Carnivàle (2003–2005): Season 2, Episode 6 - The Road to Damascus - full transcript

2x06 - The Road to Damascus

All right, folks.

Let's get a move on.

You riding with me?

Don't!

What?

Let's just let them go,

just let them drive off.

Yeah, that would be good.

No, I mean it.

I... I can't.



There's something I need to do

and it's out that way.

We could've gone anywhere.

She is willful.

So willful.

She shows absolutely no remorse,

only arrogance and hubris.

It is unseemly.

It's ungodly.

I am a man of God.

But I am also her brother, Norman.

This woman has devoted
her life to me,

and my ministry.

Late at night...



I lie awake...

And I struggle with the path
I have chosen.

I am a man of God.

I am a man of God.

Only through sacrifice
comes redemption.

She must learn.

She must learn.

All right, I'm a "B."

Are you a famous actor?

No.

No, I am not Lionel Barrymore.

I'm just saying,
that fight was a week ago.

Shouldn't you have
gotten the payoff by now?

Are you a famous singer?

Look, I don't know
what the hold-up is. Uh...

No, I am not Mildred Bailey.

Well, can't you just call that bookie?

I called Bud.

He'll wire me the money by monday,
don't you worry.

Are you a famouslLiar?

I thought you didn't
want to play, mama.

It just popped into my head.

You might have me there.
I can't think of any famous liars.

No? I can.

So what is it you need to do?

I'm looking for someone.

My pa.

He's out this way somewhere.

If I met my father, I'd kill him dead.

He raped my ma.

That's why she hates me.

She didn't hate you, Sof.

How could anybody hate you?

What the hell?

Jones, god damn it!

What the--?

Shit Christmas.

What happened?

Them sons of bitches torched us out.

Who?

Fucking Daily Brothers.

Rat-fucks burned the place down

for the insurance,

sure as hell.

Is that Samson?

Charlie Lewis!

- Yes, sir.
- Hey!

Long time.

Long time.

Where's everyone else?

Most of them scattered out.

Rest of us ain't got
but a few busted trucks

and maybe $13 in change between us.

Damn if it ain't
a lucky thing you come by.

I'm gonna see what's going on.

- You coming?
- No, I'll wait.

Let's go. I want to set up a circle
right around over there.

Get some sidewalls off the hickman.

Set up a tent over there, all right?

Watch the potholes!

Let's go, come on.

Come on now!

Set up the cook tent and maybe
one of the other tops, all right?

Tell Possum to get some chow going too.

Let's go.
Watch the potholes.

We'll get you some supplies.
That's it, just circle around.

Good. Take a load off.

Hey stitch.

Sabina.

You ain't just gonna
leave us here now, are you?

Well, what does it look like?

I thought the plan was
to be in Damascus by dark.

What are we supposed to do?
Just keep going?

We've got a code!

You okay?

Sweetie?

Are you lost?

"Every prophet in her house!"

Mother.

Are you all there?

We're pitching camp here.

What happened?

A fire.

Did anybody die?

No.

Not a one.
They was all real lucky.

You might be more comfortable
in your trailer.

I'd rather stay here.

I should go help out
or Jones will skin me.

Are you sure you're all right?

You're shaky.

I'll be fine.

Make haste, dear Lord,

to deliver me.

Make haste to help me, my dearest God.

Let them be ashamed

and confounded,

those who seek to take my soul.

Let them be turned
backward into confusion,

those that desire my hurt.

Let those that will say--

Turn them back as reward
for the shame.

Oh, make haste.

Make haste, dear God.

Make haste to deliver me.

Here you go, boss.

Well.

You folks look to be mighty flush.

Oh, we do all right.

What circuit have y'all been on?

I'm just asking,

'cause you know the Daily Brothers
had a hard summer.

Real hard.

Hey, I heard y'all lost a few acts.
Now that's got to be tough.

You looking to hook up with us?

Well, we might be persuaded.

Forget it.

- Howdy.
- Howdy.

Bert Hagenbeck, nice to meet you.

It's mighty christian
of you to lend a hand.

That is the worst
damned he/she I ever did see.

When did you ever see
a good one?

Never.

- I ought you some grub.
- Thanks.

You don't have to keep me company.

I know that.

I can do without all the jibber-jabber.

