01x09 - Covenant II.

[bunniefuu]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[EPPS]

Lord...

by your grace, we survived...

another long winter.

It would shame me not to offer my thanks.

Our community suffered terribly.

Endless floods, bitter cold.

All we built nearly washed away.

Nearly...

... but not, praise God.

You kept our covenant.

And yet...

When Abraham held the blade above his son, your angel s... stayed his hand, yet my son...

... you let be sacrificed for our good fortune.

My son...

and my precious Lenore.

[TAKES DEEP, TREMBLING BREATH]

I do not presume to question your will, Lord.

Perhaps you could tell me why you took my family.

It would ease the agony of these days.

[HORSE SPUTTERS]

I try the Gospels...

... but tears c... cloud the words.

I... try to find comfort in our community, but their abundant life, their wives, their children...

... sickens me.

Their kindness, their pity sickens me.

I do not want their k-kindness.

I want...

to shake the world to its foundations.

I want to know why you took my son!

Please...

Lord...

if you might answer me just this one time.

Thy will, not mine, be done.

Mm.

[BREATHING DEEPLY]

[WHIMPERING IN DISTANCE]

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

[WHIMPERING NEARBY]

[WHIMPERING CONTINUES]

[EPPS]

I shall call you Miles, which means "merciful," for the Lord had mercy on me and answered my prayers.

♪ Jesus, tender shepherd, hear me ♪

♪ Bless thy little lamb tonight ♪

♪ Through the darkness be thou near me ♪

♪ Watch my sleep till morning light ♪

♪ All this day, thy hand has led me ♪

♪ And I thank thee for thy care ♪

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[STONE THUMPING ON GROUND]

[STONE THUMPING ON GROUND]

[WIND WHISTLING SOFTLY]

[HORSE NEIGHS]

♪ ♪ [FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

They're coming!

- They're coming!

- Calm your breath.

What is this story you want to tell me?

You're panting.

What is it?

Tell me.

I can see on your face you want to tell me a story.

These travelers, sir.

- Their wagon broke down...

- All right.

All right.

Let us go have a look, then.

Hmm?

[EPPS]

Good, good.

Hmm.

It goes well with your sight, sir?

Oh, some fog around the edges these last few months.

The Lord assures me all will be well.

Hmm.

[SPEAKING DUTCH]

Forgive me, Reverend, but we, uh, we don't...

- we don't...

- Forgive me, good travelers.

As much as I counsel my fellows to take on the language of our new home, I often retreat to the old tongue in times of...

... confusion.

Welcome.

Welcome.

Welcome.

[MARTHA]

We're headed up to a town called Grass Valley.

We're told it's perhaps miles north of Sacramento.

Our people came down from Oregon City.

If I recall the way, you...

oh, I'm afraid you have a long journey ahead.

You are of course welcome to take refuge in our community.

We will send men to see if your wagon can be salvaged, transport your provisions.

Fear not.

We are an intentional community devoted to God.

Note I say "God," not "the Church."

I am an elder.

We have no titles here but "brother," "sister."

No law save the good book.

And the book tells us...

... to welcome the stranger as if they were Christ himself.

We are called "Eidolon." It is an ancient word for a kind of perfection.

But you will see for yourself.

Miles?

Come.

Come.

♪ ♪ Ah.

I have your hand.

Steady hands, yes.

[EPPS SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]

♪ ♪ [FIRE CRACKLING]

[LOW, INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Mm.

[CUP CLATTERS ON FLOOR]

[LUTHER]

Where is Epps?

Epps comes and goes as he pleases.

Be kind, James.

Epps just lost much.

His heart is broke by grief.

It's not his grief I begrudge, Cora.

We are all equals here, but Epps has taken on airs of late.

[SARA]

Well, he was always like to be so,

- in small ways, for all his goodness.

- Mm.

Yeah, but now he seems to think that God has singled him out in payment for his loss.

Shh, shh, shh.*

- Brothers, sisters.

- Mm.

[LUTHER]

We worried for you, Brother Epps.

