Carnivàle (2003–2005): Season 2, Episode 8 - Outskirts, Damascus, NE - full transcript

2x08 - Outskirts, Damascus, NE.

Behold the Usher.

A dark heart dwells
where branches meet.

Anointed dagger...

Plunge thee deep!

Accept your fate.

Scudder.

Looks like you
could use a hand.

Henry Scudder, right?

My name is Stroud,
Varlyn Stroud.

You led me a merry chase.



I got a friend who's just dying
to meet you.

Scudder!

Scudder?

Something bad happened.

Something terrible bad.

What's Scudder
got to do with it?

Have you seen him?

No, I sure heard you yelling.

I got to stop him!

Hawkins!

* Lazy bones *

* Sleepin' in the shade *

* How-- *

Hey.



I got an idea.

Well.

Holy cats, gentlemen!
Holy cats!

It looks like Miss Lulu
is out of control tonight!

Boys, I would not be surprised

if she might be persuaded to do
her famous Bulgarian muscle dance!

- Where the hell is Libby?
- I haven't seen her yet.

What's that, Miss Lulu?
No, not the red-light show!

Not the red-light show!

That's been banned in seven--
No, eight states!

And that's just on this side
of the Mississippi!

That's four double-trots in a row.

I'm dying!

Gentlemen, yes, indeedy.
Yes, indeedy.

Now if you'll just step right on through
to the next tent here,

where Miss Lulu will reveal
her most intimate of secrets!

No.

No.

What happened?

You don't remember?

We were listening to the radio

and I must've fainted.

And then?

Nothing.

It seems you had
one of your spells.

Spells?

It was nothing, Alexsei.

You just need some rest,
that's all.

Go to sleep now.

Thank you, Eleanor.

Miss Iris?

Did you see?

Did I see what?

The devil in him,

I saw the devil.

Shame on you, Eleanor.

You know Brother Justin is
a man of God.

Where's my money?

Jesus-- Hey, Bud...

Hey.

I was hoping you would stop by.

Is that a fact?

Look, I know Damascus ain't exactly
on the circuit--

What circuit?

You people move around like
a pack of drunk monkeys.

I thought we agreed that
you were going to tell me--

Now, I know I was supposed to leave word
at the last town we were at,

but the thing is--

- You were hoping you could duck me.
- No, no--

Cough it up, you chiseling
son of a bitch. Cough it up,

or so help me God, I'll pound it
out of you.

Trouble here?

- Oh hell, Rita! Jeez!
- Shut up.

You wanna slap him around,
have at it.

But if you want your dough, you'd best
come on in here and talk to me.

It's your choice.

She was just kidding
about slapping me around.

He got away.

Goddamn Scudder.

He finally did it.

He didn't do nothing.

It was me. I did it.

Not Scudder.

Why?

You said so yourself, remember?

To him we're all just pieces
in one big game.

He was a piece too.

He had to die.

And he had to make sure
I was the one who killed him.

- What're you saying?
- I'm saying, all those years,

he wasn't trying to find Scudder.

He was just trying
to keep tabs on him.

Jut like he kept tabs on me.

Lodz, Ruthie, that was a test.

That was a dry run
to make sure I had it in me.

Once he knew for sure I did,

all he had to do was
put the pieces in place.

Him, Scudder, me,
all of us, here in this trailer.

He knew I couldn't kill him
except to save my father.

So the simple matter is...

You can beat a stone,

you can bust its legs--

Hell, You can even run it over
with your automobile,

But you can't get blood out of it.

- So what do you suggest?
- There's a depression on.

I'm sure this isn't the first time that
somebody hasn't been able to pay up.

Maybe we can work something out.

Maybe.

What do you say
to 10% of the gate?

Just until we get ourselves squared up.

Hmm. What about the vig?

Oh, Bud,

you don't have to keep your meter
running overtime on account of us.

There's more than one kind of interest.

Maybe for you.

As for me, the interest you're looking for
down there

got shot off in a barley field
outside of Avignon.

100 Bucks!

Cold and hard and in my
hand at the end of each week,

every week, until you've paid off
the principal, plus the vig.

Miss a payment, we'll see
if I can't make a stone bleed.

I wager I can.

So you're saying
he set the whole thing up?

"By the hand of the Prince...

"The Prophet dies.

"Upon his death,
the Prince shall rise."

The Prince, that's me.

Management was the Prophet.

It's all in this book.

He needed me to kill him.

Why?

When I killed him,

everything he was,
everything he knew,

everything he believed,

he gave it to me.

He had to.

He knew that was the only chance I had
against the Usher.

- The Usher.
- Alexsei Belyakov.

His son.

That's bullshit!
Nothing but lies.

They ain't lies! You knew him.

You knew the way he did things.

You're damn right I did!

