Damnation (2017–2018): Season 1, Episode 10 - God's Body - full transcript

Previously, on "Damnation"...

Turns out,
this is what the Duvalls do.

They hire muscle to clear
whatever land they want.

We'd like the Black Legion
to stop this farmer's strike.

Why was our Pinkerton
shooting at your men?

Because that Pinkerton and
the preacher are in cahoots.

Amelia told me
about her first husband.

I certainly hope
you were able to mete out

some retribution
on that strikebreaker.

I never got the chance.

You mean you didn't kill him?



The Black Legion...
They taking over this town.

Looks like we just
caught ourselves

a couple of agitators.

We best get prepared
to defend ourselves.

What's it say?

They've got Amelia.

If I don't hand myself over,
they say she's next.

Dear child.

Let's get you back inside.

If you've come to take my son,

you'll have to get
through me to do it.

I'm not here
for young Sam, Martha.

It may be hard to believe,

but I'm here
to serve this county.



Now, tell me
what the hell happened here?

Well... there were at least
a hundred of them.

We seen torches

coming over that ridge.
Over that ridge.

Hey.

Hey.

How'd you sleep last night?

Like a log, you?

You know,

likewise.

I had the strangest dreams
though.

Does that chapel
look familiar to you?

It's Colton Creek.

I don't think this is the
first time you've been involved

in the Duvall family's
dirty work.

Hey, hey, what're you
gonna hand yourself over now?

I'm not gonna let
the past repeat itself.

Okay, well, maybe
it ain't up to you?

Go on, tell him.

The name Paideuma Oil
sound familiar to you?

That's the company
that hired our family to...

clear land for them.

If you dig deep enough,
you'll find Paideuma Oil's

owned by the Duvall family.

See?

The bastards who're behind
Melvin Stubbs

and the Black Legion are
the same people who paid Pa

to clear all that land.

Kill Cynthia, Preacher Rainey.

Everything
we've been through, Seth,

it's 'cause of them.

And now they've got Amelia.

I can't risk losing her.
I'm handing myself over.

And then what?

I'm gonna stall,

and hope somebody
figures something out.

- Stop! Hands up.
- Hold it right there.

I'm unarmed.

Stock's gone. So's the market.

I don't even know if we
even have any livestock left.

For all we know,
they're still controlling

the roads and the blockades.

Yeah, well,
I'm going back into town

and try to find out
where they took the preacher

and stashed his missus.

We're going with you.

Preston won't make it
unless we get him to a doctor.

Good afternoon.

We have someone in
urgent need of medical care.

As we presume no doctors

would be willing
to travel these roads,

we're taking him
into town ourselves.

I would now like to appeal
to your common decency,

and petition you
to let us through.

All y'all boys are armed,

Damn right we are.

Show 'em.

Ma'am, I believe you just
shot three men without a miss.

It appears you shot

three out of four targets.

A laudable percentage.

So tell me, Sheriff,
are you gonna be arresting us

for firing on these here fellas?

No,

I imagine once these fellas
aimed their weapons,

it was a clearcut case
of selfdefense.

Off with your costumes!

Each of you is
a clear accomplice

to your hooded brethren's
attempted deadly assault.

But as some of you
may have heard,

I'm capable of the
occasional compromise.

So, if all of you get
your worthless asses

out of this county,

we won't shoot you down
like dogs!

Unless you return.

Now, git!

Go! Go! Come on, get moving!

It should now be a clear path
into town for you ladies.

Thank you very much, Sheriff.

Well, my distinct pleasure.

I reckon you got the
cuddly feelings, Sheriff.

I haven't felt this warm inside

since I saw you do your
little jinglejangle dance

in that warehouse.

Drive me to town.

For an unredeemable racist,

I have to admit Melvin has
solid political instincts.

If Melvin wins,

he'll get his hands
on young Sam again.

Well, you are
the one that arrested him.

Yeah.

Evidence suggests either

Sam pulled the trigger
that killed Pete,

or someone did a fancy job
of framing him.

