Damnation (2017–2018): Season 1, Episode 7 - A Different Species - full transcript

Previously, on "Damnation"...

Have you ever seen this man?

He now masquerades
as a roving preacher.

He was last seen
in Marion County, Arkansas,

murdering my husband.
Where'd you get this?

Preacher. Iowa.

You're a bank robber?

There's enough money in that bank

to pay off all the farm loans
through winter, maybe longer.

[EXPLOSIONS]

What are those?



Permits for factories.

So, who exactly are you
buying this farmland for?

- [PHONE RINGING]
- Yes?

Martin Eggers Hyde?

PhD. What is it?

I'm humbled to announce my candidacy

for the sheriff of Holden County.

My brother framed me for murder.

And Martin Eggers Hyde...
If I don't keep him happy,

he can send me back to prison anytime.

Mr. Turner, why are you
having so much trouble

with these farmers?
Lovely day for a drive.

Appears this farmer's
strike is alive and well

and attempts to end it
are making headlines



in this agitational rag.

Oh, most surprisingly,

I received a telephone call
from Holden's local whorehouse.

You did?

A woman I presume to be a prostitute

had the temerity
to ask for me by my name.

Which whore was it?

Could've been any
one of them, I suppose.

Well, since I did free you
from that horrid prison,

I'm surprised that you would

spread my name around so freely.

One of the whores
must've snuck in my room.

Found one of your letters.

[SCOFFS] How enterprising of her.

Perhaps I should have
hired the whore instead.

The professional that I sent in

to eliminate the preacher
and his wife has disappeared.

Do you know what happened to him?

I wasn't informed of his identity.

No, I suppose you were not.

It's curious.

Man of God,
endowed with such lethality.

Have you managed to
uncover anything about this

Preacher Seth Davenport's
past while in Holden?

No, I haven't.

You are a fascinating specimen indeed,

Mr. Turner.

Well, let's continue our drive,
unless you prefer to

linger and enjoy the view, of course.

[TENSE MUSIC]

[WHIP CRACKS]

[WHIMPERS]

No, thank you.

♪ ♪

[ENGINE TURNS OVER]

[ENGINE WHIRRING]

♪ ♪

[BRAKES SCREECH]

♪ ♪

This who I think it is?

In the flesh and blood.

Creeley Turner.

You truly are an American original.

So glad you could join us.

Thanks for having me, Mister...

Tennyson Duvall.

Fine masculine grip.

[MELLOW MUSIC]

♪ ♪

If you don't mind relaxing

and dining with your colleague here,

tomorrow should prove
to be an adventure.

Sustenance may help.

♪ ♪

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Seth, this is over $30,000.

The farmers can start
paying off their loans

no matter the food prices.

They can get through
the winter on this.

Apparently the Lord's plan
was to send us a bank robber.

Where's Lew now?

Spreading his legend
to the belles of the south.

Lew made sure everyone knew it was him,

so Holden just looks like
a public enemy's random target.

We also found these...

Purchase papers for land
in and around Holden.

Same buyer each time... Tuck Tandy.

Huh.

This one's filled out
for the Riley farm

just before the penny auction.

Tuck Tandy must've been
the prick in the suit

I kept from bidding on the farm.

According to these papers,
he's trying to buy up

half of Holden
and everything around it.

Not just Holden.

He also purchased that fertilizer plant

in Cherokee County.

And by the suit he was wearing,

I doubt it's his money he's spending.

He must be a front for someone.

Then I need to go
to that fertilizer plant

and see if I can
get the name of whoever's

actually behind all this.

How are we gonna get
the money to the farmers

without raising suspicion?

That's the last thing
I'm worried about.

Why's that?

'Cause you're already
thinking about it.

It's strange.

I just noticed myself feeling something

I don't think I've felt for years.

Oh, yeah? What's that?

I almost wanna call it hope.

[SOFT MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Let me guess...