And you killed him,
you dumb hick son of a bitch!

Hey, Sofie.

Open up. It's me.

Hey, Sof.

What the hell do you want?

- Where's Sofie?
- I don't know.

She run off back after
we stopped for them Daily Brothers.

That can't be.

Well, it is.

Do you know where she went?

Has she told anybody?

- Left a note?
- Not a word.

Just pfft, Scramski.

No, she wouldn't do that.

Not after--

After what, loverboy?

Don't tell me you finally
put the boots to that little biscuit.

Hey. Whatcha got?

Crowe residence.

I need to talk to Brother Justin.

- He's indisposed right now.
- How long is he going to be indisposed?

- I don't know how long--
- Oh, come on.

- I'm sorry.
- Is that McNaughton again?

It's that man-- Stroud.

Where are you?

Nebraska.

I've managed to find our friend.

Scudder?

Uh-huh. He's with me right now.

- When will you be here?
- Two, three days, tops.

Are you all right?

Oh yeah, I'm fine.

Fit as a fiddle.

Can I help you?

Thank you, friend.
But I think I'll help myself.

Hand over the cash box.

Give me the damn money, hayseed!

Ooh. That's right.

That's right.

Praise the Lord!

Hey!

Slap-happy!

Looks like we got ourselves a ragtop.

West.

West.

You're awake.

I brought you some joe.

- Thanks.
- Yeah.

Yeah! Ain't that something?

Well, I better, uh... Better hop to it.

I don't want to keep the boys waiting.

Yeah, me too. I mean, you know.

Yeah.

What the hell
are you doing in there?

Are you crackers?

Shacking up with that gimp
for everybody and his brothers to see?

- I was just--
- I'll tell you what you was just!

You're just breaking your daddy's heart,
that's what you was just!

Good Lord, what did I raise!

Don't you put the high hat on with me,
little lady!

You ain't too old
I can't take a switch to you!

Oh yeah? Maybe I'm too married!

Him?

Yeah, him.

Ain't you gonna congratulate me?

Haven't you ever heard of knocking?

I got it figured out!

Got what figured out?

We got to pack it up
and head West.

- I felt him out there.
- Is that a fact?

Yep!
We can't waste no time, neither.

He got a head start on us.

But if we hustle out now,
we might be able to catch up!

- Who the hell is "He"?
- The bald fella!

The one that torched
the Daily Brothers outfit!

He's connected to the Usher somehow.
I know it!

He can lead us right to him,
but we got to get moving now!

If you're so powerful,
you bring him back.

What'd you do with him?

Who?

Management!

Oh, Jesus.

We ain't got time for this now!
Didn't you hear what I said?

Where the hell is he?

He--

He ascended.

- Ascended?
- Yeah.

What the hell is
that supposed to mean?

He went up to--

I don't know, to heaven.

I want you out of here,
God damn it.

- I need your help.
- You killed him, damn it!

Look at what you killed,
you ignorant hayseed!

Goddamn rube!

Don't you see what he was?

I know exactly what he was,
'cause that's what I am!

Well, there was one thing
he was that you ain't--

My friend.

I'll tell you what, Prince.

I'll give you all the help you need...

as soon as you bring him back.

I'm flattered, Brother Justin,
I really I am.

But I doubt my name will pass muster
with the nomination committee.

We need men like you in Washington,
Mr. Templeton.

Ty divine is a socialist and
a degenerate.

An atheist.

He's also an incumbent.

The man's untouchable.

Well, Val, I think you're selling yourself
a little short there.

Oh, Ned.
The fix has been in on this district

since they redrew the boundaries
in the last census.

Mr. Templeton, do you have any idea

how many people listen
to my brother every week?

- Thousands.
- Hundreds of thousands.

We're planning a special candlelight
service for next sunday evening,

a sermon on the mount for a New America.

I would very much like you
to be a keynote speaker.

It takes more than one speech
to win an election.

It takes organization.

It takes money.

Money is no problem.

It takes manpower--
People walking door to door.

Yes, of course it does.

Gentlemen, please.

That census you mentioned a moment ago,

that was for 1930, was it not?

Yes, it was.

Did it happen to record the number of
registered voters, in the district?

Yes, sir, that it did.

And do you happen to recall that number,
Mr. Templeton?

Ned?

5,319.

More or less.

There's more than 3 times that number
living here now.

Over 17,000 souls.

We provide them food,

shelter, blankets,
toys for their children,

medicine for their sick and elderly.

Now I wonder,

who do you suppose they will vote for
come November?

Anybody you tell them to.

That's right.

No!

Those are mine!

This is ridiculous.

You are too young to get married
to Jones, or to anyone.

- Daddy!
- She's right, baby.

Well, it's too late.

We already done it.

We'll get it annulled.

