Barkskins (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - The Law of Two - full transcript

The Iroquois return to Wobik to collect their dead.

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Previously on Barkskins...

The Iroquois always collect their dead.

What will you do when they come
back to make their own dead?

It was a business dispute.

I'm done with both you
and that English bastard Cooke.

Gus Lafarge is dead.

I saw his end myself.

The Company did not send you here.

If they had, you would
know that what happened...

Cross's idea.

Cross is married to my sister.



The one on the end
is quite taken with you.

He has a kind face
and not so old, I guess.

You need a good wife

befitting a man with your vision.

I have another job for you.

Take the boy into the woods.

He must not return.

♪ My eyes shall then ♪

♪ Behold Thee ♪

♪ Upon Thy cross ♪

♪ Thy dwell ♪

♪ My heart in faith ♪

♪ Enfold Thee ♪

♪ Who dieth ♪



♪ Thus dies well. ♪

God is watching.

He, uh, even watches us here

in this speck of a town.

Then he can see what you have done.

What is it that I have
done apart from putting food

- on your family's table?
- God knows.

Just as you know what
happened to my husband.

God knows that Gus was
a good and loyal man.

Where is my son?

He ran into the woods,
from what I was told.

No. He would have been home by now.

I will find him.

Now...

we must see him into the
earth so that he may pass over.

How will you find Thom?

Charles,

my new man, will find him for you.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Did you know my husband?

No, uh, but he was a good man, I'm told.

A steadfast man.

My husband left me with nothing.

Murdered.

And now my son is lost in the woods.

I am widowed,

and all of my days will now be doomed.

I will see that you're taken care of.

I will find your son.

That is a promise.

Now cover him

so that he may pass into
the kingdom of heaven

and be forgiven in
the eyes of our maker.

Forgive me, Father.

It calls to me,

even in contemplation of Your words.

The smell of Your crust.

The way it sits in my belly.

Look away.

Please.

Have mercy.

To know the Creator,

one must first know
the whole of the world.

And to know the whole of the world,

one must first know the Law of Two,

which governs everything.

Nothing is single here,
everything is double.

Every element contains its opposite.

Each sunrise starts at
sunset the night before.

Every man emerges from a woman.

Wars are plotted at peace.

Sides of the same coin.

Good. Now...

come and choose your sweets.

Gather in the chapel, children.

Quickly.

What are you doing?

I was illuminating them, Mother.

Illuminating?

I will have them double their prayers.

Ah, yes.

I'm sure they will find all
the great answers to the world

while on their knees, praying.

It is your solution to everything.

You would do well to take
them out beyond the walls

and show them the claws of beasts.

State your business.

I have come for my bride.

Ah, you disagree with the union.

Speak your mind. Let the poison out.

You don't share a God,

yet you hope to share a bed,

and put children into the world.

We share the same God,
just different sides.

But I think those differences
will make the marriage bed

more interesting, don't you think?

You chose well, Delphine.

Pierre is a fine trapper.

You chose correctly as well, Isabelle.

It all happened so fast.

He was the first to look at me.

That means he was drawn to you.

But then he... he barely spoke to me.

It will come, in time.

Or it won't.

There is no way to know for certain.

The men put on a show, as did we.

We all played our part.

Some more than others.

I am sure all of our men will be kind.

I just pray that he is patient.

Patient?

No man is patient, Delphine.

Not even the priests.

The least he could do is
provide you with a real ring.

That is what a kind man would do.

- He promised me a proper one.
- Hold him to that.

He must value you more
than a strip of leather,

or that is all you will ever be.

Mes chéries, hasten.

You have an hour before the signing.

Use it to pray for
guidance and protection.

May you find utility and grace and...

Happiness?

Yes, of course. Happiness.

Melissande.

Come with me.

Yes, Mother.

I wish to talk to you
about Monsieur Trepagny.

Mm.

He is not like the other men.

Yes. He is rich

and well-dressed.

The other men smelled
of dead animals and shit.

Do not be taken in by his boasts.

It is one thing to
say that you have land

as far as the eye can see.

It is quite another thing
to be able to hold on to it.

I will see it for myself.

I am sure he is the man for me.

I have made my choice.

I wish you luck.

And our secret?

A man of Monsieur Trepagny's
standing must never know

I am not as God made me.

It is yours to tell, child.

Do you have what I gave you?

Father Gabriel often came here

to contemplate after his chores.

He didn't return for morning prayer.