Time of day'd you say that,

poor Pete Collingsworth
was killed?

Morning.

Well, see, I was tracking
the little Riley shit

the entire morning.

Yeah, he was all the way
across town

rousing up commies.

So, Sam Jr. was nowhere near

the Collingsworth farm that day?

No.

It appears
I've arrested the wrong man.

Where you off to, cowboy?

I'm gonna go talk to this,
new banker.

Why?

Well, he's on Duvall's payroll.

He might be the only one
who could talk down

Melvin Stubbs
and his attack goons.

Where the sun never shines
and you shiver...

Ma thought you might like
some clean clothes

and a homecooked meal.

It's gonna take
more than fresh laundry

and a casserole to get you
back in my good graces.

So, should I turn over my badge?

Not yet.

I need all the men I can get.

In fact...

I need you
to deputize every farmer,

moonshiner, fornicator,
and degenerate gambler

who's willing to help us take
down these Legion bastards.

Sure thing, Uncle Sheriff Don.

Starting at the Riley farm.

That banker
gonna call off Melvin?

That banker's dead,

so we're gonna have
to figure something else out.

I think I have an idea
where Melvin might be.

Till the polls close and the
fate of your county is sealed.

So, it's high time you
fulfilled your patriotic duty

and cast your vote.

As sheriff of Holden County,

I'll hold every lawbreaker
accountable for his crimes.

You deserve a sheriff who
puts Holden County's interests

above his own.

I'll defend our way of life

with every ounce
of my American blood.

Where is she?

Out of my hands.

Greetings, my name is
Martin Eggers Hyde, PhD.

You're the doctor?

Indeed I am, Mr. Davenport,

or should I say, Mr. Turner?

Yes,
I know your actual identity.

And in fact,

an ambitious young banker
even shared with me

this touching photograph of

yourself and your brother
back in simpler times.

Fear not,

that banker took that secret
with him to the grave.

If you hurt Amelia,

I will split you open
from asshole to throat.

That is a brute,
yet effective turn of phrase.

Perhaps you should bring
your linguistic verve

to the airwaves,

broadcast your message
directly to the people.

Here, I've even
prepared some remarks

to help you do just that.

You expect me to go on air

and denounce
everything I stand for?

Well, I certainly hope
you'll consider it.

What's it going to be,

Preacher Davenport?

Your cause

or your wife?

Now, if you go on the air,

and denounce
your divisive behavior...

And the outright lies you and
your wife have been spreading...

We'll let her
leave town and live.

I cannot, however, extend the
same promise to you, of course.

I need to talk to her first.

This button
lets you talk to her.

This button
puts you live on air.

Proceed carefully.

Have they hurt you?

No.

He wants me
to denounce the strike,

the Labor Bulletin, and to
tell the farmers to give up.

Don't do it.

He says they'll kill you
if I don't.

It's not an empty threat.

After what they did to DL...

They killed him.

DL's dead.

I'm gonna read the sermon
the doctor's written.

Then I presume they'll kill me.

Don't do it.

They're going
to kill us both anyway.

Whatever happens,
I need you to know.

Cynthia's blood is on my hands
just as much as Creeley's.

I never told her
who I really was,

or that I was putting her life
in danger by being with her.

I never told her who I was

because I was ashamed of it.

I used to do the same work
that Creeley does.

Same work as
the man who killed Sal

and all those
workers in Arkansas.

Amelia, I was a thug,
a strikebreaker,

a killer for hire.

I killed innocent people

so the Duvall family
could steal their land,

their homes, their farms.

And there's no
forgiving me for that.

It's a moving
confessional, Preacher.

But your wider
audience is waiting.

Go ahead. I'm ready.

In three, two...

My name is Preacher
Seth Davenport of Holden, Iowa.

You don't likely know who I am.

But if you've seen revolutionary

religious pamphlets
or communist newspapers

spreading lies
about the Duvall family

and other industrialists,
you've seen my work.

After much prayer

and deliberation,

I'd like to make
an important announcement

to the rural masses.

