her, we don't want her looking like herself.
Why is she still here?
Oh, you think it's easy finding safe passage for a runaway?
It don't matter either way. I'm going back to the Weylins'.
-No, you're not! -No, you're not!
Yes, I am.
I'm tired of listening to you. You ain't got no plan for me.
You ain't made no way for me.
You offer me nothing.
At least I know what I got with Master Tom.
No, you don't!
Tom is not going to welcome you back. He thinks you tried to poison him.
But I didn't try to poison him!
It doesn't matter because that's what he thinks.
And if he doesn't try to kill you, then you'll wish he did.
So, either you listen to us and you get to Philadelphia,
or you stay down there till you change your mind.
Which is it?
-All right. -Mmm.
I won't go back to him.
Olivia, it's Luke.
-Wait, wait, wait. -Olivia!
He cannot know she's here. He will turn us in.
Miss Olivia, open up.
I hear you in there.
Get in that crawl space quick.
-I need your help. -My help?
Celeste. She's in a bad way. I think the baby's coming early.
I'll go with you.
Alice, you stay here and keep watch over everything. Hey, all right?
Dana, you come with me. I need your help.
Hello, hello, hello.
Archibald.
-Good day to you, sir. -Welcome.
Mrs. Weylin.
So soon after our evening at the Taneys.
And might I introduce my youngest daughter, Philippa.
Delighted by your acquaintance, Mrs. Weylin.
Your dress is most becoming. And your attending girl is quite pretty.
-What a charming creature. -Hmm.
Might I present my son, Rufus.
Hello.
Delighted by your acquaintance, Mr. Rufus.
Oh.
And who might this be?
My apologies. Mr. Kevin Franklin of New York.
A very gifted musician, and employed as Rufus's piano tutor.
-Pleasure! -Well, the pleasure's mine, sir.
Miss Weylin attests to your skill is all the endorsement a man can require.
It does not take an expert to observe Mr. Franklin's talent.
I do believe supper is ready.
Yes, please. I believe I remember the way.
This way, dear.
Don't worry, she's just a girl.
She was back doing her chores
when she got dizzy and took a fall in the garden.
Nigel found her.
Dizzy?
She's been having aches in her head all day.
She hasn't eaten anything.
What?
Tom's been starving everyone out looking for Winnie.
So, we carried her over to the Jezebel cabin,
and she said she thought the baby was coming.
Why y'all standing around? Get back to work.
The baby's coming too soon.
What-What do I do? What--
Be with her. Talk to her.
Take her hand. Talk to her.
Okay, here comes a contraction. Dana's gonna help you.
Squeeze my hand.
You're okay. You're okay.
The baby's breech.
What's that-- What's that mean?
What's that mean?
Mmm. Mr. Weylin, the rumors prove true. Sarah has grown into a fine cook.
Do the grounds stand up to your memory, Mr. Deighton?
I regard my time here with the warmest of sentiment.
The late Ms. Hannah and I
used to run unfettered beneath the low oak branches.
When I was good and worn out, Father would sit me on his lap…
…tell me stories of beating back the redcoats.
It pleases me greatly to see such fine alteration to this house
since those salad days.
Enough.
I'm sorry, Marse.
Out.
Carrie, you will take over the service.
Very good.
Is everything all right with your girl, Tom?
Yes, yes.
It's just,
you've caught us in a period of, uh, disciplinary action.
What was the cause of the discipline?
They don't want to give up a runaway.
I see. That's a shame.
It will be sorted soon enough.
I'm sure of it.
Push.
-Okay. Good job. -Okay.
-Yeah, you're doing so good. -Okay, Dana.
-Good job. -Now I'm gonna rotate the head.
-You're okay. -Okay.
Okay.
You got that baby in a good position.
-Okay. Just a little bit more. Okay? -I'm sorry.
-I can't. I-- -You're about to meet your baby.
You're doing so good. You're so close.
You're so close. You're about to meet your baby.
-It's okay. -Here come another contraction.
Okay.
Wait, wait, wait. What's happening?
She's seizing. She's seizing.
Grab that strap over there. I don't want her biting her tongue.
Celeste! Hey!
Hey. Hey.
Go get Tom.
Hey. Hey, can you hear me? Celeste. Celeste!
♪ When true hearts lie withered ♪
♪ And fond ones are flown ♪
♪ Who would inhabit ♪
♪ This bleak world alone ♪
Marvelously done, dear.
Wonderful.
You play beautifully, Mr. Franklin.
Rufus, why don't you show Philippa what you've been practicing on piano?
No, thank you.
Play, boy.
Do not deny our guests the pleasure of your talents. Mmm?
Hey, hey.
You're doing so well, Rufus. Don't give up. Okay?
Marse Tom, you're needed by the quarters. Celeste's baby is coming.
Well, please excuse me. I'll return presently.
Yes, of course.
Dana, I need to get this baby out.
When I make the cut, I need you to pull the baby out by the feet.
Wait, wait, wait. What about Celeste?
No. No, no, no. We-We-We have-- We can save them both.
She's dead, Dana.
Save the child.
Come on. Come on.
Come on.
She didn't make it.
Goddamn it.
Can I hold it?
This hair. Blonde.
Clean up this mess. Hmm?
Get the grave dug.
-Luke. -Leave me be, Dana!
Just leave me be.
Oh!
Don't fret, my dear.
Philippa is no great loss.