Perhaps he shucked
his robes and ran off.

No. He has been taken by Iroquois.

And how is it you know this?

The bodies are gone.

Well, perhaps Father Gabriel ate them

and then sank into the river.

It was a sin to display
the dead like that.

And it is a sin to let these savages

think they can move on us.

The Iroquois will return.
I have been among them.

I know how their minds work.

I'll post a lookout.

And I'll need men to lead
a search party for Father Gabriel.

I have no spare men.

Intendant De Fer is coming.

Father.

I like them in a pot
with wine and herbs.

Oh. You do, now?

I come in a friendly and helpful manner.

A man of many talents

who could be of use to
you in your current state.

I know what you are
after, Monsieur Gasquet.

I could tell you the all of it
if you invited me for a meal.

You are welcome

to pay for a meal

like everybody else.

As I am learning,

my late husband extended
credit to the entire town.

I didn't mean that sort of meal.

Go away.

Perhaps tomorrow, then.

You can come out now.

Rabbits.

Monsieur Gasquet brought them.

Can you say "rabbit"?

Hmm?

He has designs on the inn

and some other things as well.

Monsieur Gasquet does
not take no for an answer.

The more I push him away, the
more he sees the challenge.

He has grabbed me more than a few times,

and with Francis right there.

Ah, but did Francis protect me?

No.

And when I demanded that
he put Monsieur Gasquet out,

what did he do?

Hmm?

He did nothing, Renardette.

Nothing.

He was as useless as a spring flower.

And now I have found he has let
half the town dine on credit,

and it is up to me to collect the debt

so that I may carry forth.

But we will make do.

Hmm?

Us girls will make do,

and then...

we will prosper, Renardette.

Oh, careful. You will hurt yourself.

Go.

Bonjour, Mathilde.

Captain.

I have said all I will say
on my husband's death.

Oh, no, I have not come about that.

I was hoping to have a word with
the Hudson Bay man, Mr. Goames.

Departed this morning.

Ah.

Did he say where he was off to?

There was some discussion
of a trip to Quebec City.

I believe they intend to return.

They asked me to keep a room for them.

Better they do not return.

Oh, they will be back.

I'm sure of it.

They are keen on finding
their missing man, Mr. Cross.

That one is dead, more than likely.

Is there something else?

Mm.

Um...

Keep a sharp eye out

and don't go beyond the walls.

Especially after dark.

The Iroquois paid a visit
to the docks last night.

The bodies are gone.

A priest missing.

Have you talked to Mr.
Cooke about the troubles?

What would Mr. Cooke
know of the massacre?

Scheming with Gus Lafarge

about the land by the creek, they were.

Henri Marth, too.

- Marth?
- Oh, yeah.

I heard them discuss it
more than a few times.

Was this before or after

you fell into dispute with Lafarge

on the matter of tables?

Eh? A fierce wobble?

I believe he was too busy
scheming with Mr. Cooke

instead of building a proper
table to sit without a wobble.

Cooke and Lafarge are responsible

for the creek massacre...
is that what you are saying?

I am saying I heard them
discussing it, and then,

not a week later, those
poor settlers met their end.

I suppose one could see it that way.

Aye.

All of my head spins with rumor.

What I need are facts.

Of course you do.

I am just an innkeep.

What do I know of facts?

- You are more than that, Mathilde.
- Mm.

And you are the captain

sent to watch over Wobik, not me.

Yes.

Yes, I am.

And I will come up with
a plan, rest assured.

A wise man

would run Mr. Cooke out of Wobik.

Put things to order

before it is hung on your head.

Mm.

Help... help me.

Mercy.

I'm burned.

You must leave the water.

Something for the pain, please.

Wait for me.

I will be back.

_

Sit.

Randall Cross. Yes?

Who ordered this?

There was no order.
I took it upon myself.

My sister Alice...

I still don't understand the
impetus to use company resources

for a personal mission.

A Mr. Elisha Cooke in Wobik

says that he and
Randall Cross had a plan

to stir the Iroquois against
some French settlers.

Aye, that is correct.

Along with the delivery
we're supposed to make.

Mr. Cooke is well acquainted
with English interests

in the region.

Interests that include
moving forward against Wobik.

Were the settlers cleared?

They were.

Massacre.

I want to know if that
was Cross's orders.

To work with Mr. Cooke.

We find allies where needed.

Trade. That is our business.

- Or have you forgotten that?
- I know Randall,

and such an action...

a massacre of innocent people...

that is not his blood.

