01x02 - To Be Separated

[bunniefuu]

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

John A. Macdonald said,
"If you want to motivate

the Indian, you must starve him."

What are you feeling?

Free.

Did you think you were above everything?

(SCREAMING)

Such a possibility existed...

(INTENSE MUSIC)

Aline!

I just have a feeling...

(SCREAMING)

... something bad is coming.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

(FLUTTERING)

(CROW CAWING)

The dream is to build a larger

and greater system of federal schools

so that we can continue to
disrupt the Indian way of life.

And also allow us to
further control the land,

so that we can continue to
build this great country of ours.

My esteemed colleagues have
done an exhausting investigation

into Indian boarding
schools in the United States

and their success in
eradicating their Indian problem,

the findings of which have
been written in this report

on Industrial Schools for
Indians and half-breeds

called "The Davin Report",

a draft which is in front of you now.

The fact is, if you wish
to educate these children,

you must separate them during
the time they're being educated.

If the school is on the reserve,

the child lives with its parents.

He is surrounded by savages.

So even if he learns to
read and write, his habits,

his habits, his training, his
modes of thought are Indian.

He is simply a savage
who can read and write.

Indian children should
be withdrawn as much

as possible from parental influence.

Separating them in this way proposed,
they acquire habits and taste...

It is to be hoped, only the
good taste of civilized people.

Hear, hear!

(CROWS CAWING)

(TENSE MUSIC)

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

(CROWS CAWING)

(INDIGENOUS DRUMS b*ating)

(VOCALIZING)

Hey! No. No way.

(DRUMMING CONTINUES)

(VOCALIZING CONTINUES)

Perseverance!

(SPEAKING CREE)

(HUFFING)

(SPEAKING CREE)

Hey!

(JANUARY): Perseverance, come back here.

(DISTANT SIRENS WAILING)

(SIGHING)

(CANS CLANKING)

(RAPID BREATHING)

(CREAKING)

(GASPING)

- Momma.
- It's okay.

(BABY CRYING)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

You f*cking animal. You f*cking pig.

You f*cking molester!
Stay away from my children!

(GRUNTING)

(BEER BOTTLES CLANKING)

(THUDDING)

(SIRENS WAILING)

Perseverance, open the door.

(PERSEVERANCE YELLING): f*ck you!

(THWACKING)

I never f*cking liked it!

(CARETAKER): Open the door!

(DOOR OPENING)

(GRUNTING)

(BABY CRYING)

(SOBBING)

I never liked it. I never...

(LOCK BUZZING)

(CELL DOOR CLOSING)

(GROANING)

I want to see my children.

You almost k*lled a man.

He's not a man.

(DETECTIVE SMITH EXHALING SLOWLY)

He's still alive.

Barely.

Things we know for sure,
he'll never be the same.

That ship sailed a long time ago.

He was never the same after
they got to him in residential school.

(SCOFFING)

That's supposed to mean something to me?

Make me sad?

I don't give a f*ck what you are.

Truth is...

(SNIFFLES)

Bashing Dwayne's pathetic face in...

was quite healing for me.

How's that?

(EXHALING DEEPLY)

When I was looking at him...

... all I could see were
the priests that f*cked me.

(SCOFFING)

You gotta get over it.

I don't do sugar.

Just kidding.

Smoke?

Always.

Did you call my sister or what?

She's coming. It's
gonna take her a couple

of days to get down here.

We're gonna transfer you
to Vaughan Street Jail

for processing.

Hmm. Do I get a lawyer? Mm.

(SIGHING) Make it easy on yourself.

Just confess. Everybody
knows you did it.

You sign, that's a
lot of goodwill there.

You'll get to see your kids soon.

That's what you want, right?

Sign right there.

We'll get things sorted for you.

(TENSE MUSIC)

You did the right thing.

That's a smart man, Matthew.

One day your family will
thank you for this. You'll see.

We don't always know
what's best for ourselves.

That's why we have the
government and the Church.

To look after our best interests. Hmm?

(JANUARY WEEPING SOFTLY)

(SPEAKING CREE)

Aline. Now...

(SOMBRE MUSIC)

(ALINE SPEAKING CREE): Nikawiy...
Nikawiy, kinwapamin!

(THUDDING)

(CHILDREN SCREAMING)

Nikawiy! Nikawiy!

(SCREAMING) Put me down!

(BABY CRYING)

(ENGINE STARTING)

(SCREAMING) Let go of me!

(EXCLAIMING)

Momma!

(BABY CRYING)

(ENGINE RATTLING)

Nohtawiy! Nikawiy!

(SOMBRE MUSIC)

(HAUNTING MUSIC)

(VEHICLE APPROACHING)

(SCREAMING IN CREE)

(HYSTERICAL SCREAMING)

(EXCLAIMING IN CREE)

(HAUNTING MUSIC)

(RATTLING)

(HAUNTING MUSIC)

(MAN): Everybody out.