Eggers Hyde got you out of prison

and a job with the Pinkertons.

Yup.

Anyone happen to
tell you why we're here?

Nope.

Yeah, me neither.

I was trying to bust
a cannery strike in St. Louis

and it started going to shit.

[DOOR CLICKS]

[CLEARS THROAT]

Morning, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Turner.

Do follow me.

Please remove your clothing.

And your undergarments.

Better here than behind bars,

wouldn't you agree?

Wait, are we supposed to put these on?

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[MOODY WESTERN MUSIC]

♪ ♪

You've truly outdone
yourself this time.

They're both magnificent.

[GRUNTING]

Just take the damn oil man's
money and leave the state.

Start a new life somewhere else.

This is my home.

Yeah, I know it is.

[HEAVY BREATHING]

When can we stop doing this?

Not soon enough.

[KNOCKING]

I'll check the door.

You stay here and cover me.

Uh, hello.

Hello to you as well.

My name is Cynthia Rainey
and this is my father,

the Reverend Alistair Rainey.

We've just moved into
the chapel near Colton Creek.

That's the next county over.

Well, it turns out there aren't as many

Christian pilgrims in Wyoming
as father was led to believe.

So, we're taking wing
and introducing ourselves

to a wider swath of the citizenry...

Who perhaps may introduce
themselves in return.

I'm Seth.

Seth what?

Just Seth.

This is your farmhouse, Just Seth?

Um, my brother and I recently moved in.

♪ ♪

Okay, Cynthia, time to move on.

Well, here's to new directions

and exciting possibilities.

I hope you'll join our next service.

♪ ♪

Welcome, ladies.

Preacher Seth has asked us
to trust in the Lord,

and I have good news.

We've received a generous donation

from a supporter of our strike.

[WOMEN GASPS]

It's enough to cover
all of your farm expenses

at least through the winter.

I heard the bank was
robbed at gunpoint yesterday.

Thank you, Gloria,
for voicing your concern.

"The wicked borroweth,
and payeth not again."

"- But the righteous
sheweth mercy, and giveth."

I too enjoy reading the Book of Psalms.

Now, it's essential
that you pay only the minimum

on your farm loan each month.

Stretch the rest out
as long as you can.

Now, who is prepared
to receive this holy gift, hm?

[WOMEN MURMURING]

♪ ♪

[FOLK MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[SCOFFS] That new banker's mine.

You don't get to have bob on

all the high-rolling knobs around here.

- New banker?
- I'll give you two dollars

if you let me serve
that cocksucker a drink.

And after that?

You can bob and bob till his
knob shines like a new dime.

[LAUGHS] Fine, pay up, slut.

♪ ♪

So, you're the new banker?

It's quite the upgrade.

I wonder if the new
strikebreaker they're sending

will be a similar improvement.

And why would you be
concerned with strikebreaking?

Cowboy fella was a good tipper.

[SCOFFS] Well, at least
he was good at something.

He sure wasn't good
at keeping his mouth shut.

You know what happened to the cowboy?

Here, take the tip.

You want the money
and I wanna be left alone.

Last thing I need is someone
dialing up my superiors

and putting my neck
on the chopping block.

♪ ♪

She bothering you?

No, she's just doing her job.

Tanner?

Let's discuss your town's
volatile political situation.

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Now that our hunting party is complete,

we'll be splitting into two groups.

Mr. Turner will lead one team,
and Mr. Johnson the other.

Wait, what are we hunting?

Poor people.

The doctor jests, of course.

Our game is elk.

♪ ♪

Is this Preacher Seth's church?

The preacher isn't here right now,

but you found the right church.

I'm his wife, Amelia.

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

Well, praise the Lord.

♪ ♪

My husband, Leonard,
was a striking miner

in Harlan County.

One of the leaders, actually.

He was brutally murdered
by a strikebreaker.

That poor, dear child

is the only thing
I have left in this world.

I'm so sorry.

