I, John Wilkes Booth,
do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute
the office of the Confederate States,
and will, to the best of my ability,
preserve, protect and defend the South.
Introducing the second president of the Confederate States.
Thank you.
Wait here. I need to piss.
- What? - I need to piss.
You're a good writer, Johnny.
It feels a little strange reading your diary.
No. It's a privilege.
And after I find the right publisher in Richmond, it'll be everywhere.
Every little school. Every library.
So, am I in here?
Everyone important to me is in there.
Listen, Davey. Unless you still need him, cut the baboon loose.
I didn't account for this detour for your leg.
I didn't study this terrain.
Get down.
Your Reconstruction plan is very long, Edwin.
You can imagine my agenda. So do me a favor,
and explain it to me like I'm a schoolboy who ain't good at school.
You need me to explain Reconstruction?
As vice president, there was a lot I didn't need to know.
Reconstruction is our plan to rebuild the country post-war.
Incorporating freed people into our society,
punishing Confederates so that they cannot rise to power again,
a process for seceded states to re-enter our nation.
What did Lincoln plan to do with the rebels?
- But they're our neighbors. - Okay, so prison but no executions.
All right, so your plan is just imprison half the country.
Well, at least charge the leaders with treason.
What will the consequences achieve? Isn't that what the war was for?
Abe, if we don't, you will inherit a Confederate Congress.
When we freed people, from their point of view, we robbed them.
That was millions in state assets. So, hear me out here,
what if we distribute some tax revenue
to remunerate former slave owners for the value that they have lost?
With all due respect, no.
Abe, there's no reason to do that.
You gotta let Confederate workers save face.
Victors don't need to kick three-legged dogs.
We don't need to flaunt power. We're in power.
Until we're not.
Look, I'm not concerned about the working-man Confederate.
I am worried about the leaders fleeing Richmond,
the New York branch in Montreal. Those trying to escape to Europe.
Good riddance.
You know, task Seward to encourage the international community
to accept more of them.
Open the gates. Let down the bars. Scare 'em off. Let the sheep flee.
Sheep?
Wolves, Abe. You wanna see if wolves flee?
Yes. And in the meantime, we're gonna pass those amendments.
I think if we don't draw the line with traitors, there is no line.
Yes.
The planter class have rested on their granddaddies' laurels.
Men like us from humble means, we picked ourselves up by the bootstraps.
And look where we sit.
Now it's their turn.
The bastards tried to start their own country,
hold on to slavery, and royally failed.
They should pay.
I agree.
The delay in Booth's capture does make us look weak,
so either get 'em or forget them.
I want wins in my first month. Only wins.
You wanted to see me, Mr. Sanders?
Do you have your ear to the ground in the new administration?
Johnson was just sworn in.
Well...
I'll be here until I find out which side he comes down on.
- Drinks? - Please.
Montreal looks well on you, Mr. Sanders.
You should stay in Montreal too.
Learn the supply side of the business. You have more potential than a middleman.
I'm sure you're aware there's a bounty on the head of John Surratt Jr.,
suspected Confederate agent.
I have a hunch that he's here, and I intend to collect.
Unless, of course, you still need him.
I made more in interest on my last cotton deal
than Surratt's worth dipped in gold.
Then it costs you nothing to tell me where he is.
Or you could just tell me where I could find Booth.
He's worth double.
I'm in a charitable mood today.
And since a few thousand dollars are so important to you...
Agent Surratt is here in Montreal to visit his father.
His father is dead.
If you can't solve a simple riddle, maybe we shouldn't be in business together.
Don't you look pretty.
"John Surratt Jr. is in Montreal visiting his father."
What does that mean?
I don't know who or what you're talking about, sir.
Is Weichmann a double agent?
What's funny?
Weichmann was almost a priest.
He was in the seminary?
With Surratt. They quit right before they were ordained.
Where's Baker?
He left for New York to help Eddie with the funeral security.
Tell his agent we'll find Surratt in the Catholic monastery in Montreal.
He trained to be a priest.
- Where he's visiting his father. - Yeah.
- Pace yourself. - You pace yourself.
It hasn't been a week without the president.
Your asthma exacerbations are happening too often.
I know you're in big shoes, but if you don't heed my advice,
we could very easily lose another statesman.
I take it you don't mean the Secretary of State.
Seward will live, is what I hear.
- I mean you. - Yeah.
Is his condition worse than usual?
Lung capacity is diminished from longer stretches.