I need to know if he
was acting on orders.

The orders were to make way
inland, weaken the French hold.

The particulars are not important.

We have larger plans. That is no secret.

I'll ask again. Have you made a report?

Yes.

I will see it, then.

Furthermore, I'm granting
you and Mr. Kirkpatrick

the oversee of the Wobik post

and all the land west of the creek.

If Mr. Cross is to be found,

the posting can be restored to him.

And if he is lost?

Then you will contact the
Iroquois and let them know

that should they choose to
avail themselves of muskets

to rise up against the French,

that they will be supplied in abundance

by their stalwart friends
at the Hudson Bay Company.

- And you expect us to work with this Mr. Cooke?
- If possible.

But Mr. Cooke is not our
only asset in the region.

Bill Selby is about.

Now you have your assignment.

Now be gone.

Mademoiselle Isabelle Caron

and Monsieur Vincent Belonger.

Hand over the notarized property list.

Félicitations.

Mademoiselle Delphine Langois
and Monsieur Pierre Gasquet.

Your property list, Gasquet.

Mademoiselle Melissande de Saint Rémy

and Monsieur Claude Trepagny.

Now I have the whole of the moon.

Please accept my humble tithe, Mother.

I wish you happiness and fortune.

We are the mothers of New France.

Will we see each other again?

Of course. There will be market days.

There will be time to visit.

- Delphine!
- Oh! Put me down!

My apologies.

Melissande?

Step away from this noble voyageur

before he carries you
off into the woods.

One pelt per man, Pierre.

One pelt.

Should move on.

My bags.

Oh, do not concern yourself.

We will send for it later.

My man, Rene Sel, will fetch it.

Bonjour, Mathilde.

Monsieur Trepagny.

Are you coming to pay your bill?

Your bill.

Are you coming to settle your bill?

I believe I am current.

I have a balanced account in all things.

Oh, no, no. I am going through
my late husband's books,

and it seems there are a
few outstanding charges.

It would be a shame if your new bride

could not come to the
inn should the need arise.

The need may not arise.
We are going to my Doma,

and she is not yet my bride.

In the eyes of the king, yes,

but there are higher bindings
yet to be done... a proper wedding.

A celebration and one to which
you will surely be invited.

Now have we settled our debt?

Madam.

Good fortune to you.

You will put a show of it on

and tell Lafarge's widow her
boy took a boat to Quebec City,

distraught at his father's demise.

Is it not better if she
hears it from you?

No, it is not better.

You will find the truth in
it, she will gladly accept it.

That is your task.

I understand, but when will I be paid?

The job is not finished.

Until it is, you should
view me as a blunt blade

that will smash you if you cross me.

You asked I take care of Lafarge's boy.

It was taken care of.

That's worth something.

It is.

Well, this won't cover passage.

A smart man forgoes small reward now

for great reward later.

Compounded with work,
dedication and loyalty.

Loyalty?

I will teach you the barrel game.

What do you think that is...

the barrel game?

You take timber, cut staves,
make barrels, sell them.

But you think too small, Charles.

It is not the barrels themselves.

It pays to have a hand in what
goes in and out of them as well.

Spice, cloth. That brick, there.

I brought that across the Atlantic,

bought the barrels back at a discount,

and here are the barrels
filled with salt fish.

Up the river, I take a piece.

Down the river, I take a piece.

Everything for a price.

Was that Gus's role in your company?

Oh, Gus's role is no more.

You see, it's not about the timber

or the staves or the hewing or joining.

It's not about the making.

Look at these Frenchmen.

Look at them slaving away.

Making their tannin,
their tar, their rope.

While they are busy making,

I am busy trading.

With the English?

It is unlawful to
trade with the English.

Few staves, some wax,
it would be good as new.

If it isn't the rat.

Sir.

I see you have found a proper Paraclete

to serve your foul designs.

I told your friend Sel
the rat will find a hole.

You may take him, if you like,
though I do have use for him.

He is yours.

I forfeit my claim.

Gladly and with all my heart,

I release you.

Good luck to you both.

I am off with my new bride,

full of bright thoughts.

Step aside, Trepagny.

I have matters to put
right with Mr. Cooke.

- What is this?
- Tell me where Henri Marth is.

- I do not know.
- You are a liar.

This is not a proper hearing.
You have no right.

Your rights in New France
died with your wife.

I hereby exercise the
power of the crown,

and I offer you a choice.