We ain't catholic, mama.

He's more than twice your age!

- This has got to be against some law.
- I don't know, honey.

Felix, do something!

Ain't nothing to be done.

You are useless!

I'm sure he sweet-talked you,
baby.

He's real good at that.

He's got a wicked silver tongue

and he knows how
to make a woman feel good.

You're just jealous, mama.

Jealous?

You're my daughter.

Because he wants me
and not you.

Is that why you did this, girl?

Maybe I love him!

And he loves me.

So why shouldn't we get married then?

- That ain't enough.
- Well, it's enough for me.

Bye, daddy.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot.

You're gonna have to find someone else
to do the kootch.

Jonesy don't want me dancing no more.

Oh, crap.

"Ain't nothing to be done."

Two rides. Then take them off.

What're you doing?

I mean why aren't you
inside working?

Ruthie!

Come one, come all.
Step right up, ladies and gentlemen,

see Rollo the rubberboy.

Damn it.

Jasper!

Get over here!

I want you turning the tip
on the wrassling show.

Shut down that single-o
and move Rollo over to ten-in-one.

- He ain't gonna be happy.
- Yeah?

Tell him it comes straight down
from Management.

Ruthie?

What the hell's going on?

I can't.

Can't what?

- What's the matter?
- I can't go out there.

Why not?

You sick or something?

You remember that night
I told you I had a date with Skeeter Lewis?

- Yeah?
- Well, I did!

I saw him.

- Ruthie, Skeeter Lewis is--
- Dead, I know!

But I'm telling you I saw him.

And a whole lot of others since.

Dead folks.

Are you saying you've got the Sight?

At least since I got snakebit, I do.

We could work something up.

Oh, for Pete's sake, Samson!

I'm not interested in working up an act!
I just want it to stop!

I thought I was doing better.

I haven't seen nothing for a while.

Then last night...

- What happened?
- I saw Scudder.

Hack Scudder?

Stumbling through the midway
like a bourbon street rummy.

And this other one,
he come and he shove him into a car.

A car!

They got cars!

Ruthie, Hack Scudder isn't dead.

He was here last night.

That was him you saw.

It was?

Thank God.

Ruthie, I need you
to tell me about that fella you seen,

the one throwing Hack in the car,

right down to the quick.

Let's go.

Hey there, Jones!

Hey.

Thought I'd come by
and say congratulations.

Thanks.

Oh, looks like you got a customer.

- Take it over.
- You got it, Jonesy.

It looks like you're
part of the family now.

Yeah, I suppose.

You know, I understand
you don't like Libby's line of work.

Yeah. Sorry.

Nothing to be sorry about.
That's to be expected.

No, it takes, uh,

I tell you
it takes a certain kind of man.

Fortitude. You know?

It's not easy turning your wife out
every night

and expecting her to come back.

- Yeah, I'll bet.
- You know I was thinking--

and Rita Sue and I were thinking
it would be awful nice

if all four of us, you and me and Libby,

- and, uh...
- Rita Sue.

Yeah, yeah,
and Rita Sue-- anyhow,

We should all get together,
have a family supper.

What do say?
About 8:00, behind the kootch?

Sure, I guess.

That would be great!
That would be fantastic!

Good. Okay, then.

Oh. You know,

Hey, Jones,
could you do me a favor?

Don't go calling Rita Sue
"Mother."

At least not just yet.

I hadn't planned on it.

One lump or two?

You didn't have to go
through this much trouble.

Two.

I feel better already.

That's good.

You have any more...

fits?

Not that I remember.

You know, you could be having them
and not be remembering.

I mean, like, when you're alone

and there's nobody around
to observe any peculiar behavior.

Well, that ain't exactly comforting, is it?

Oh, I know. I know.

It's downright terrifying.

You could get up
and wander out into the road,

and get runned over by a bus
or something.

Maybe you need someone to stay with you,

day and night.

I got to get back to my bally.

Oh, Ruthie...

Ruthie, I--

* I'm in heaven *

* And the cares that hung around me
Through the week... *

Lincoln Highway.

* Seem to vanish like
A gambler's lucky streak *

* When we're out together
dancing cheek to cheek... *

Jesus! Crazy fathead!

Jeepers.

- And then what happened?
- Nothing.

There was just the pain.

May I see?

My flesh is burned and scarred.

Good Lord.

What does it mean?

Your enemy has received his boon.

- No.
- Yes.

But what concerns me more is

this business you mentioned
with the knife.

"Anointed dagger, plunge thee deep!"

- Anointed?
- Infused with Avataric blood.

If he has it in his possession,

along with his boon,

he not only has the strength,

but the means to destroy you.

Have you located Scudder?

Yes. He's on his way.

When he arrives, call me.

He and I have some unfinished business.