(BREAKS SQUEALING)

(VEHICLE DOOR SLAMMING)

(PRISON GATE BUZZING)

(DOOR BUZZING)

(DOOR SLAMMING)

(PRISON OFFICER): Suzanne, your
inmate ID number is J .

Rose, your inmate ID number is J .

Perseverance, your inmate
ID number is J .

Your number is . You
are . Do you understand?

(PENSIVE MUSIC)

(PRISON GUARD): Move!

(PRISON OFFICER):
Your inmate ID number is...

(WATER SPLASHING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER ECHOING)

Strip down and leave your
pile of clothes at your feet.

(WATER SPLASHING)

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

(SPEAKING CREE)

You are forbidden to
speak the devil's language.

We've told you once. Can you hear?

(PRISON GUARD): Move it!

(PRISON GUARD): Wake up!
Take off your clothes!

Get in the shower now!

(TENSE MUSIC)

(METAL DOOR SLAMMING)

Rude.

sh*t. What the hell now?

That ain't so bad.

At least we got this
big old lock between us.

(SIGHING)

Keeps us in, but on the other hand,

it keeps them out.

Amen, Sister.

Yo, where you from?

Dene. Little Duck Lake. You?

Cree. Just outside of Brandon.

They imprisoned some
real famous Crees here

from the beginning...

and now you, Chief
Poundmaker, Chief Big Bear.

Hmm, well, I feel at home now.

Oh, and one crazy lady who
was screaming all the time,

probably from my tribe.

(CHUCKLING) sh*t.

Hey... you got kids?

Yeah...

... three. I signed some paper
so I could see them sooner.

Both the detective and the lady

from Family Services said it was

the best thing to get them back.

(SNICKERS)

Do you?

They took him, foster care.

I haven't seen him since he was born.

I'm sorry.

It's in the past.

My sister's coming, I'm
gonna ask her to help out.

That's good, you got a plan.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

- Tonight?
- Shh!

What do you mean tonight?

When everyone is asleep
and only Sister Theresa's

on watch, I want you to get down

and make your way to the broom closet.

And then, I'll meet you
there. You understand?

Perseverance, look at me. Once we start,

we won't be able to turn around.

Johnnie and Tye will be
waiting by the tool shed.

We'll wait until the coast is clear.

We'll get as far as we can.

Then, we'll follow
the trapline back home.

They won't think of that.

We'll see Mom and Dad, right?

We'll be home, everything will
be like it was. You promise?

(BANGING)

(TENSE MUSIC)

Be careful.

(CHILD COUGHING)

(BANGING)

(SOMBRE MUSIC)

(PHONE RINGING)

(DOOR SLAMMING)

(COUGHING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER ECHOING)

Hey...

Hey.

You look... you look good.

Liar.

Your turn.

You look good, Perseverance.

(SCOFFING)

Bullshit. I look like sh*t.

All right. Glad that's over with.

Mm. I'm sorry I missed Adam's funeral.

- That was seven years ago.
I wouldn't worry about it.

Well, I heard you moved to Toronto.

We needed a fresh start.

How's that working for you?

- Fine.
- Look, I...

... I need you to find my kids.

I need you to find out
where they put them.

Could you do that?

I'll do everything that I can.

You promise?

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

Eight years is a long time.

I know how to do time.

(SNIFFLING)

Plus I'll get out for good behaviour.

(GIGGLING)

(CHUCKLING) I doubt it.

Sis, I've changed.

Reformed, like sh*t.

Mm-hmm. AA-ing it. NA-ing it.

I'm learning to trade.

(CHUCKLING) You should have said,

learning a trade, not learning to trade.

(LAUGHING)

Oh.

Oh, man, it was good to see you.

(BUZZER SOUNDS)

(GUARD): We're now gonna have
to ask you folks to leave.

Thank you.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

(TENSE MUSIC)

I hate to leave you here.

(PRISON GUARD): This way, this way.

Is that what you said to yourself?

(CHILD COUGHING)

(TENSE MUSIC)

Wait up, Aline. Wait up.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(FOOTSTEPS THUDDING)

Perseverance?

Perseverance!

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

Come here!

Come!

Yes, Father?

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

(RATTLING)

(WHISPERING PRAYERS)

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

(FLUTTERING)

(DISTANT SIREN BLARING)

(TRAIN RATTLING)

(DISTORTED EERIE MUSIC)

Momma.

f*cking stupid slut!

Oh, f*ck you, assh*le!

Perseverance...

You have to tell me.

What way are they going?

They're not on the main roads.

No?

(SIGHS)

This is not you, Perseverance. Hmm?

You're so beautiful, Perseverance.

Now, be a good girl and tell
me where they are. Right now.

(WHIMPERING)

I could k*ll you and bury
you out back, and nobody...

nobody will care!

Tell me, Perseverance,
or so help me God!