How did you hear about Seth's work?

These writings.

I can't tell you
what they've meant to me.

The pamphlet made it all
the way out to Kentucky.

Workers pass them around for strength.

This writing spoke to me
like no other words

ever have before...

Except the Holy Bible itself.
God forgive my sins.

I heard rumor this
Preacher Seth might be in Iowa,

so I took it upon myself to come here

in the hopes of finding him...

And making sure my Leonard
didn't die in vain.

I know we can't
bring your husband back,

but we will do everything we can

to help out you and your daughter.

[FOREBODING MUSIC]

So, I can meet your husband?

Seth is in a neighboring town,

but he'll be back soon enough.

Right now I'm due to make house calls

on some of the strike wives.

Could we possibly join you?

Well, of course.

Thank you.

What a blessed day.

We are the founding
backbone of this country...

Ordinary, hardworking,
law-abiding citizens...

The sort of folk, it appears,
that Sheriff Don Berryman

is too good to stand
behind and protect.

We need law and order around here.

Our dirt roads are gonna
resemble the bloody streets

of New York and Chicago.

If I'm elected Sheriff,

I'm gonna track down
who robbed this bank

and bring them to justice.

And I'm gonna root out
all this town's agitators,

and communists and traitors,

and put an end to this
unlawful farmers' strike...

What's your journalistic
perspective on this?

I, uh, would say
Melvin Stubbs has his finger

on the angry pulse of this town.

You certain Mr. Babbage
would agree with that?

I want you to bring me
everything you can find

on the means and methods
of the Duvall family.

Scour the archives and make some calls,

okay?

Okay.

Vote for me.

Sheriff of Holden County.

[APPLAUSE]

["BOYS, THE NIGHT WILL
BURY YOU" BY HOLLY FIGUEROA]

♪ ♪

♪ Of all the things ♪

♪ That you keep near ♪

♪ Take hold now ♪

♪ Of the one you have ♪

♪ 'cause the time will come ♪

♪ A little too soon ♪

♪ Boys, the night ♪

♪ Will bury you ♪

♪ ♪

Do lead the way, Mr. Turner.

We are counting on you
to utilize your reserves

of expertise and cunning.

♪ ♪

[LEAVES CRUNCHING]

♪ ♪

[GUNSHOT]

♪ And disappear without a fight ♪

Rather impressive.

Though a little birdie
told me that your

vigorous young opponent
just took down a 14-pointer.

His reflexes and muscle
control are impeccable.

[WHISPERING] What am I doing here?

Hm?

Which is a... what is this,
some kind of punishment?

[LAUGH]

Why would you require
punishment, Mr. Turner?

As you said,

I'm making solid progress
on breaking the strike.

♪ The trouble now ♪

♪ Is not the truth ♪

♪ There's things out there ♪

♪ That'll bend your bones ♪

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

♪ Boys, the night will bury you ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Boys, the night will bury you ♪

♪ ♪

First things first.

We'll have to get these
rags off of all of you.

When do we get that cornbread
and mash we were promised?

You get your food
when you've done your work.

That's the protocol.

Now follow me.

[MACHINES HISSING]

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

[CREAKING]

♪ ♪

Give us a minute,
get the next test group ready.

♪ ♪

[MAN SCREAMING]

♪ ♪

Seems like only yesterday

Sam Jr. was sitting on this porch,

trying to hide some bullfrog
or field mouse he'd found.

Martha, this should be enough
to get Sam Jr. a good lawyer.

How could you ever afford that?

We've been blessed
with a generous benefactor,

a helpful counterbalance to
the wider corruption at work.

Yes, my dear Leonard
would speak in similar terms.

Seizing the means
of production and so forth.

What's that mean?

Well, some people
are outraged by the idea

that the people
that actually do the work

also share some of the profits.

So, why don't the farmers
just sell the food themselves?

Everyone goes to the market
to buy their groceries.

They don't go to the farms.

