01x01 - Part 1

[bunniefuu]

[MARCHING DRUM PLAYS]

[STIRRUPS JANGLING]

Steady!

[DRUMMING STOPS]

[g*nsh*t]

[CLAMORING]

- [CANNONS f*ring]

- Hold the line!

[HORSE SQUEALS]

[NEIGHS]

Hold that line! Hold the line!

Hold the line!

[CLAMORING]

Hold the line!

Brave men of the 11th!

Get together, God damn!

[EXPLOSIONS CONTINUE]

Theirs not to make reply!

Theirs not to reason why!

Theirs but to do and die!

You will follow me,

and you will fire.

Charge!

[YELLS]

♪ suspenseful music ♪

♪♪

Fire!

♪♪

Advance!

[TROOPS SHOUTING]

[TROOPS CHANTING]

[MEN SHOUTING REBEL YELL]

♪ dramatic music ♪

♪♪

[HORSE NEIGHS]

[SCREAMS]

[WHOOPING]

♪ atmospheric music ♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[GROANING]

[EXCITED CHATTER]

You done k*lled the wrong side.

I'd rather be sh*t in the face

than in the back.

[MAN] We collected 200 prisoners

and a battery of field g*ns

[CHEERING]

while McCulloch's division

suffered 325 casualties,

with 788 unaccounted for,

thought to be k*lled, deserted

or runaway.

Another challenge in this bloody

campaign we must overcome.

There's nothing we can't,

nothing we won't,

for God favors the Confederacy.

[MURMURS OF AGREEMENT]

Let us adjourn, gentlemen.

No w*r has ever been won

on an empty belly.

Before dinner, sir, if you don't mind

inform us when

the supply train will arrive.

Has it not arrived?

I'm not aware of it, General.

Despite good counsel

from many honorable men here,

you made the decision

to leave our wagons behind

to advantage our swift flight

and goal of surprise.

We marched fast, only to

find ourselves outflanked,

outmaneuvered and now, out-supplied.

Major, that may be

an unfortunate oversight.

My oversight, indeed.

Yes, General, yours indeed.

[MURMURING]

Are you finished?

♪ quiet, dramatic music ♪

[GEORGE] I hear that you like

poetry, is that right?

[VAN DORN] A poet typically does, Major.

[MEN CHUCKLING]

Thank you.

[VAN DORN] What is your

current line of inquiry

I saw you.

What is your name, soldier?

No soldier, sir.

Just Bass.

Well, you are a wolf, then, Bass.

We are a breed apart.

We know our own.

♪♪

[GEORGE] "and the lovely

plumage of the bird's

that never alights;

less celestial,

I celebrate a tail."

As do I, gentlemen.

Consider yourself dismissed, Major.

Bass.

♪♪

[DOOR CLOSES]

It's a damn confederacy of dunces, Bass.

It's not debatable, is it?

No, sir.

"No, sir," indeed.

Strike my tent. Pack my gear.

Tack the horses.

♪ slow, dramatic music ♪

♪♪

[FLIES BUZZING]

♪♪

Where do you think you're

headed, Mr. Nighttime?

To get the horses a little

of that grass over yonder.

My Henry r*fle may have served you well,

but don't go thinking

you're any kind of master now.

Boy, I don't think I cotton

to the light in your eyes.

Answer me straight.

Do you mistake me for

some kind of cowardly deserter?

No, sir.

You Master Reeves, through and through.

I received dispensation from Van Dorn.

"Damn Born's" more like it.

He's calling it a health reprieve.

Pardon my saying, sir,

but you didn't fight like no sick man.

Well, I suspect he was

sick of my company, Bass.

Mutual sentiment to be sure.

Can't figure how the general

didn't find you sweet like honey.

I did leave him a bit stung, didn't I?

Deep, I'd say.

[CHUCKLES]

Go get your grass.

Yes, sir.

Don't think you're going to

sleep while I lie here awake.

Oh, no, sir.

Just admiring God's creation.

You ever thought God could be

our own creation instead?

No, sir.

Well, isn't that rich?

If you could read,

you'd surely delight in Longfellow.