(SNIFFLING)

(INTENSE MUSIC)

Oh.

(WHIMPERING)

You make things harder on
yourself than they have to be.

You did the right thing.

You always do, the right thing.

(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

(MUSIC ESCALATES)

(DISTORTED WHIRRING)

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

(DOOR CLOSING)

Hey, honey.

Look at you.

(INTENSE MUSIC)

(GRUNTING)

(DISTORTED WHIRRING)

Aline. Can you hold my hand?

Aline...

(SPEAKING CREE)

Hmm.

(SPEAKING CREE)

(HUMMING CREE WARRIOR SONG)

(SINGING CREE WARRIOR SONG)

Shut the f*ck up, you whore!

(SHALLOW BREATHING)

- (GRUNTING)
- Shhh.

(MUFFLED SINGING)

(GRUNTING)

(EERIE MUSIC)

(DISTORTED WHIRRING)

(EERIE MUSIC)

(CROWS CAWING)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

Come on, Tye. We're close.
We have to keep moving.

(WIND HOWLING)

(METAL SNAPPING)

(SCREAMING)

- It's broken.
- Ow!

Go get Mom and Dad. Be careful, run!

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Okay.

(PANTING)

(SNOW CRUNCHING)

(HEAVY FOOTSTEPS)

(YELLING IN CREE)

(HORSE NEIGHING)

(GASPING)

(HORSE NICKERS)

Kaskitewaw, you're here.

I'm so sorry. Look at you, look at you.

(DOOR CREAKING)

(WIND HOWLING)

(NEIGHING)

Johnnie!

The house is empty, I don't
know where Mom and Dad are...

But we have to keep moving.

- (CRYING)
- Get up, Johnnie.

Johnnie! Get up!

Tye, we have to keep moving.

He's not breathing...

Johnnie. He's not breathing...

He had TB, Aline.

He was too weak to fight the cold.

Come on, Tye. Please.

(CRYING)

(BOTH SINGING CREE BURIAL SONG)

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

(CROWS CAWING)

(TENSE MUSIC)

(VEHICLE APPROACHING)

How did they know?

(TAXI DRIVER): You're
going to freeze out there.

Besides, your plane
leaves in minutes.

(ENGINE ACCELERATING)

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

Can we stop the car? Um,
let's give this guy a ride.

(ENGINE SLOWS)

(BREAKS SQUEALING)

(DOOR OPENING)

(TAXI DRIVER): Heading to the airport.

You can drop me at McCloud.

(HUFFING)

(ENGINE ACCELERATING)

I was looking for you.

Now you found me.

I've been looking for
Perseverance. She's missing.

Or dead.

I thought you should know.

That's my stop here.

(SIGHING)

Don't look back.

(ENGINE ACCELERATING)

Who was that?

It's my brother, Johnnie.

I haven't seen him in years.

Then how did you know it was him?

(PENSIVE MUSIC)

I'll always remember the way he walked.

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

He's gone to a better place.

Did you tell our
parents? They should know.

What would you like me to tell them?

That you and Johnnie planned
to run away and you took little

Tye with you, and he d*ed from the cold?

How about I tell them
he d*ed of influenza,

like many of the sinful children here?

Somehow that seems more merciful.

Head down.

Dear Lord, we ask that you forgive Aline

and Johnnie for causing the
death of their younger brother.

We ask that you forgive
the sins of these children.

In Jesus Christ's name. Amen.

(EXHALING DEEPLY)

Johnnie, Father Jacobs
is waiting for you

in his parlour, you
should get along now.

After this fiasco, this is the
last time you will see him here.

Take a good, long look at your brother.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

Perseverance, I have
business with your sister.

It's time for you to
go back to your dorm.

Perseverance! Now!

(SOLEMN MUSIC)

You didn't think your master
escape would go unpunished?

I want you to take off your sweater.

Faster!

Excellent.

Now go down to the post.

(HAUNTING MUSIC)

(CUP CLATTERING)

(BREATHING SHAKILY)

(DISTORTED WHIRRING)

(TENSE MUSIC)

(CROW CAWING)

(EERIE MUSIC)

(WIND HOWLING)

(HAUNTING MUSIC)

Mom? Mom, what are you doing?

Jake, get out here!

Mom?

I miss them.

Tye...

he was just a baby.

I know. I know, Mom.

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC)

Did you find out any more
about Perseverance's children?

Where they are?

We're getting closer. They
were adopted out, you knew that.

They're in the States. I
told you that last week.

(JAKE): Mom!

You said that. I know you said that.

Mom! Mom!

You have to come down now.

You can come down.

I saw Johnnie. Did I tell you that?

Mom.

(HAUNTING MUSIC)

I think I'm losing my balance.

I think I've lost my balance.

I want to fall.

Perseverance is not missing.

She's dead.

Her face, her beautiful face.

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC)

Let's go inside,
Mama. It's cold out here.

Mom, please.

I wish your father was here.