It's bad enough we had
to drive stakes here for the day.

What's the rush?

It's not like you really know
where your father is.

I've got a pretty good idea.

Where?

Damascus.

I've been to Damascus.

You want to know
what's in Damascus?

A whole lot of pigshit
and no one to shovel it.

Maybe.

And what if he is there?

What difference is it gonna make?

People like you and me,
we don't have nice little families.

You're not gonna find
anything good there.

I know that.

But I still got to find him.

I'm leaving.

There's nothing left for me here.

You could come with me.

I don't care what you say.

You don't belong here--
no more than I do.

Belonging has got
nothing to do with it.

It's just... My lot,

that's all.

It doesn't have to be.

Yeah...

It does.

Everything's in place.

Folks are already staking out
seats for your sermon tonight.

I've arranged for
a public adress system

with a loud speaker outside

for the overflow.

And the authorities?

I've contacted the county prosecutor.

He'll be there personally.

I'm sorry.

Sorry?

I know this must be
very difficult for you.

Yes.

Yes, it is.

But my ministry must come first.

That's what makes you a great man.

She'll be all right.

We'll get a good lawyer.

She'll never see
the inside of a courtroom.

No?

She's a woman.

They don't hang women
in California.

Olga Moreno?

I know her.

Met her in Anderson, Indiana,
awhile back.

Olga Moreno's a cow.

And that beard of hers is gaffed.

No!

Horsehair.

I'll tell you one thing,
I am sick of the road.

Me and Felix, we been looking into one
of them alligator farms down in Florida.

I heard of them.

Show them off to tourists,
raise them for skins.

Yeah... And the meat.

- And the milk.
- Milk?

Gator milk has twice the vitamins
and minerals as cow milk.

It's what you call
an investment opportunity.

Come on, sugar puss.

- That's our song.
- Bert, honey.

All right.
We'll be right back.

/* That's Charlie, Charlie Two-Step */

/* That's Charlie,
the hottest man in town */

/* That's Charlie, and
when he starts to two-step */

/* That's Charlie-- yowzer! */

Dance?

Oh!

Oh, I forgot.

How much is it for a dance, huh?

Two bits?

Four?

Hmm? I mean with your clothes on.

Leave me alone, Burley.

Come and dance with me, little girl.

Get your hands off of me!

- That's enough.
- Fuck you.

- Get him out of here.
- All right.

Come on, Burley.

You okay?

I ain't much for dancing.

/* That's Charlie, Charlie Two-Step */

/* He's the hottest man in town */

/* That's Charlie,
when he starts to two-step */

/* How he shakes his dog around */

/* He's got it, my, oh me */

/* He's quite the sight to see */

/* Now that's stomping,
stomping with a kick */

/* When he stomps
that light fantastic... */

/* Mama does it,
Papa does the ring-ding-dango, */

/* That's Charlie Two-Step */

/* That's Charlie Two-Step... */

Sounds like they're having
a party over there or something.

Want to go see?

I feel safer here.

You go.

I'm okay.

/* That's my lullaby just for you */

/* Go to sleep, my angel child... */

Baby?

You know that $400 I gave you?

Yeah, huh.

I was thinking with that big win
you had at the fight,

maybe we could make a down payment
on that place in the Keys.

Well sure, put a down payment,
get a new car,

get you some
new clothes, or...

or a trip to Niagara Falls.

That's a mighty big payoff.

How much did you say it was?

$1400.

I thought you said it was $1200.

$1400.

/* Snowball, my honey */

/* Smile at me each day */

/* 'cause Daddy likes
those dark brown eyes */

/* You're my only sweetheart */

/* Little chocolate bar */

/* I'll eat you up someday */

/* Your two hands and feet are... */

Come on.

What?

You can't stay in this truck all night.

/* "Why stay?" the good Lord said */

/* He used an apple dumpling */

/* To make your head */

/* You know that's really something */

/* Snowball, my honey,
don't you melt away */

/* 'cause Daddy likes
those dark brown eyes... */

I can't.

Sure you can.

I've seen you dance.
You're pretty good.

Me, I ain't no Fred Astaire,

but I like this song.

Me too.