Who knows, you two could be right,

there could be life after.

Some grand paradise above.

I'd still like to learn, Master.

So I could study the Bible.

You're not thinking n*gg*r*s go to

the good part of Heaven, are you?

Sir?

You see that big separation up there?

You're looking at all

the pretty twinkling lights.

But if you're going anywhere,

you're going to where there's nothing.

Just black airy nothing.

That part you ain't even looking at.

Only white folks

go to the big dance, boy.

If anybody's going anywhere.

♪ soft, dramatic music ♪

♪♪

Whoa-whoa-whoa-whoa.

This is an unusual conservation.

Wait here.

Yes, sir.

Rachel?

Rachel?

♪♪

Nobody's here.

No, sir?

When you finish up, come find me.

Yes, sir.

No garlands, no trumpets.

Just us tonight.

Such a sad homecoming.

[INSECTS TRILLING]

Jennie?

Is it you?

It is.

♪ gentle music ♪

♪♪

Is the w*r over?

It is for me.

[SIGHS]

♪♪

♪♪

[GEORGE] Bass!

God damn you.

Bass!

That man just can't quit you.

Want me to tell him

that I'm yours tonight?

You mine forever.

Master?

Master Reeves?

You there?

Master, you in there?

[GEORGE] You found me.

You want me to come in?

I said, "You found me."

Do you know what I've been ruminating on

this whole time you were

tending to the horses?

Or doing whatever else

took you so damn long?

I was thinking,

"Watch.

That n*gg*r will run off

before I give him a chance

to walk away scot-free."

Master?

The whole damn family

is visiting Rachel's folks.

Ain't that some unlucky bullshit?

Now, we could ride over there

and rouse them one and all.

A merry ruckus.

Or we could share a gentler repast here,

play a round of cards.

Yes, sir.

That's it?

That's all you got to say to me?

Thank you, Master.

You act as though you don't

believe I'm a man of my word.

Oh, no.

I'm listening. I'm listening, sir.

Confused, but listening.

So, how am I confusing you, boy?

No, sir, I'm not saying

you're confusing me.

I'm saying I'm-I'm

confused all on my own

about how I can

walk out of here scot-free.

Here's my offer.

You only get one chance,

fleeting and final.

w*r is w*r that way, and this is w*r.

After your heroics in battle,

this is what I'll do.

I'll set you free tonight.

I'll write out a letter of manumission

you can carry with you at all times.

That's my promise.

That sound awful kind.

But you must b*at your master.

♪ tense, dramatic music ♪

♪♪

Hurry up.

Yes, sir.

You're counting, boy.

I can see your lips move.

Sorry, sir. I-I got to.

Jesus.

- I can't draw until you do.

- Yes, sir.

I'm hurrying.

You ready now?

Ready, Master.

Almost perfect, is it?

My hand's not bad either.

♪ tense, dramatic music ♪

♪♪

You look first.

Yes, sir.

♪♪

[CHUCKLES] Yeah.

[GIGGLES]

Oh, your God has been good to me.

[DRINK POURS]

Let's see what lot He has given you.

♪♪

Well, that can't be, boy.

Do you realize what you have?

A plain flush?

I must congratulate you.

[SNIFFLES]

That beats a lot of hands.

A pair, two pair,

three of a kind, a straight.

But it doesn't b*at a full house.

And it doesn't b*at

four of a kind.

Ooh, that was a close one.

You-you don't play poker

like I taught you to sh**t them Yankees,

but that was a good game.

Master, I had a queen.

That there queen of hearts.

You think you did what?

I played a queen of hearts. I had it.

Well, there's only one

queen of hearts in this deck.

I had it, you saw it.

Do you understand?

You must not know

what a queen looks like.

You cheated me.

"Servants, obey in all things

your masters according to the flesh;

not with eye service, as men pleasers;

but singleness of heart, fearing God."

"A false balance

is abomination to the Lord:

but a just weight

- Silence your tongue, boy!

- is His delight!"

[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]

[GRUNTING]

You get your

[BOTH SHOUTING]

You cheated me!