Perhaps.

Please?

Perhaps.

Hell, Lib,
it wasn't like I could just put him off.

- Why not?
- He come to me.

It would have looked bad.

Not nearly as bad
as you showing up without me.

Come on, Lib. It's just supper.

It ain't just supper.

They're trying to work something.

Why you got to be so suspicious?

Come on.

It'll be okay.

The sa... The...

So...

you all thinking
about settling down?

Maybe buying a little bungalow?

Never really talked about it.

Kids?

Haven't really talked about that
neither.

My oh my, well...

you two lovebirds haven't done
much talking at all, have you?

You know, it sure is a shame.

You know, it'd be nice if you two could
get off to a nice start.

- A little extra money, whatnot.
- Forget it, daddy.

Well, no. I'm just saying that--

So you wanna tell us what's wrong
with being married to a dancer?

It ain't the dancing I got truck with.

Oh no. I'm sure it's just the fucking part
that's got your knickers in a bunch.

- Rita.
- Don't you "Rita" me!

This is a family problem,

and a six-bit ring
don't make him family!

I ain't gonna listen to this.

You sit the hell down!

We got a problem here,
Cowboy.

Stumpy has dug himself a hole
to the tune of $833.

- That ain't my problem.
- Oh yeah, it is.

Because just what are you gonna say
to your blushing little bride here,

when the gorilla he owes it to
carves her daddy up like a ripe tom-turkey?

That ain't fair.
He's the one who got hisself into it.

I don't see why Libby
should have to bail him out.

Because we're family,
and families rise up together,

and they fall down together.
But you wouldn't know anything about that

Mr. All-By-Your-Damn-self!

I'm not gonna have my crew watching
my wife

dancing naked for a nickel a throw,
and that's it!

- Come on.
- You can't tell me what to do!

You're damn right!

And you can't neither!

Y'all make me sick, the bunch of you.

Talking about me
like I'm not even a person,

like I'm some kind of livestock

you can buy and sell and trade.

Well it ain't that way, damn it!

- Honey, we never said you're--
- Shut up!

I'm gonna dance the kootch.

- Libby--
- Just until we pay off what he owes.

And then I am retired permanent.

And no blow-offs
and no more turning tricks.

I am done with that!

Now that's the way it's gonna be.

And if any of you don't like it,

y'all can take a flying fuck
at the man in the moon!

We got pie.

Hawkins?

Hey, Stitch.

I don't answer
to that handle no more.

Yeah?
So what do you want me to call you?

"Boss" is fine.

"Sir" is better.

Oh.

Well, sir...

If I was you,

I'd stay the hell away from my wife.

If I was you,

I would tell your wife
to stay the hell away from me.

Now get.

Clear the way!
Kevin, lock that down! What happened?

I just turned around
and one of the cars fell.

Out of my way.
Let me through please.

Clear the way!

Now you two, hold still!

- Just hold still!
- That's the one!

That's the one I saw drinking!

All right, get those guys out of here!

Bring that ladder over here!

Just sit tight.
We'll get you taken care of.

It'll be all right.
You're going to be fine.

Find the nearest phone
and call a hospital!

Please God, take me not my son.

Please God, take me not my son.

Please God, take me not my son.

Please God, take me not my son.

Please God, take me not my son.

Please God, take me not my son.

Yes.

Ow, mama.

Mama!

No!

Can I get some help over here!

Daddy's got you. All right.

Come on, you birds,
Get the lead out!

Jones, stop standing around
with your face hanging out!

We've got track to make!

Dutch! Slim!

Break this bitch down.

What the hell?

* Love me or leave me *

* Let me be lonely *

* You only need me *

* And I love you more *

* I'd rather be lonely *

* Than happy with somebody else *

* You might find the nighttime *

* Is the right time
for kissing *

* The nighttime is my time
for just reminiscing *

* Regretting... *

I'm sorry about your friend.

It was the best I could do.

I'll help you.

But it's gonna have to be
a different deal than with him.

No more secrets.

No more lies.

I don't lie.

Ruthie seen Scudder running out of here.

He got grabbed
by that bald-headed fella.

Aw, hell.

What?

He's taking him back
to the preacher.

Damn it!

He's got a car and
a full day's lead on us.

Ain't no catching up to that.

We ain't even started,
we already lost.

Well, I got gasoline and rubber--

and a four-bit wager
says we haven't.

Fifty cents.

Iron money.

Hey, bone top, kill those lights!

We drive by moonlight
till we cross the state line.

Kill the lights.

Kill your lights.

- Don't spare the horses!
- Okay.

Is everybody ready?

If they ain't, they can stay behind
and wait for the mob.

Where to?

West.

Abraham Lincoln Highway,

as far and as fast
as you can put us there.

I got silver riding on it.