Will they bounce back? I hope so.
But one more major attack, and your lungs will reach a point of no return.
Permanent oxygen reduction will cause brain damage or premature death.
I can't just stop working.
He can work from bed. Limit his exertion.
How long?
A month of rest, Edwin, at least.
- I don't have a month. - That's right. You might not.
This Rich Hill.
You owe me five dollars as agreed.
Go up and knock, Davey.
- After you pay me five greenbacks. - We could've found it without you.
I'll take gold if you ain't got cash.
You know, there's a $50,000 reward on my head if I'm taken alive.
Lot of men will be real sore at you, you end my life over five greenbacks.
I know who you are, Mr. Booth.
I saw you play Mark Antony at the Holliday Street Theater up in Baltimore.
You did? How was I?
You made a better traitor than me.
But I've killed more men in this life than you pretended to fight.
So you pay me what I've earned, or your days of pretending is gonna be over.
All right. Easy, easy, Swa-- Hey. Don't shoot.
- Johnny, you gave him your word-- - He ain't gonna shoot. Knock, David!
Attaboy.
Don't move.
Dr. Mudd sent us. We need horse feed and a way to Richmond.
Who's that with Swann?
He's a friend. He broke his leg.
Sam! They ain't settle up.
You gonna help us or not?
Is that who I think it is?
He's a symbol of the cause.
Get inside quick.
Last thing we need around here is an audience.
Hide their horses round back.
They'll settle.
Got a little something I wanna show you.
What do you keep down there? Slaves?
Cold.
Weapons?
Warm.
Secrets of President Davis?
Warmer.
Come on down here.
Watch your step.
Welcome to my signal room.
It's better than Western Union.
You're official with Richmond? Or you're a friend to the cause on your own?
Does this look like a hobby?
Men in the Confederate Secret Service like me
are well positioned from Richmond to Montreal.
Which direction on the Line you headed?
- South. - Hey, hands off.
From this room, and rooms like 'em, we in the CSS conduct a silent war.
We have support overseas in England and Canada.
They rely on the profits from our agriculture much as we do.
And I think
we'll see the Southern way of life revived now that you took care of Lincoln.
That is my hope as well.
- You know, let my victory be a warning. - Yeah.
- What is this? - He said don't touch anything, David.
Listen to the man.
My apologies. How soon can you usher us to Richmond?
Richmond's a hellhole. Why do you want to go there?
To show them this Yankee blood on me.
Then go to Florida or Mexico. Go to Montreal.
No, I'm going to Richmond.
I'm going to look my President Davis in the eyes.
- Do you read the papers? - Well, yes. Some of it. Why?
You know, the Union tore it to bits just over two weeks ago.
Anyone who was anyone in Richmond has scattered.
Jefferson Davis is on the run, just like you.
If there were anything worth saving in Richmond, Davis would be there.
Mexico does sound nice, Johnny.
I'm not a symbol in Mexico! I am a symbol in Richmond!
Look, if you really are a great expert at running rebels north and south,
which I think you are, please...
run us to Richmond.
- Yeah. All right. - Yes?
Now, go get the horses ready
while I regale our friend Cox here with the glory of April 14th.
I'll see to it that you get the money you're owed.
Why don't you split on 'em and reap the rewards?
- 'Cause he's my friend. - If he's your friend,
how come he on the inside and you out here with the animals and the nigger?
You ain't his friend. You his lackey.
Then why don't you turn us in then?
When you ever see them reward someone who looked like me?
Besides, I got more than I need already.
You make good money on this Secret Line work betraying your race?
My mother was Piscataway Injun. My father, free Black.
I profit off my knowledge of the terrain. Same as you.
Well, I'm no lackey.
And I'm Jesus H. Christ.
I hear the War Department and that dress designer Keckley
turned Arlington into a freedmen's camp.
They got beds and even a school.
Spread the word, all right?
Thought Arlington was where they were laying soldiers to rest.
Yeah, that too. God provides, Alec. God provides.
Well, we godlike today, Cuffy.
Sustenance and provisions! Get your sustenance and provisions here!
Courtesy of the US War Department.
One loaf per family.
You be good to your mama. Hide that. Go.
Next.
Here you go, ma'am.
Hey. They got two. Where's my two?
Folks waiting a long time. You want your loaf or not, ma'am?
My husband paid taxes. Those darkies ain't even citizens!
They're for all people in need. These here Federal rations, ma'am.
