01x06 - Celeste

[bunniefuu]

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 f*cked.

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 s*ab you.

- No!
- Just, like, almost s*ab 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 let me read it to him,
like, all day yesterday,

and I'm, like,
actually invested.

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?

- 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 that 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 a

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 deign to search for my own
attendant is cause enough to box your ear.

It's my fault, Mama. I asked
her to listen to Dana with me.

Rufus, I should have it that
Dana shall no longer read to you.

- But, Mommy...
- Hey!

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
damn 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.

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! Mmm!

That is marvelous.

Should 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 want to 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 fond remembrances
of my own coming out.

You would have found me
quite becoming, Rufus.

Relish the opportunity to meet one half
as good as your mother in Philippa.

Go on.

Um... so, uh...

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 a short time.

Nothing.

- Listen, about last night, I wasn't trying...
- The more I know,

the more danger you
put me in, you hear?

I'm already in enough trouble.

Somethin' 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 'fore you step foot
in this cookhouse. You hear me?

What you lookin' at?

I keep Carrie in that tow linen
so she don't end up like Celeste

or any of their mothers.

Last one might have 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 proving 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 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
blithering 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 somethin' 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 cornbread 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, Marse.
- Yes.

- Yes, sir.
- Yes.

You see any of these mongrels
even think about lapping it up,

you sh**t.

Now back to work with you!

How long are we expected to work
off a half square of cornbread, Luke?

- We're practically starved as it is.
- Ain't sensible.

Marse Tom's liable to lose half his stock in
this heat if we keep on with empty stomachs.

You're right, Jupe, and
Marse Tom know that.

He just sore on account of his shine
for Winnie, but he's a reasonable man.

- Ugh.
- Give it the night, Peter.

Master Tom gon'
come to his senses.

You better hope he
does. You was the one

that was supposed to be
watching out that night.

Where 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 sl*ve is supposed to leave
Tom Weylin's plantation that way.

If you ask me,

it's fixin' 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 him.

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-mm. No.

Did you take her
wherever it is you go?

Yeah. Winnie's gone for good.

Night.

(water

Morning, Mr. Franklin. Making
friends with the ducks, were ya?

Somethin' 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 have some real talents
for him to be so upset about her.

Your own must as well.

What do you mean by that?

Well, you tell me.

Is Dana mouthy in
more ways than one?

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

- You right, Jupe.
- Pitiful sight, isn't it?

-Get up, you good-for- nothing...
-Back off, damn it!

The man ain't eaten anything.
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.

Better start watching
the way you talk to me.

Things going so south for
ya, you might just regret it.

- Come on...
- Don't be touching me!

That Jake right. You're just the right
hand to all that evil up in that house.

Back to work.

What are you
doing in here?

I was retrieving a
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 sl*ve
reading in my library.

Oh, I'm... I'm so sorry.
Um, 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 f*ck
about his dead wife?

You're right. I'm sorry. Okay.

Everyone's a little... tense.

While I was outside earlier,
I saw someone collapse.

I really thought that everyone was
gonna turn on Luke right then and there.

This starvation
situation is... is 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 the piano.

- Shh!
- Olivia?

It's Dana.

- You alone?
- Yeah.

Get in.

What is going on?

What the f*ck 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.

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 nothin'!

At least I know what
I got with Marse 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 k*ll
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.
- Mm.

I won't go back to him.

Olivia, it's Luke.

-Olivia.
-Luke can't know she's here. He will turn us in.

Miss
Olivia, open up. I hear you in there.

Get in
that crawlspace 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
you're attending girl is quite pretty.

What a
charming creature.

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' piano tutor.

- Pleasure.
- Oh, the pleasure's mine, sir.

That 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
are you all standing around?

Get back to work.

Baby's coming too soon.

What do I... 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 Miss 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
b*ating 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.

- You're doing so good.
- Okay, Dana.

- Good job.
- Now I'm gonna rotate the head.

Okay.

I got the baby in
a good position.

It's okay.

- Just a little bit more, okay?
- I'm sorry, I can't.

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.

Here comes another contraction.

Okay.

Okay.

Wait, wait, wait. 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!

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, Hmm?

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.

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...
what about Celeste?

No. No, no, no. 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.

Can I hold it?

This hair... blond.

Clean up this mess,
hmm? Get the grave dug.

- Luke...
- Leave me be, Dana!

Just...

leave me be.

Oh!

Mwah! Don't fret, my dear.

Philippa's 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
sh*t's not going so well.

I should have 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 gon'
tell Tom about Winnie, don't be.

He just lost somethin'
really precious.

He's not gon' care about anything
else for a long, long time.

Meal bell.

It took all of this for
that piece of sh*t...

to come to his senses.

Well... at least it's done.

I gotta get back home.

I'm sorry, but I...

I don't want to be like you.

I don't want to
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...

and you came back
after the fire,

even when you went back that
same night, I held on to you.

Because I was holding on to
an old version of myself.

It's hard to look at you.

You have your father's face.

I get 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 of
that nearly k*lled me.

So I moved on.

And I need you to move on.

I can't.

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.

I can... I can tell them
to you if you want to 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!

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're not my husband.

Leave Tom.

Uh...

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. 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.

Target, Walgreens... Walmart.

Brought your supper.

I ain't hungry.

Luke.

I'm...

I'm so... 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.
- It's the same way he took Nigel's mother.

Sold her off as soon
as his own Hannah d*ed.

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
gon' be here till we die.

I want to help Nigel...

and you.

Like your helped Winnie?

What about the folks
back here, huh?

With Jake here to mind them?

I'm not runnin'.

Nobody's suffering any more than
they already do on my account.

Nigel told me you could 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 him into competence

with cakes and candies
like his mother?

Nothing takes.

Boys need to spend time with
their fathers to understand them.

That's a luxury I
wasn't afforded.

My father did not live to
tell me his w*r stories.

He was sh*t dead.

Yeah, I lost, uh...

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 to spend
more time with the boy.

I apologize for
my behavior today.

I fear the present situation
has turned me... womanly.

I suffered an...
An unexpected blow

to my numbers between
this afternoon...

and Winnie.

Hmm.

When they run away...

ah, 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 d*ed.

- What?
- The baby d*ed, too.

I, um...

I was there.

I watched.

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.