It's just not how it's done.

Maybe it should be.

I think Brittany's on to something.

Martha, what if we turn this
farm into our own marketplace?

Farmers could bring their goods

and sell them directly
to the townspeople.

They could set their own price
and cut out the middle man.

Huh?

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[ENGINE TURNING OVER]

♪ ♪

With each new technological innovation,

the human animal progresses forward.

First, there was fire,
and then the wheel,

gunpowder, the printing press,
and so forth.

We are currently enjoying an era

of unprecedented innovation.

Just imagine what progress awaits.

But what about God
and his gift of creation?

God's only gift to me was a defective
heart and asthmatic lungs.

[LAUGHTER]

I wasn't supposed to live
past the age of five,

but my devout mother prayed and
prayed over my poor, frail body

every night for years, and do you know

what eventually happened?

What?

- Nothing.
- [LAUGHTER]

Till my father ripped me from
that deranged woman's hands

and put me in the care
of the finest doctors

and technology money can buy.

No, the age of God is over.

Jesus didn't discover
penicillin, Mr. Hopkins.

Alexander Fleming did.

Just imagine
how many lives would be saved

with each scientific breakthrough,

each new innovation.

I wonder what our guests think.

As long as the booze keeps flowing,

it all sounds good to me.

[LAUGHTER]

[SOFT PIANO MUSIC]

Mr. Turner,

surely you won't make us
beg for your thoughts.

♪ ♪

Oh.

Well,

my pa always used to say, uh,

a turtle only makes progress
if he sticks his neck out.

♪ ♪

- Indeed.
- Hear, hear.

If you want a future worth living,

you gotta take some chances.

- Well said.
- Yeah.

[CHUCKLING]

Man, this is the life.

You should relax and enjoy yourself.

♪ ♪

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Mark them up.

We'll start with subject C7-1.

♪ ♪

Quarantine the others in here.

♪ ♪

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

[VALVE SQUEAKING]

[HISSING]

♪ ♪

Get out of here,
they're gonna poison you.

Turn it off.

Turn it off!

[ALARM BELLS RINGING]

[GRUNTING]

What is all this?

Answer my questions or I swear to God

I'll put a bullet in your head.

We're running tests
on uniforms and equipment.

Quality control.

Who is it for?

Is it for a doctor?

I heard the name Duvall a couple times.

That's all I know.

♪ ♪

[GUN CLICKS]

There he is!

Get out of here!

Go now!

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

I'm certain you're
sitting there wondering

what's this old fart
have to say about God

that I haven't already heard?

You might not even be listening,

because you believe you're
too wicked to be a member

of God's body, or to feel his mercy

or his love. In God...

I'm glad you came.

I'm not really sure how to do this.

Do what?

Go to church.

It's easy. Just listen.

But hear this...

Within you, there is
a better version of yourself

just waiting to be released.

And that is the version
of you that God sees.

That is the version that he loves.

All of us, no matter our sins,

can be reborn.

[CHURCH BELLS RINGING]

So, what'd you think of the service?

It wasn't what I expected.

What did you expect?

I don't know, I'm still
surprised I came here.

What are you doing here?

Followed you,

'cause Pa easily could do likewise.

Well, that's why I need you
to start covering for me,

'cause I'm gonna be coming
back here hopefully a lot.

Yeah?

You oughta tell her the truth
about us so she can decide

for herself whether she
wants anything to do with you.

You Seth's brother?

Yes, ma'am.

Fair warning,

us Turners ain't exactly
as friendly as we look.

What'd he mean by that?

Nothing,

he's just high-strung
and easy to spook.

And you?

[GENTLE MUSIC]

I'm ready to be reborn.

♪ ♪

[EXCITED CHATTER]

I quite agree
with what you said earlier.

Here, come with me.

[CLASSICAL MUSIC]

♪ ♪

I figured you're a man who'd appreciate

a glimpse of the future.