The meal has begun, and your guests are unattended.

[EPPS]

The Lord had words about the newcomers.

Troubling words.

I had to pray on it.

We must repair their wagon first.

- Why must we?

- [LUTHER]

Oregon expelled their kind from its very inception.

And the whole country is nearly torn apart

- on account of them.

- [CORA]

Come, Luther.

They didn't start the w*r.

I do not say that they started the w*r.

But you can't deny that they've torn the country in two.

Because, in fact, they have.

♪ ♪ [EPPS]

Brothers, sisters.

What are you doing?

Stop this.

Go back to your beds.

Stop this.

♪ ♪ Forgive me, Lord, but I must ask again about the newcomers.

I am unclear on the meaning of your counsel.

I...

I see, yes.

And that is my prayer...

exactly.

To be strong.

To see past my own revulsion and to open my heart.

But surely...

surely it is a supple heart that is needed and not the firmness of the rod and fist.

Yes, of course.

I will do my best.

[EPPS]

Who had held water in the hollow of his hands?

You are not the counselor of the Lord.

[LUTHER]

I am not the counselor, but there is no water in the well.

You...

Why do you require everything to be an argument, Brother Luther?

I...

Your new friend is very rude, Epps.

He's obviously too frightened to approach.

Please, come.

Come.

Come.

Don't mean to interrupt, kind sirs.

[EPPS]

No, no.

Me and my wife, we was wondering by chance our wagon wheel had been repaired.

We've been taking advantage of your fine hospitality almost a week now.

Just don't seem fair is all.

Well, you know that me and the missus, we...

- we happy to contribute.

- I hesitate...

We don't... we don't like no charity, sirs.

I hesitate to put my guests to work.

But the Lord has counseled me...

... towards strength in this case.

I accept your offer.

- Thank you, sir.

- [LUTHER]

Has Elder Epps told you he is on speaking terms with our Lord?

[LUTHER LAUGHS]

Well, you know the good Lord...

speak to us on his own time and his own way, I...

I guess.

I will pray on which chores will best suit you and your wife...

Why not let your friend settle our dispute?

Why would we do that?

Summer has been very dry.

We must have a second well.

And yet we've dug close to feet and not reached water.

But here is the most pliant soil.

Elsewhere, it will be double the work.

What should we do?

Please.

Yes.

Yes, sir.

Excuse me, sir.

A few more feet.

You'll find that groundwater, sir.

[MAN LAUGHS]

[MAN]

He talks to God, too.

I'd be happy to dig the rest of the way myself, if that'll settle the question.

[LUTHER]

Does the Lord find this suitable, Epps?

Yes.

Yes.

[WOMEN CHUCKLE]

[SARA]

Martha, we are all wondering where you learned to sew so quickly and so well.

My mama taught me, years ago.

And which language did your mother speak when you were a girl?

I'm not sure what you mean.

We all speak English in my family.

I think she means before English.

Where your people are from.

[WOMAN SPEAKS DUTCH]

I guess maybe it was so long ago we lost that.

Whatever it was.

I guess now maybe we're just American.

[WOMEN LAUGHING]

[SPEAKS DUTCH, CHUCKLES]

[SARA]

Young Fenna wonders how it comes out.

From your belly.

Understand?

Does it come out different?

Like a pony?

[LAUGHTER]

Does it just get up and walk away, like a little pony?

[LAUGHTER]

[WATER SLOSHING]

♪ ♪ [PANTING]

[LUTHER]

The African set that up like a trick.

You saw.

Our prayers go unanswered for weeks, but he finds water on his first try.

- How can that be, Epps?

- [LUTHER]

Why do you ask Epps?

- We are all equals here.

- Luther.

Except he's the only one who can talk to God.

- [CORA]

Luther.

- Epps is a prophet!

[APPLAUSE, POUNDING ON TABLES]

[LUTHER]

Then why aren't these Africans afraid of Epps?

Maybe they see weakness.

Listen, listen.

All of our men have protected and guided us through terrible hardship.