/* I'll eat you up someday */

/* Your two hands and feet
are just as black as tar */

/* But don't you cry */

/* "Why stay?" the good Lord said */

/* He used an apple dumpling */

/* To make your head */

/* You know that's really something */

/* Snowball, my honey */

/* Don't you melt away */

/* 'cause Daddy likes
those dark brown eyes */

/* Daddy likes those dark brown eyes. */

I'm sorry, Alexsei.

I can't give you what you want.

What is it you think I want?

Remorse.

Regret.

And I would do it again for you.

Oh, isn't it beautiful?

Oh...

Good God.

Who'd--?

Hi, elephant.

How are you doing?

Oh, this dress will be
just darling on you.

You may have to take in the bosom,

but this blue will be just swell
with your eyes.

- Ain't this a dear?
- It's yours.

And I thought that you and Felix
might be about the same size.

- I do like this hat.
- Well, of course you do.

Look at that.

- That's good, right?
- Hey, hey, hey.

That's my favorite thatch!
I use that in the show.

Thank you much.

What the hell you doing, woman?

Now, Felix, these people just about
lost everything they got.

It's only right that
we give away a few of our old things.

Oh, now that-- God damn it!
That is a new tie.

I ain't worn this but twice!

Felix, these people are in need.

Where's the charitarian in you?

Besides, we got
that big windfall coming.

Buy ourselves a whole new wardrobe.

All right.
That's enough of that.

- That's enough of that. God damn it.
- Hey, hey.

Come on.

Y'all just get going.
My wife's not feeling well.

Felix, I'm feeling just fine.

You go on and keep everything you got.

God damn it,
are you out of your gourd?!

God damn!

Who cares about these clothes, Felix?

We're gonna be rich, ain't we?

We're gonna buy ourselves
an alligator farm,

and a new car, a brand new car,

and go on vacation, right?
Ain't that what you said?

Yeah.

Fine.

I lost it.

All of it?

Yeah.

Now, Rita Sue...

Give me one of those.

Oh, honey...

You always had a beard?

Ever since I was 13.

- Me too.
- Oh, ho, ho.

Well,

you come by later,
dark and handsome,

I'll show you something else
I've had since I was 13.

Sofie.

- No!
- There! She's there!

- Who?
- My mama!

- I don't see anything.
- She's there! She's right there!

- How can you not see her?
- Hey, it's the fire.

It's making you crazy.

She's gone.

What did you do?

I don't know.

- ...Two and back.
- Back, I'm getting better.

You're a good student.

- You're a good teacher.
- Oh, thank you.

Yeah, you're welcome.

Just, um, put your hand here.

- Right here?
- Yeah. A little lower maybe.

How am I doing?

Get your hands off my baby!

Now, Felix, just take it easy.

Daddy!

God damn it,
my little girl ain't for sale!

Stumpy, let's talk
about this, all right? Calm down!

I won't let this goddamns screw-worm
infest my family again.

Stumpy, if you're looking for a fight,
I ain't gonna give it to you.

Put 'em up, Jones.
Put 'em up!

No, I ain't.

Daddy, come on!

Just stay out of it, girl.

God damn it, stay out of it.

Get up.

You son of a bitch!

Oh! Look at that!

The first time I saw you,
I knew you were different.

I remember.

You were sitting on the bus,

watching.

I was.

Hey.

You ain't really gonna leave, are you?

- Stop it! Stop it!
- Honey, honey, honey...

Come on inside, sweetie.

Rain?

Stay down, Stumpy, God damn it!

You fucked my...

wife! You fucked up our family.

I'll be goddamned

if you're gonna fuck my little girl!

He didn't fuck up your family.

What the hell are you doing?

I'm just defending...

my family's honor!

That's a good one.

Come on.

Look alive! We got to batten down!

Hawkins!

- I'm sorry, I gotta go.
- Go. go.

/* ...Since God is marching on */

/* Glory, glory hallelujah */

/* Glory, glory hallelujah */

/* Glory, glory hallelujah */

/* His truth is marching on. */

Hallelujah, brothers and sisters!

- Hallelujah!
- And amen.

Amen!

Amen, brothers and sisters.
Please be seated.

I have an important
announcement to make,

one that will profoundly affect
the future of this ministry.

As you know,
our congregation was born

from the ashes
of an unspeakable tragedy,

a tragedy that still
cries out for justice.

- Oh Lord!
- Speak, father!