I hereby command
all farmers and workers

and wouldbe striking men
and women of this state

to see the error of their ways
and immediately stand down.

This unAmerican war
we are fighting cannot be won,

and it should not be fought.

Despite the lies
I've had planted

in the Iowa Labor Bulletin,
the truth is,

our real savior is progress.

For who needs...

For who needs Jesus Christ
when you've got Henry Ford?

We are experiencing a temporary

technical difficulty,
but we will return shortly

with the rest of
Preacher Davenport's sermon.

For now,

please do enjoy
the dulcet tones of...

Some hillbilly.

Who the hell is that?

The man who owns me.

Fall back.

Keep firing.

- George!
- Get the hell out of here.

Let's go!

I imagine you're staring up

at your worst nightmare,
ain't you?

Take off your hood!

You better kill me now
before I get my hands on your...

Run. Go on!

Go! Go!

She okay?

No.

She's not.

Help.

Please, help.

The hell was that?

I told her what I used to do

and what I did to Cynthia.

If we make it out of this alive,

I'll confess.

You can't keep doing this...

and I can't keep
running from my past.

Let's just focus on
the alive part?

Was there anyone else in here?

I don't think so.

Two of those
hooded bastards got away.

One of them must be Eggers Hyde.

How is Preston?

He's not out of the woods yet.

His commitment to his
family is admirable.

I do hope he pulls through.

I know you're all scared
and troubled by recent events,

and though it's unfortunate

the Black Legion's blockades
have kept the farmers

from coming in
and placing their votes,

I'd like to personally commend
each one of you townsfolk

for voting in the face of such
lawlessness and disorder.

Holy mother of God.

I think y'all
are gonna stand down,

or else me and my cohorts here...

We're gonna
take our turns with you

and give what's left over
to the preacher's wife.

What's this about, Don?

Melvin Stubbs,
you are under arrest

for the kidnapping
of Amelia Davenport,

the murder of DL Sullivan,

and for leading the Black
Legion's attack on this county.

Knew this campaign
was making progress,

but I had no idea
we were doing so well

that you'd make up wild stories
so you could arrest me.

All theatrics, people.

Amelia!

Thank goodness you're okay.

We thought you might be dead.

Melvin Stubbs is lucky
the sheriff got to him first.

I'd like nothing more than
to watch that man burn.

What do you mean,
watch that man burn?

It's a common turn of phrase.

Certainly
you wouldn't be capable

of such a thing as murder.

Yeah, tell that
to the strikebreaker

who killed my first husband.

Yes,

in Marion County, Arkansas.

Did you watch that man burn?

I tied that son
of a bitch to his car,

doused him with gasoline...

and then...

Martha...

if something were
to happen to me...

would you be willing
to take care of Brittany?

Of course.

But why would you ask that?

Idle curiosity.

I've been told
that the Black Legion

have abandoned their blockades.

The phone lines are back up.

Call every farmer
you know and tell them

to drive into town and vote.

Polls close in 30 minutes.

Preacher Seth,

half our farms have been ruined.

Most of the food we have
stored up is been destroyed.

I mean, thanks to
your church's benefactor,

we have enough money
to make it through winter but...

But then it's just gonna
start all over again.

I heard you on the radio...
You're right, we can't win.

Those weren't my words.

I was forced
to give that sermon.

That doesn't
make it any less true.

Look around, nothing's changed.

If we keep putting up a fight,
they'll keep coming after us.

They're gonna
come after us anyways.

Might as well be for
something that we believe in.

And I don't know
about the rest of you,

but I'm not just fighting
for fair food prices anymore.

Now I'm fighting for you,
Victor...

To be able to work your farm
and raise your family in peace.

And Horace,

I'm fighting for you...

To be able to rebuild
your farm into something

that you'll be proud
to hand down to your girls.

We have to have
each other's backs,

and last night that meant
taking up our guns.

Well, right now, that means
filling out a ballot.

But as long as
we haven't given up,

they haven't won.

Well, you heard the man.

Let's cast those votes.

Thanks, Reg.

Yeah, say hello to the missus.