If they could not find the water, perhaps there was no water to be found...

by Christians.

Perhaps this is a question of black magic.

[APPLAUSE, POUNDING ON TABLES]

We are now reminded of where we must look for wisdom in times of pain and...

... and confusion.

Leviticus .

"And you may take the sojourners living as aliens among you, and they may become your property.

But with respect of your own countrymen, do not rule with such severity over one another."

[APPLAUSE, POUNDING ON TABLES]

I am troubled, Lord.

Pride is a deadly sin.

It entered at the meeting tonight.

I...

I felt it.

I know I've been singled out for your grace, Lord, but to take any of that glory upon myself would be...

... just reward.

Glory?

Where is the glory in treating these Africans, who came to us in such desperate need, as if they were mere property?

No.

No.

[STAMMERS]

No, no, your... your passage is quite clear, Lord.

Yes, your Word is quite clear.

Yes.

I...

I will.

I...

I will follow the Word with a joyful heart.

[WHEELBARROW RATTLING]

[GRAFTON PANTING]

We need at least three more loads.

Hold on.

Don't make more work for us.

Stack the bricks after you dump them.

Never saw such laziness.

- [LAUGHTER]

- [SARA]

... surely make her sour face if she heard me telling this, but Miss Linde has missed her monthly time again, and she no longer intact.

[GASPING, LAUGHTER]

[PULLEY SQUEAKING]

[APPLAUSE]

♪ ♪ [RAIN FALLING OUTSIDE]

♪ ♪ [EPPS]

I am grateful for these visions, Lord.

Grateful to see the inner truth, even as my earthly sight grows dim.

[STAMMERS]

You shower me with gifts.

[SHUDDERS]

S... serving you brings glory on us all.

And as you say, pride of a faithful servant is no sin.

I'm more than a servant?

A brother?

I am brother...

to you?

[SHUDDERING]

I...

have only one wish.

That you would erase the last lingering doubts from this broken soul...

... and let me see ever more clearly the wisdom of your ways.

Sister.

Mm.

Miles?

Miles, my cross has fallen.

The chain has snapped again.

Miles?

♪ ♪ Miles.

[MARTHA]

Did you drop this, sir?

[DISTORTED WHOOSHING]

How long have you been standing there?

What did you see?

I didn't.

- I don't...

- I am not your Grafton, to be knocked off-balance by a slattern's smile.

What did you see?

[GASPING SOFTLY]

♪ ♪ - [DISTORTED]

Sir, the last thing...

- Of all the evils in this fallen world, a feigned innocence is the most insidious.

You made a fool of me, both of you.

The Lord tried to warn me.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

Even Luther could see.

- [MARTHA]

Please, sir...

- You mock me.

You mock my way of life, mock all that I've accomplished in this...

hateful desert.

I thought you were a test.

The Lord is right.

You've...

[INHALES]

come to break me.

- [BREATHING HEAVILY]

- [MARTHA]

My husband and I are helpless, sir.

We are at your mercy.

If you wish us to leave, you have only to keep your promise and fix our wagon.

You...

make...

demands?!

How dare you!

Or maybe you never meant to keep that promise.

Maybe you lured my husband and I to this place, so that we might work ourselves down to the bone for you and your "perfect" community!

Shame.

- Shame on you a...

- Husband?!

[WHIMPERS]

I see no gold band here.

That is the shame!

[CRYING]

Grafton is no more your husband than a randy hog is husband to a bloated, squealing...

[GRUNTS, PANTING]

[WAILING, CRYING]

- [CRYING]

- [BREATHING HEAVILY]

♪ ♪ [MARTHA SHOUTING, GRUNTING]

[GRAFTON]

Get your hands off her!

No!

No!

Martha!

Martha!

- Here.

- [MARTHA YELPS]

- Get off of me!

- [MARTHA CRYING, GRUNTING]

[GRAFTON SHOUTS]

Here is where we keep all the calving animals.

[CHUCKLING]

- [MARTHA]

Be careful, Grafton, please.