One year ago,

six innocent children and their matron
were murdered,

cruelly consumed in the hellish flames
of an arson fire...

A crime for which no man
has yet to face judgment.

Since that terrible day,

I have made it my personal mandate

to see to it that the monster
that committed this abominable act

be captured, tried, and prosecuted

to the fullest extent
of the laws of man.

Brothers and sisters,
I stand before you

To report that the investigation
undertaken by this ministry

Has at long last borne fruit.

A perpetrator has been identified

and a confession has been signed!

- Hallelujah!
- Yes!

But wait!
Wait, brothers and sisters.

This is not cause for jubilation.

No.
But for lamentation.

Yes, lament, brothers and sisters.

Lament, for the killer is not a stranger
but one of our own.

A trusted leader in our ministry...

masquerading as a member
of our family in Christ!

Mr. Dolan?

Good evening, brothers and sisters.

My name is Tommy Dolan.

Many of you know me from the radio,

and the work I've done on behalf
of this great ministry.

As Brother Justin said,

this congregation...

was born of tragedy.

I pray only that it isn't torn asunder

by what you hear tonight.

I'd like to now read
from a signed statement.

"On the evening of September 8th, 1934,

I entered the dignity ministry

poured gasoline on the floor
of the basement

and set fire to the orphanage.

My motive was to get
an exclusive story,

so that I might advance...

My career"?

He's the one!

He killed them kids!

No! No!

No, it was Iris.
She confessed!

She signed it!

"I fell under a shadow.
It preyed upon me.

It needed to be done. Signed--"

Oh my God.

Tommy Dolan,

By the power vested in me
by the county of San Benito,

I hereby place you under arrest.

This is ridiculous!

I didn't do anything!
It was her!

She killed those kids!

You set me up.

Oh, Tommy.

You son of a bitch!

Hey!

"And now, ladies and gentlemen,
lend a kind ear

"as we bring you Brother Justin's
Saturday evening Church of the Air!

"Whom are you struggling with?
Certainly not God.

"God's mind was made up long before

"the foundation of Earth was laid.

"Let the wicked man forsake his ways.

"When? In a month?

"A day?

"No, now.

"The instant you yield, God's plan
of salvation is thrown into gear.

"You will be saved
before you even know it,

"like a child being born."

Charlie?

Come on in, sugar.
Don't be shy.

Don't worry, I won't bite.

Unless you want me to.

Where's the boy?

Samson.

I'll give you
5% of the receipts on the tenner,

your meals and gas for the truck.

- 20%.
- You out of your mind, woman.

You know what kind of a draw I am.

10%, now that's my final top offer.

15%, and not a jot less.

Ray and Dil Daily give me that,
plus 50 suds a week.

Yeah, well, Ray and Dil Daily
burned down their ten-in-one

and left you high and dry.

I'm thinking
I look mighty good next to that.

What about Bert?

What about him?

I ain't coming without him.

He's my husband.

You married that bird?

Anything he gets
is coming out of your cut.

Fine.

By the way, who told you Ray
and Dil burned us down?

Well, they did, didn't they?

Don't know. There was a bald-headed
fella nosing around.

Had a badge, but he weren't no cop.

- He's ahead of us?
- Apparently so.

Bound to be miles ahead by now.

Looking for a fella named Scudder.

She thinks that this bald-headed fella

- torched the Daily Brothers outfit?
- She does.

How did he get ahead of us?

I don't know.
But you'd best get ahead of him.

If he gets to Scudder first,

something tells me
there ain't gonna be much of him left.

I'm heading out then.
Faster on my own.

We'll meet up in Damascus.

You sure about that?

Unless you got any better ideas.

I'll tell him.

This scorpion gal--

Why should we believe her?

She ain't lying.

I mean, she's lied about plenty,

but she ain't lying about this.

How do you know that?

We was married for nine years.

That's right.

Oh, that's right.

Didn't I tell you boys the best way

to follow somebody
is to get ahead of them?

Well, that's enough
airing out for you two.

I've got to get
you two boys in a hole.

You're stinking up the Dodge.

How could you?

How could you do that to me?

What, dear?

Penance?

Only with sacrifice comes redemption.

Mother is dead!

Much obliged!

Okay, children!

Let's shake some dust!