[SHOUTING]

You cheated me!

Bass, what you do?

Bass?

Are you hurt?

I done messed up.

For all of us.

Oh, Lord.

Bass, look at me.

Look.

You gonna run now.

You gonna take a horse

and you gonna run far from here,

far from all this.

- No

- Yes,

you are.

I ain't watching you

get strung up and dead.

I ain't.

So you gonna run.

You gonna run and never look back.

Promise me.

I'm your woman. Do what I say.

Promise me.

♪ quiet, dramatic music ♪

♪♪

I promise.

I love you.

I'm sorry.

Don't ever look back.

♪♪

♪♪

Gentlemen.

Get off that damn horse.

Yes, sir.

[SPITS]

Who's your master?

Uh, George Reeves.

He a major in the 11th Texas Cavalry.

I'll be.

He important, ain't he?

Yes, sir.

So important he let

his n*gg*r*s run loose?

No, sir.

I's headed to fetch his missus.

She with kin in Sherman.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

♪ pulsing, dramatic music ♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[HORSE FUSSING]

Come on, girl.

[CONTINUES FUSSING]

Okay, okay.

[WHINNIES]

Okay.

♪ quiet, dramatic music ♪

♪♪

You're still a good girl.

You're still a good girl.

[DISTANT DOGS BARKING]

♪ pulsing, dramatic music ♪

♪♪

[GRUNTS]

♪ quiet, dramatic music ♪

♪♪

[BIRD SQUAWKING]

- [CRUNCHES]

- [GRUNTS]

♪♪

[GRUNTS]

[g*nsh*t]

[INSECTS TRILLING]

[Kn*fe SCRAPING]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

♪ dramatic string music ♪

♪♪

[CAWING]

[CAWING]

[FLIES BUZZING]

♪♪

[RAIN PATTERING]

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

♪♪

[SINGING QUIETLY]

[g*nsh*t]

Seminole?

Runaway.

♪ quiet, dramatic music ♪

♪♪

Water.

Water.

[SPEAKS CREEK]

Water.

[SPEAKS CREEK]

[SPEAKS CREEK]

[CHICKENS CLUCKING]

[GOAT BLEATING]

[METAL HAMMERING]

[SIZZLES]

Thank you.

You need rest.

Where am I?

Long way from anywhere.

I'm Sara.

[METAL CLANGS]

This here is p*stol,

and you're troubling us both.

[METAL CLANGING]

But you're home.

For now.

Thank you, Sara.

This all yours?

Me and my husband.

Where he?

[DOOR CREAKS]

You cross the Red River?

Escape the w*r?

And the whip.

Curtis don't know any of that.

Nor I.

Never felt the sting.

But w*r, I do know.

Fought in Florida to be free.

♪ somber, dramatic music ♪

We Seminole never surrendered.

Never made a worthless treaty.

Now my people live here.

Still free.

My husband built us this home

then d*ed in the white man's w*r,

so Curtis never has to wear chains.

I left the woman I love.

You can swing a hammer, shoe a horse?

I ain't afraid of work.

You stay here.

You help me and Curtis.

You'll be free, too.

[DOOR CREAKS]

In there?

You want me to put my hand

in that hole? Where I can't see?

- [SHOUTS]

- [LAUGHS]

I don't need to speak Creek

to know you're poking fun.

I think you know exactly

what I'm saying, too.

[SHOUTS]

[GASPS]

♪ uplifting music ♪

♪♪

[LAUGHS]

[LAUGHS SOFTLY]

♪ somber, suspenseful music ♪

♪♪

[SCOFFS] Heed your call.

[GRUNTS]

Any of you speak

a g*dd*mn lick of English?

John say there been

a run on goods lately,

lot of folk coming and going.

But he'd do it for seven dollars.

You two are slicker than a slop jar.

[MONEY SHUFFLING]

I'll give you a quarter to load it

while me and my men eat lunch?

A quarter for me, a quarter for the boy.

[SIGHS]

[COUGHING]

Romulus

and Remus.

Both raised by wolves.

Major Pierce.

No "Major" now.