- [GRAFTON]

Martha.

Martha.

- [PANTING]

Martha.

Martha.

- [CRYING]

I'm right here.

Martha.

Martha.

Martha.

[STABLE DOORS SHUTTING]

[MARTHA AND GRAFTON PANTING]

[GRAFTON]

Please.

Please.

Martha, I'm right here.

- [MARTHA CRYING]

- I'm right here.

I'm right here.

Martha, look at me.

Look at me.

Look at me.

I'm right here.

I'm right here.

I'm right here.

I'm right here.

[MARTHA AND GRAFTON CRYING]

♪ ♪ [CREAKING]

[MARTHA WHIMPERS]

[PANTING]

[HORSE NEIGHS]

[CHILDREN SHOUTING IN DUTCH]

[EPPS]

I feel it now, Lord.

I feel the fire you have worked with such diligent love to kindle in my soul.

[INHALES]

I feel the rage that b*rned Sodom.

I feel the righteous fury that buried the Earth under waves taller than the sky.

I will be your instrument, yes.

I will be your mighty instrument, yes.

I will be the instrument of your might.

- [WAILING]

- We are here to render judgment

- in service of the Lord.

- [MARTHA CRYING, SHUDDERING]

Luther...

... call out the charge against the accused.

Stealing a horse.

That horse is ours.

[ANGRY SHOUTING]

[CRYING, BREATHING DEEPLY]

[GRAFTON]

Can't you have the decency

- just to let us leave?

- [LUTHER]

Decency?

Decency?

Decency?!

- [SHOUTS]

- [CRYING]

[GAVEL BANGING]

- See how you have pushed us?

- [GROANING]

[SCREAMS]

Weakness breeds weakness.

It was you who let this evil in.

- [APPLAUSE, POUNDING]

- [GAVEL BANGING]

- [SHUDDERING, CRYING]

- [GRAFTON PANTING]

[EPPS]

Brother Luther is correct.

- But I ask you, Brother.

- [MARTHA CRYING]

Did not the Lord correct my flawed thinking?

Did not the Lord tell us through scripture

- that these are our property?

- [MARTHA WAILS]

- [BREATHING DEEPLY]

- [APPLAUSE, POUNDING]

[LUTHER]

Then how, Brother, shall we discharge them?

[CORA]

Brothers and Sisters,

- tread carefully.

- [MARTHA CRYING]

Jesus makes clear that any who do not welcome the stranger will be damned!

Damned to hell!

[WAILING]

[CRYING]

You are correct on scripture as always, Sister.

But we did welcome them, and they repaid us with thievery.

- [APPLAUSE, POUNDING]

- [GAVEL BANGING]

The Lord has spoken me his justice, Brother Luther.

[MARTHA CRYING]

And the Lord has commanded that you shall deliver it to them, my dear brother.

- [MARTHA PANTING, CRYING]

- [OTHERS]

Amen.

[APPLAUSE, POUNDING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[GRUNTING, PANTING]

♪ ♪ [GRAFTON SHOUTS]

No!

No!

[GRUNTING]

[MARTHA CRYING]

No!

No!

- [MARTHA]

No!

- No!

[SCREAMING]

[EPPS]

"The Lord will afflict you with blindness... "

- [SCREAMING]

- [SIZZLES]

"... and confusion of mind."

- [SCREAMS]

- [SIZZLES]

"He will exile you to a land unknown to your ancestors.

You shall be mocked and cursed among nations.

And your sons and daughters will each and all be led away into captivity."

[WHIMPERING]

The Lord has made plain His desire for the African race.

The Lord has set every people of the world against them.

The Lord has painted the Earth red with their fetid, cancerous blood.

[FEET STOMPING]

And, so, we must punish them as the Lord commands.

Blind them, He says.

And so we have blinded them.

Curse them, He says.

So we have cursed them.

Cast them out, He says.

And so we now must expel them as our wise flesh expels every impurity that would rot us from within.

[WHIMPERS]

You!