All right.

So, the state police'll

be transporting you boys
to Fort Madison

for your own protection.

I'll be handing you over
as soon as they arrive.

And what about those farmers?

And that strikebreaker,
and that preacher

that helped Sam Jr.
Escape punishment?

Well, it turns out

Sam Jr. has an airtight alibi,

so murder charges
have been dropped.

What's wrong?

They just finished
counting up the votes.

Melvin Stubbs is the new
sheriff of Holden County.

Murdering son of a bitch
won by seven votes.

Where we gonna go?

Tahiti?

Toledo?

Tucumcari?

Doesn't matter,
we just gotta get out of here

as fast as possible.

Creeley Turner.

May I please come in?

Mr. Duvall,
what are you doing here?

Please, call me Tennyson.

My Turner.

I wouldn't make yourself
too familiar, Mr. Turner.

Lovely abode.

Why are you packing up?

Well, my guess is.

Mr. Turner assumes
he's on to the next assignment

after a job well done
here in Holden.

What would your name be,
young miss?

Aw, she's just a dumb whore

trying to milk a dollar
out of me before I go.

Go on, get out of here.

I said, git, whore!

Don't need your type
around here.

Pardon her.

You know how these
hussies can get.

So, Martin called to tell me

of your great success
here in Holden.

He has?

I admit I was concerned
when I saw the razed farms

and Sheriff's bulletridden car

in the middle of Main Street.

But then
I explained to Mr. Duvall

how this preacher,
Seth Davenport,

had recruited
not just the farmers

but also the vile Black Legion

and the corrupt
sheriff's department

to oppose our
progressive efforts

and how you had
managed to get both

our preferred candidate
Melvin Stubbs elected

and bust the strike...

All without a disturbed
word making it into

any of the
legitimate newspapers.

It's a commendable
achievement, Creeley,

But you should know

you won't be leaving
town anytime soon.

Thank you.

For what?

For saving my life.

This is what I wanted.

To know the truth.

DL was just a kid with his
entire life ahead of him.

And I bat my eyes,
yank him into our cause,

and now he's dead.

Melvin Stubbs is going
to be sheriff now,

and the Duvall family
and my father

are going to do God
knows what to this town.

The preacher act,
our socalled marriage...

It's only a story
we told ourselves

so we could believe
we were actually decent people.

It's real to me.

Which part?

All of it...

Our marriage,

our relationship with God.

You mean your
relationship with God,

because if you open your eyes
and take a look around,

it's pretty goddamn clear
we're on our own.

I'd really prefer if you

didn't take
our Lord's name in vain.

And I would really prefer

if I didn't suddenly see
Sal's charred remains

every time I look
at your face now.

Hello?

I'm DL's landlady.

I know he would want
Amelia to have this.

Thank you.

What did she want?

She said DL would
want you to have this.

I must admit transferring
powers is a bit tricky

when the newlyelected
sheriff is behind bars.

Uncle Don?

Yeah, well, Melvin beat
me at my own game, Raymond.

Once he takes control
of this station,

I don't imagine
his charges are gonna stick.

Glad to see you're
dealing with this

like an adult, Don.

Well, one adult to another,
I was wondering

what will be your policy
going forward

concerning Holden's
minority population?

Deputy Tanner Phillips,

do you have a policy statement?

If you're talking
about that nosy whore

or the uppity dairy farmer,

then our policy
is to find a tall tree

and a short rope.

Well, I suppose that's what

people are looking
for these days...

Men with the courage
of their own convictions.

Lord, Don,
what are you doing this for?

Because that nosy whore
is my daughter,

and it's high time I started
being a father to that girl.

Raymond,
when the state police get here,

tell them I'm over at my place,
drinking a fine scotch

and listening to
the celestial sounds of...

Of Memphis Pearl.

What are we doing here,
Mr. Duvall?

Breaking ground.

Go ahead and grab that shovel,
Mr. Turner.

Some of the farmers
have already begun

selling off their land.

Mr. Duvall will be bringing the
modern world to Holden County.