Just Esau.

This your boy?

I won't bite.

You prefer being a daddy to

putting daddies in the grave.

The boy ain't mine.

Could be, though.

It's all there for the taking now.

Another man's cradle,

another man's bride.

You returned to the wild, Bass.

Freedom's a good color on you.

I reckon it would be for anyone.

Surprisingly, no.

You'd think a man gifted freedom

would walk on his own accord,

but most prefer the comfort

of the master's leash

to liberty and justice.

If I was not in these irons,

I'd be happy to oblige them,

Lincoln or no.

Union won?

g*dd*mn. No news here, I see.

This faraway rock

you crawl under got a name?

Turkey Creek.

Well, gobble, gobble.

[CHAINS RATTLE]

You best hurry up, Bass.

Collect your whelp and take flight.

Hell is coming on wings of its own.

Curtis!

- [PEOPLE SCREAMING]

- [g*nf*re]

Now.

[SCREAMING]

[ESAU] Find a g*n!

♪ dramatic music ♪

♪♪

[HIGH-PITCHED RINGING]

[BREATHING ECHOING]

Stop.

Your pup's got fangs.

World wants both of us breathing, boy.

[BASS] Curtis!

No.

You listen to your daddy now.

Curtis!

[SHOUTS] No! No!

[SPEAKS CREEK]

Curtis. Curtis. [SPEAKS CREEK]

[SCREAMS]

[SPEAKING CREEK]

[PANTING]

[SCREAMS]

♪ somber music ♪

♪♪

♪♪

[INSECTS TRILLING]

He d*ed brave.

He lived brave.

My loss can't be yours.

You take p*stol

you live brave, too.

somber, contemplative music ♪

♪♪

Your heart still beats.

I hate to do this

but Miss Sara insisted.

See, I made a promise a long

time ago I'm fixing to break.

You be good to me, p*stol,

and I'll be good to you.

That's all either of us can do.

♪ hopeful, sweeping music ♪

♪♪

♪ quiet, contemplative music ♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

[DOOR CREAKS]

That's a nice grey outside.

Hard to miss it from the house.

Mistress Rachel.

I said you'd be back.

George wouldn't believe it,

but I knew. I knew all along.

- [EXHALES] Welcome home.

- I don't want no trouble.

Have no fear, Bass.

George isn't around, and even if he was,

you already b*at the spit

and spite out of him.

No

my husband's got his mind set

on politics.

Fancies himself a legislator.

As if that will allow him

to reclaim the things

that were taken from us.

The things?

Or the people?

We hold on something fierce

to what we love, don't we?

Where'd Jennie go?

[LAUGHS SOFTLY]

♪ somber, contemplative music ♪

♪♪

♪♪

- [SALLY] Mama.

- Sally, dear.

You're gonna be the death of me.

[GRUNTS]

[BABBLES]

♪♪

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

I hope he treats you right.

What?

Your new man.

I hope he treats you right.

He does.

Got a bad habit of up

and disappearing, though.

Too damn quiet at times.

Stubborn as a mule.

But that man sure does love

stubborn, too.

He got a name?

Bass.

Bass Reeves.

♪ gentle music ♪

♪♪

Say hello

to your daughter.

Hello.

♪ Father, Father ♪

♪ Let me love you ♪

♪ Let me ♪

Father, Father ♪

♪ Let me love you ♪

♪ Let me ♪

♪ Saw you wandering in ♪

♪ My dream last night ♪

♪ Saw you wandering in ♪

♪ My dream last night ♪

♪ Father, Father ♪

♪ Let me know you ♪

♪ Let me know you ♪

♪ Father, Father ♪

♪ Let me know you ♪

♪ Let me show you ♪

How many mouths you got to feed

with no harvest?

What's your offer?

- exciting music ♪

- [SHERRILL] Welcome to the Dead Line.

Out here there ain't no laws.

- Only outlaws.

- Ready?

Justice.

It's a dangerous job.

It's hard for a man to put fear

and hate behind him.

You think you can handle

the weight of the badge?

What'd you do?!

♪ atmospheric music ♪