I was led to believe she was pretty, not scarred--
Shut up!
-Rufus. -Stop treating me like a child!
You don't care if I play well. You just want people to like you.
Well, I don't. And I never will.
I'm guessing that piano shit's not going so well.
I should've warned you.
Celeste isn't the first.
It's terrible what Tom does to these girls.
I guess I've just gotten used to it.
Luke.
He looked at me like…
like he blames me.
We did the best that we could.
If you're worried he's gonna tell Tom about Winnie, don't be.
He just lost something really precious.
He's gonna not gonna care about anything else for a long, long time.
Meal bell.
It took all of this for that piece of shit to come to his senses.
Well, at least it's done.
I gotta get back home.
I'm sorry, but I…
I don't wanna be like you.
I don't wanna get used to this.
Yeah.
It's hard to believe that you could.
Look at all this suffering.
But people here choose survival for its own sake.
They have to.
When you appeared in the nursery…
When you came back after the fire,
even when you went back that same night, I held onto you…
because I was holding onto an old version of myself.
It's hard to look at you. You have your father's face.
I gave you hope
that something between us could be put back together.
I had that same hope.
Then years passed before I saw you again,
and holding on to all that nearly killed me.
So I moved on.
And I need you to move on.
I can't.
I don't want to
'cause I'm right here, and you're right here,
and I want to be a family.
But you're a grown woman.
There are so many years that I never got to spend with you.
But I can-- I can tell them to you if you wanna know.
I ought to get back.
I got a lot of things to do.
I finally found a contact for Winnie that I need to see about.
It's about time she's on her way.
I didn't say anything. You up and left us.
No, do not stop playing on my account.
Please, go on. It will cheer me.
Might I sit here with you?
Are you all right?
I offer very little as a companion to Mr. Weylin.
I disagree.
Well, you are not my husband.
Leave Tom.
I-- No, I can't.
Why not? He is an awful man.
Save yourself. Find someone to take care of you.
But who? Who?
Find them.
I'm so sorry. I…
I admire you, Margaret, but-- I do, but…
Tom, Mr. Deighton, and you.
All widowers, forever in mourning.
This piano has brought bad luck.
Perhaps its previous owner still haunts it.
Shall I burn it?
I wish there to be no bitter feelings between us, Kevin.
Good night.
Target, Walgreens, Walmart.
I brought your supper.
I ain't hungry.
Luke.
I'm--
I'm so s-- I'm so sorry.
I'm sorry.
You think this is just about a day with no food? Some runaway?
This ain't your fault, Dana.
It's mine.
I should have been more gentle with what was between us.
But I was proud of it. Of her.
Tom saw that, so he took her.
Took her in such a way, wasn't nothing to do but die to save herself from shame.
That's not true.
The same way he took Nigel's mother.
Sold her off as soon as his own Hannah died.
Ever since we was boys, he never let me have something to myself.
You know he promised me my own acreage? A farm of my own. Said I could earn it.
He's a man of his word, Tom.
I used to think that, but now I don't know. I don't know.
I think me and Nigel are gonna be here until we die.
I want to help Nigel. And you.
Like you helped Winnie?
What about the folks back here, huh? With Jake here to mind them?
I'm not running.
Nobody's suffering any more than they already do on my account.
Nigel told me you can read.
You want to help.
You could teach him.
Help make him about as smart as you seem to be.
Would you?
Kevin. Come on in here.
I've just spoken to my wife.
She would also like piano lessons.
Oh.
You will teach her, yes?
Yeah. Yeah, totally.
As it seems, the boy does not seem to be taking to music.
Margaret will simply take over half of his allotted lessons.
Occupying her time might preserve my sanity.
At least until her damn sister arrives.
Rufus doesn't do so well under pressure.
Isn't that the truth?
I don't know what to do with him, Kevin.
Must I bribe into competence with cakes and candies like his mother?
Nothing takes.
Boys need to spend time with their fathers to understand them.
Well, that's a luxury I wasn't afforded.
My father did not live to tell me his war stories.
He was shot dead.
Yeah, I lost, uh…
I lost my father at a young age too.
To battle?
No, no. To, uh, illness.
You have to try to give him what you never had.
You appear to be uncommonly sensitive to my son's needs
and proclivities.
I will entertain your suggestion. Spend more time with the boy.
I apologize for my behavior today.
I fear the present situation has turned me womanly.
I suffered an unexpected blow to my numbers,
between this afternoon and Winnie.
Hmm.
When they run away… …it disturbs me.
I mean, they think they know what's best for themselves. They do not.
How do they not know that I offer them safety, protection?
Are you just getting back from Olivia's?
No, I've been here a while.
Oh.
Um…
Is, uh-- Is Winnie still…
What's wrong?
Celeste died.
What?
The baby died too.
I, um…
I was there.
I watched it.
Oh, my God. Dana.
I don't know what to say.
There's nothing to say.
Luke's out there digging a grave for both of them…
by himself.
And it wasn't even his kid. It was Tom's.
I told Luke that I'd teach Nigel to read. It's the least I could do.
Dana.
I know it's dangerous, but he's wrecked, and I have to do something.
No.
You're not seeing what I'm seeing every day.
I know that.
Do you?
I just need you to be safe, Dana.
I don't think it's enough for me to be safe.
When I'm not safe, I get to go home.
These people, they don't-- they don't get that.
And I--
I can't help but feel like, somehow, this is…
my fault.
No.
Margaret?