- You can't talk to me like that. - I'm a Federal officer. Please move on.
Lot of mouths to feed. You're holding up the line.
Don't you tell me what to do, boy.
I ain't going nowhere till I get as much as everyone else got.
Hey!
More trouble!
Sergeant, may I take Sadie away?
I'll take care of it. Go!
Everyone needs to leave the area! This distribution center is closed now!
Go home if you can. Go!
You and your boys caused a disturbance.
Leave the park or I'm bringing in the sheriff.
Sheriff? We don't need to talk to no sheriff.
Get your hands off of me. I am above you, sir.
How are your symptoms?
Right now, I feel like myself.
Stay away from the windows.
What's wrong?
There's some kind of conflict between my men and the police.
US Army controls this precinct.
You and your boys help us control this area, or get out the way.
Yeah, we'll be all right.
- He's stealing that horse. - Everything will be all right.
The nigger is stealing a horse.
This darky is robbing a horse.
No. No, sir.
Give the gentleman the reins, or we'll arrest you.
The horse is his.
It took the boy six years to purchase the horse off his master.
He cannot have her. He can't.
Young man served for my company. You leave him and--
Anyone can see no one like him owns such a fine animal as this.
Sadie's mine. This man is lying.
You're the one caught red-handed.
- Give it to me! - Get off me!
Get off! No!
- Stand down! - He's a horse thief!
Drop the gun. Drop it.
Take him away.
Take him away!
Is it constitutional to enlist Black soldiers on a federal level,
who we've yet to make citizens?
Mr. President, we would need amendments, but--
Well, yes, but legally the answer is no.
Allowing colored men to fight for the Union
might be the only opportunity we have
to prove to our voters we deserve to be citizens.
My sons are willing to fight for the Union,
and I'm willing to let them die for it. My nephews, my neighbors.
I say bend the rules.
Is there a possibility of a temporary exception?
Some lesser status than troops on a federal level?
I could hire colored troops as volunteers.
We'll pay them for labor in uniform,
but not officially name them as Federal troops just yet.
Would we arm them?
I believe colored men would be responsible and deserve the right.
But if the moral argument is not what you're looking for,
then see it as tactical.
You're both right. It's time.
Oh, my Lord. Edwin, what's wrong?
I'm fine.
Let me help you. Shall I call for the doctor?
Where does it hurt?
Something terrible happened.
I have to do something for a defenseless boy, Ellen.
You're in no shape to go out.
I'm very sorry for what happened,
but whatever it is, I assure you someone else can handle it.
Just delegate this one time. Doctor's orders. Please.
No, I'm fine now.
I'll be back later.
So?
There's a pine thicket about a mile from here protected by the Line.
It's a tricky route.
Swann will get you to the thicket.
Then you wait for the River Ghost.
He'll get you to Virginia.
The River Ghost?
Well, okay. Well, how do we find him?
You don't find the River Ghost.
He finds you.
Damn it.
I'll have the eight dollars you owe me now.
The hell did you just say to me?
You heard what I said.
- He owed you five. - That was to here, Rich Hill.
Take us to the pine thicket.
You pick that up first.
You pick it up, nigger.
You don't pick it up and add three more dollars,
I'm gonna tell the River Ghost to leave you in the pine thicket till you starve.
Then I'm gonna see to it that you're chewed on by wolves.
Swann.
You'll get three more, boy, if you get us there.
I would value your opinion on my approach.
Could I make the same argument as The People versus Wright?
To convict the man who shot the private in your park?
Frank Leech. Yeah.
Well, The People versus Wright applies to the private's death,
- but-- - Thank you.
If any attempt is made to release Leech,
I'm directing you to disobey and charge him.
I need a conviction.
I'm not sure the precedent extends to that, although I agree with the sentiment.
Joe, it's what Lincoln wanted in cases of racially motivated attacks.
Lincoln isn't here anymore, Edwin.
And I hate to have to tell you this.
Leech delivered a letter from a councilman to Johnson hours ago,
advocating for his pardon.
And?
And my clerk informs me that Johnson plans to sign it.
That is not what he said to me.
And for all classes of Confederates,
those who served, organized, or funded the rebellion,
the president has declared amnesty.
Generals and congressmen, men indicted for treason,
and wealthy planters aren't covered,
but the president has strongly encouraged pardons for all of them.
You lied to me.
What did you say to me?
You have over 100 pardons in the works. Confederate leadership.
Now, that is the opposite of what we agreed we were pursuing.