My family and a few
select business partners

have been looking
for somewhere we can

research and develop
the next generation

of technological, chemical,
and scientific innovations...

Without troublesome meddling,
of course.

Just imagine if we could not
only evolve chemical weaponry

to unleash on
our foreign enemies,

but also design uniforms for
our soldiers to protect them

from that selfsame weaponry.

The great America century
will be built through science,

Mr. Turner,
not cornbread and biscuits.

Creeley...

It truly is stunning
what you've accomplished here.

However did you manage it?

It's,

it's a complicated situation,
Mr. Duvall,

and,

I'm not exactly sure
how to explain it.

Let's not be falsely modest.

I've already told Mr. Duvall
what splendid work you've done.

You shot me?

My God.

My God, I'm bleeding.

Did you really think
I was gonna buy all this?

Well, yes.

Obviously.

That's always been
your worst trait, Martin.

You mistake cleverness
for wisdom

and underestimate
the intelligence

of your fellow man.

That's why I was grooming
John Dyson to replace you.

You were?

Dyson was reporting to me
ever since he arrived here.

So, after he called to inform
you that you'd somehow assigned

the Preacher Seth Davenport's
long lost brother to stop him,

he informed me as well.

So, I know you killed poor
John Dyson to cover that up.

And I know that
you ordered Dyson

to enlist the Black Legion
here in Holden,

and thereby risked
my family's good name.

We're a family of
philanthropists, art lovers,

and progressive entrepreneurs,
Martin.

Not killers and thugs.

Creeley, I've got
good news and bad news.

Which would you
like to hear first?

The good news.

An important position
in my family's organization

has just opened up.

I'd like to offer you
that position.

You want me to
take the place of him?

I'd be disappointed
if you didn't.

Offer accepted.

And the,

the bad news?

Your brother remains

an obstacle.

Sorry to interrupt
your evening's music.

My name is Preacher
Seth Davenport of Holden, Iowa,

and earlier today,
you may have heard me

tell the farmers and workers

and wouldbe strikers
to stand down,

that our fight could not be won.

But I was interrupted
before I could finish,

which is important because
what I was gonna say next

was that those are the very
words the rich and powerful

in this country
want me to say to you.

It may sound strange to hear
a man of God say this,

but the truth is,

America is a land
of outlaws and outcasts,

bitches and sons of bitches,

wanderers and scoundrels,

bastards and sinners and frauds.

Always has been.

And I believe we're
all the better for it.

But there are powerful
interests out there

who are banking on you
being wellbehaved, quiet,

and easily ruled.

In fact, they're betting
their entire fortunes on it.

I know because

I used to be on their side.

I was a strikebreaker,

a gun for hire.

So, I have no right

to tell you what to do
with your lives.

But since I've been
on the other side,

I can tell you that no one
is coming to save you.

The government's
not coming to save you,

and you've probably
figured that out by now.

Science and technology
aren't gonna save you.

Celebrities and businessmen
won't save you.

Not even religion will save you.

So, it's up to us,

and God.

It's up to us to come together
as God's body here on Earth.

Bitch or bastard,
scoundrel or fraud,

I'm asking for your help.

If you can hear me,

I want you to grab
your nearest firearm,

walk out your front door,

and fire a warning shot
into the air,

because I want every
crooked politician

and big shot industrialist
and wouldbe tyrant

in this land to know
that you're out there.

I want them to know
you will not be tamed.

You will not be ripped off.

You will not be broken.

We're fighting

for the soul of this country,

and we can't win
without you on our side.

Good Lord, DL.

I'm actually jealous.

Connie?

Is something wrong?

I very much need us to talk,

one widow to another.

I'm only

Going

Over home

I am a poor

wayfaring stranger

Traveling through

This world of woe

That no sickness

No toil, no danger

In that bright world

To which I go

Amelia, have you been
listening to the radio?

This is how we're gonna do it.

This is how we're gonna
bring people together.

I bet even God Himself
can hear it.

Amelia?

I'm justa going

Over Jordan

I'm justa

Going

Over

Home...