I relieve you of your house,

your cooperage, and cast
you out of New France.

Or you submit now to the fiddle.

I will not be scapegoated.

Then confess your hand in
the murder of the innkeep.

That was Gus's business, not mine.

Then there is the business
of the bloody massacre.

I hear there were more
than Iroquois at play.

Eh? A fine and poisonous
English mind, in fact.

Where is your evidence, you drunk?

Mr. Cooke, this will go better for you

if you do not play me for a fool.

The fiddle will help us find the truth.

- Eh...
- All right!

All right! I submit.

There is a lock of hair in my pocket.

Take it out, give it to me.

It belonged to my wife.

Give it to me, Bouchard.

Dirty English!

You will stand bared
before the people of Wobik

for the murder of Francis Geffard!

Let Mr. Cooke's punishment

be an example to every man in Wobik!

Throw away the key!

You're Wyandot?

Have you told anyone of me?

No.

Do I have your word that if you heal,

you will leave this land
and not come back?

I c...

Yeah.

Good.

Now sleep.

I will return with food.

If the pain is too much,

take all of this in one swallow.

Spotted hemlock.

You will go to sleep and not wake up.

My mother was a wit,
and I-I know that I said

my favorite of her sayings was
the one about the bloated monk

who feared his vow of
silence covered farts,

but I don't have her
way with the phrase.

I'm afraid I'll word it wrong.

Tell it another time, chéri.

The woods reward silence.

It is in the silence we hear
things not of this world.

Come. I will show you.

You must step very carefully.

Here and here.

Are you nervous of what you will find

when you reach my Doma?

Perhaps.

Which means you know surprises loom.

Ah.

It's fine.

They are everywhere on
my Doma this time of year.

And there are the mice, of course.

And many hawks, which also eat the mice,

but prefer to eat the snakes

and sometimes get both.

There is also another creature

that menaces them all.

The child of my housekeeper Mari.

This is one of the surprises
I will warn you of now.

You have a housekeeper?

I depend on her. She is a Wyandot woman.

She may test you, she
may throw curses at you.

Then you must put her in her place.

She has long since forgotten
her place, I'm afraid.

Come. I will tell you
the story of the wasp

that followed me for two days.

Yes. I looked and saw...

Come out of there.

Stayed where I put you.

Are you going to kill me?

Not if you leave.

Do you understand?

Follow the river to Quebec.

Please. I want to go home.

And I should do as I was paid to do.

Smash your brains out.

Now go. I'm giving you a chance.

- Tell my mother I love her.
- I shall tell her you're dead.

Now go.

Do you like it here?

It's perfect.

We shall have more.

More land.

More family.

Of course, a proper house.

Come.

Put it on.

Please.

Everything is good?

Ah, come on.

It's good? Perfect. Good, you liked it?

Uh, bouger, bouger, bouger.

Bouger, bouger.

Okay, I'll be right back.

What are you doing?

I've been waiting for a meal, Mathilde.

You have been in the drink.

True.

Monsieur Gasquet,

if you will leave my kitchen at once,

I shall prepare your food.

And I shall be direct
with you, Mathilde.

I am not asking for that.

I am asking you to let
me get back to my work.

I would partner with you.

There is no more need for
you to put up resistance.

You will need a man.

- Better you see that now.
- No!

No!

Monsieur Gasquet,

I am telling you I do not need a man.

Now, if you will
please leave my kitchen.

At once.

I am sorry, Mathilde.

Shh. It's okay. Don't.

Shh.

I'm cold.

Come over here.

I will warm you up.

Take off the dress.

You are my wife now.

Take it off.

Come to me.

Pierre, I'm sorry.

It's been a tiring day.

I'm going to sleep.

You should do the same.

Is something wrong?

Is this it?

It is veiled in the dark.

The daylight will open
your eyes to its beauty.

I wish to see it all.

You will see everything in the morning.

That is my contemplation room.

I will show it to you another time.

I wish to see so that I might
better know my new husband.

One must have secrets. Don't you agree?

For now, I will allow you just this one.

Shall we go?

Yes.

The true binding of a man and woman

must have a ceremony

befitting the sanctity.

A celebration.

Exactement.

A party to celebrate our union,

so it may be bound in
the vault of heaven.

But tonight...

we must bind and consummate

as God intended all creatures.

Even the snake.

Good.

I see now what kind of man you are.

The lock of my wife's hair.

Fetch it for me.

Would you sit with me?