I'm no legal scholar like you, Secretary,
but I don't recall the constitution saying I can't change my mind.
You're opening the floodgates to lawlessness.
A man killed a child in cold blood outside my doorstep.
A Black child who looked like a man.
Leech acted in self-defense. Your case won't hold a drop of water.
You said that you wanted to hold the traitors to our nation accountable.
It's time to go.
What are you doing here, Wallace?
Commissioning a deal between God and the Devil?
George Sanders hired me to get you out of here with protection.
The plan changed?
Because Stanton's coming for you.
Sanders knew I'd be leaving soon.
Soon isn't fast enough. Stanton's coming now.
You can put that away.
I just need to get my things.
I'm still having a hard time believing Sanders sent you.
You're the second-most wanted man on the continent.
Sanders is afraid Stanton's gonna get you. And if he does, you will not get a pardon.
He hired me to make sure you escaped on the train without impediments.
But this isn't a train ticket.
I meant ship.
Ship.
Where's Booth?
Ernest.
What's wrong?
We found Surratt.
I assume you're going to Montreal to question him
since you can't extradite him.
I'll be at my mother's in Nantucket.
Don't leave.
Stay.
You can't heed a doctor's orders for a day.
Treasure, I wish I could, but I really can't.
Surratt's my only lead.
This is the last time I'll ask.
Resign from the Cabinet. Just practice law, even.
I work through things. That's how I've always gotten through.
I see--
I know that I have failed you.
It's no one's fault. You can't stop.
And I made the mistake of thinking you'd change.
It's not that you're choosing work over me.
No. It's that you're not even enlisted, but you fight this war behind a desk,
and I finally understand.
You're willing to die for the work.
Ernest, book a room at the American hotel in Montreal
and an overnight train ticket.
I have come to the realization that we may lose this war,
and I may lose the election.
When we last met, those were my chief concerns,
but they've changed.
How so?
I have one wish now above all,
and that is the lasting freedom of the former slave.
I prematurely thought we couldn't achieve that
unless we won the war and unless I was reelected.
But I have had another thought.
What is it?
Abe, we will triumph in Atlanta,
- and you will be reelected. - But if we don't--
This is my wish, gentlemen.
I'm telling you this in case of defeat or even--
or even my absence.
This is how I'd like you to proceed.
Mr. Douglass, we all know if rules were fair, you'd be a senator.
These rooms, they might be yours. You have had to work outside the system.
While Edwin here, he's become a master of the system from within.
What I envision is that you would work together.
Mr. Douglass...
you would organize the abolitionists of the Underground Railroad.
Mars,
you would protect and aid the Underground's operations
with the full might of our military.
Together, you would usher scores of Black men, women and children
from the South to the North, as many as possible.
We could enforce their freedom...
whether Lee surrenders or not,
whether I win a second term--
Whether I'm here or not.
I have your support?
Do I have your support?
- Yes, sir. - Yes, Mr. President.
Whoa.
The River Ghost will fetch you in there.
Where in there?
Go straight in that way
and find a double pine with the roots that look like a woman.
Now, you owe me three greenbacks.
Can you give us our pistols, Swann?
Three more greenbacks if you want those back.
Or gold. I'll take that too.
Lackey.
Today, we mourn the passing of Alec Leconte.
This is Sadie. She used to be your brother's horse.
Now she's yours.
Heavenly Father, we pray that you help this family
as they mourn the passing of their boy.
In Jesus' name, we all say...
Amen.
How's Mr. Stanton's health?
It comes and goes.
Anything we can do to find Booth?
I need their code words. Or a map of the spy network.
I was a custodial slave for those filthy, rude secretaries for three years.
And I can tell you that their Secretary of State,
Judah Benjamin, ran the spy network.
Benjamin think I'm too stupid to understand what he up to,
but I can tell you President Davis was the only one
with more say than Benjamin when it came to that spy business.
You ever see a map of their agents from here to Richmond?
No. Benjamin did have this game he used to play with.
Did it spin?
Yeah, it spun. Had symbols and letters.
A decoder.
When we took Richmond, did we take their office possessions?
We confiscated their valuables.
If you ain't got it, let us look for it.
Secretary.
Well, what brings you North?
Business, pleasure, or Booth?
Mr. Sanders. What brings you here?
I have quite a few business interests in Montreal.
I had to diversify last year when you cut me off of war contracts.
You cut yourself off
when you supported Manhattan leaving the Union.