You are cursed!

I curse you!

Proud, hideous, wrongful man.

Cursed!

Cursed!

I don't know how the Lord's Word doesn't burst into flame at the sound of your wickedness, you white devil!

[COMMUNITY SCREAMING]

[THE FLAMINGOS: "I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU"]

♪ My love must be a kind of blind love ♪

♪ I can't see anyone ♪

♪ But you ♪

[SCREAMING FADES]

♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

- ♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

- ♪ Are the stars ♪

- ♪ Out tonight? ♪

- ♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

♪ I don't know if it's cloudy ♪

- ♪ Or bright ♪

- ♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

♪ I only have eyes ♪

♪ For you ♪

♪ Dear ♪

♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

♪ You are here ♪

- ♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

- ♪ And so am I ♪

♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

♪ Maybe millions of people ♪

- ♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

- ♪ Go by...

[EPPS]

Let fire and sulfur rain down from Heaven!

♪ From view ♪

♪ Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ♪

- [HORSE NEIGHING]

- ♪ Ooh ooh ooh ♪

♪ And I ♪

♪ Only have eyes ♪

- ♪ For you ♪

- ♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

♪ Sha bop sha bop ♪

♪ ♪

[WOOD BREAKING, FALLING]

[GRUNTS]

[PANTING]

♪ ♪ I... have obeyed.

Followed every command.

Can it end this way?

[MILES]

This is not the end.

Miles?

This is not the end, my most faithful servant.

Who are you?

I'm the one you worship in your heart.

I've answered when He kept silent.

We are bound together.

Do I meet you only to die?

You prayed to triumph over death, and so it shall be.

You prayed to shake the world, and so you shall.

I knew it would be like this.

Tell me your will, Lord.

You see how it happens with Them.

Everything They touch, They destroy.

You must destroy Them first.

Tell me how, Lord.

I've already shown you the way.

A wound in the heart is like a door.

You walk through the door and break their hearts from the inside.

If I...

If I break them from the inside, shall I defeat death?

With their broken souls shall you purchase endless life and such power men have only in dreams.

But if you should fail to break Them, your own soul shall be forfeit.

If you should fail to bring Them suffering, you will suffer.

If you should fail to make a Hell for Them...

... one instead will be made for you.

Do you accept these terms?

[BREATHING SHAKILY]

Take my hand, then.

Our covenant is sealed.

[WOOD CRACKING]

- [INSECTS TRILLING]

- [FLAMES CRACKLING]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[NAT KING COLE: "THAT SUNDAY, THAT SUMMER"]

♪ If I had to choose ♪

♪ Just one day ♪

♪ If I had to choose ♪

♪ Just one day ♪

♪ To last my whole life through ♪

♪ It would surely be ♪

♪ That Sunday ♪

♪ The day that I met you ♪

♪ Newborn whip-poor-wills ♪

♪ Were calling from the hills ♪

♪ Summer was a-coming in but fast ♪

♪ Lots of daffodils ♪

♪ Were showing off their skills ♪

♪ Nodding all together ♪

♪ I could almost hear them whisper ♪

♪ Go on, kiss her ♪

♪ Go on and kiss her ♪

♪ If I had to choose ♪

♪ One moment ♪

♪ To live within my heart ♪

♪ It would be that ♪

♪ Tender moment ♪

♪ Recalling how we started ♪

♪ Darling, it would be ♪

♪ When you smiled at me ♪

♪ That way ♪

♪ That Sunday ♪

♪ That summer ♪

♪ Newborn whip-poor-wills ♪

♪ Were calling from the hills ♪

♪ Summer was a-coming in but fast ♪

♪ Lots of daffodils ♪

♪ Were showin' off their skills ♪

♪ Nodding all together ♪

♪ I could almost hear them whisper ♪

♪ Go on, kiss her ♪

♪ Go on and kiss her now ♪

♪ If I had to choose ♪

♪ One moment ♪

♪ To live within my heart ♪

♪ That way ♪

♪ That Sunday ♪

♪ Just one day ♪