I was under the impression
that the right to different beliefs was a core American value.
You and I may no longer see eye to eye.
But luckily, Johnson and I have reached an understanding.
About what?
He needs support from men of industry.
Is that what you are?
You may have heard I bought the Weekly.
No, I hadn't heard that.
You'll read about it tomorrow.
Front-page news.
How long ago did he get away?
I don't know. I was out cold.
New-York Tribune. Are you Baker's agent up here?
They know me as James Wallace, a deal broker.
Are you certain about that?
They have no idea I spy for Baker.
Thank you.
Where did Surratt go?
- He had a ticket for a ship. - Which ship?
I don't know.
If you get me out of here,
I can show you the quickest way to the Navy outpost.
If the boat hasn't left yet. We can still stop Surratt.
The vessel sank upriver.
When we were saving people from drowning,
they said John Surratt Jr. intentionally caused the accident.
Do you have him in custody?
We saw him swim from the accident to another ship close by.
And?
We tried to stop it.
We believe it was a Confederate vessel headed for Liverpool,
but it evaded us.
How could you let that happen?
Sailed through a gap in our blockade. They knew the timing of our patrol.
We'll fix it.
Damn it. Surratt was my only lead.
Let the sheep flee, indeed.
Sorry it's not better news. But we did recover something of interest.
This was found in the wreckage. Surratt must have put it on board.
That's the trunk I saw in his room.
Why would Surratt bring Booth's trunk on a boat that he sunk?
Let's open this up.
It's just costumes.
Booth's name's on the manifest.
Every passenger was accounted for but him.
It's odd.
Well, it's not odd
if you're Surratt traveling under Booth's name,
attempting to fake his death.
The ship that Surratt escaped to, do you have the paperwork for it?
We might have customs information.
What are you going after?
George Sanders chartered the ship.
"His leap to the stage shocked the audience,
but many weren't clear if Booth's act was part of a play or"--
We need to make a fire, Johnny.
You're right, the smoke's gonna attract attention.
But if we suffer frostbite out here, it's not gonna matter.
Morning will be warm. We will live.
You have postage? I kind of want to mail this to my mother.
- Do you hear me? - Can't do nothing about the cold!
If you're not gonna listen,
- why did you ask me to come-- - I knew you would agree!
Why did you want me to agree then, huh?
Because I trust you.
Who are you?
I'm the man you've been waiting for.
You fellas hungry?
Courtesy of the Secret Line.
Yes.
But we need to get him to a hospital in Richmond.
- We can eat it along the way. - No.
Union's got boats prowling up and down the river.
You cross into Virginia now, you as good as caught.
You'll make it to Virginia when you make it.
And I'll return when I return.
G Company, move!
Fall back!
Run!
Man down!
Get him out of here!
Get those beasts to quiet.
You wouldn't stop to graze.
They're hungry.
Hello, beautiful.
Hey.
Johnny, no!
My mother once hired a soothsayer...
to predict my future.
Yeah, she told us that I'd become a hero...
but that my life would be short.
It turns out she was half right and half full of utter shit.
So, what's it gonna be?
You wanna be a hero?
Good boy.
Come on, Davey.
Useless. Fucking useless!
I need to see your file on George Sanders.
Eckert decoded the telegram
from Richmond to Surratt.
It said, "Come retribution."
Could that be the assassination order?
Could you prove that?
I can't. But what if I could prove who funded it?
That's why you're asking about Sanders.
Who else would pay for the travel back and forth
between Montreal and New York?
- The hotel rooms... - The horses, the messages, the weapons.
Is it a stretch to imagine that George Sanders produced Booth's play?
A rubber band stretches farther.
Should we bring him in?
I would, but he just bought the Weekly.
Look what the main story is.
Why is he targeting you?
He wants to control the story.
You gotta tell a better one.
Yeah.
I have news on Johnson.
No amnesty for Confederate leadership...
but most of us are eligible for pardons.
And now with Lincoln out of the way,
could we restore the slave trade for the betterment of Wall Street?
Booth has given us a second chance.
Wait for me.
That land grant ain't coming.
Your dream was far-fetched when Lincoln was alive.
With Johnson, forget it.
What is it?
Milo, it's from the War Department. It's a deed.
I got land.
We got land, Milo.
Come on.
Some of you who supported secession,
who led the rebellion...
who Johnson won't forgive...
I suggest you leave the continent.
Europe will welcome you.
And I will see to it that you remain free.