See, recent studies suggest that women

perform their housework
more efficiently and willingly

when in a state of sexual satisfaction.

Okay.

But, as you have probably noticed,

this is a nation full
of increasingly unhappy women.

But luckily,

there is a technological solution

to every human problem.

See, once I perfect, market,

and distribute this contraption,

common housewives
should be able to achieve

a quick and efficient climax

as part of her daily morning routine.

I see.

And then she can perform

her important supportive
household chores

with a properly pleasant demeanor.

Improving everyday
American lives through

progress and innovation
is the Duvall family motto.

Very reassuring.

Ah.

I see you found mother's little helper.

The hour has arrived.

Shall we gather in the gaming quarters?

[MACHINE WHIRRING]

[TENSE MUSIC]

You have powerful friends,

friends that respect your patriotism

and recognize the normal
channels of law and order

aren't working here in Holden.

We'd like the Black Legion
to stop this farmers' strike

on behalf of American prosperity.

And in return, we're
offering substantial support

for as long as our business interests

and your moral crusade both
continue to happily coincide.

[FOREBODING MUSIC]

♪ ♪

As Grandmaster, what do you say?

♪ ♪

I say I know a good deal
when I see one.

[GLASSES CLINKING]

It's that whore.

She saw our faces!

She's getting away!

- Whoa, whoa.
- Get after her!

♪ ♪

- Spread out.
- She couldn't have gotten far.

♪ ♪

Gentlemen, time for
the entertainment to begin.

Oh, Mr. Johnson,

I don't believe you have
a reservation for up above.

You'll be staying down here
with Mr. Turner and myself.

- Certainly, easy money.
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]

What are they betting on?

Us.

♪ ♪

Look at them.

They're a different
species than we are.

They've been examining us.

Martin, I am so glad two
of your finest Pinkerton agents

volunteered for tonight's gamesmanship.

As am I, Mr. Duvall.

Let me perform a quick weapons check.

♪ ♪

We have before us

a fascinating philosophical dilemma...

Creeley Turner's experience and cunning

versus Remy Johnson's
advantages in youth and vigor.

Which best favors a man?

Take a position
and place your bets now.

Martin will referee the contest,

which will end in either
ten counts or submission.

♪ ♪

Combatants are clean.

My friends,
we're ready whenever you are.

♪ ♪

[TENSE MUSIC]

- Oh.
- Ohh.

♪ ♪

[GRUNTS]

♪ ♪

- [YELLS]
- Ooh!

[YELLING]

♪ ♪

Looks like youth trumps experience.

Go ahead and start the ten count.

I'm not sure
Mr. Turner's completely out.

Allow me to check.

I did some digging...
Turns out that preacher's

actually your brother, isn't he?

No one betrays me
and survives, Mr. Turner.

Farewell.

Do it now.

[GRUNTING]

One, two...

[YELLS]

♪ ♪

[PAINED HISS]

♪ ♪

[SCREAMS]

♪ ♪

[HEAVY BREATHING]

♪ ♪

[TABLE CREAKS]

♪ ♪

So, you're gonna have me
killed or sent back to prison?

If only it were that simple.

Creeley Turner!

We didn't intend for things
to go quite so far.

Mr. Duvall, I don't know
how he got that knife past me.

Don't be so hard on yourself.

These men are professional.

But do make sure there's no
unpleasant legal ramifications

due to tonight's unfortunate turn.

Martin tells me your work in Holden

is going exceptionally smoothly.

We'll be bringing
progress to Iowa in no time.

And to ensure there's
also no hard feelings,

I wanted to give you this.

- Thank...
- Thank you, Mr. Duvall.

Quite welcome.

Philanthropy's a family tradition.

Enjoy this moment.

I see promising horizons
ahead for all of us.

Mr. Duvall has taken
a strong liking to you,

so it appears I have no choice

but to retain your services in Holden.

Oh.

But, uh, your assignment has changed.

You're now to kill your brother.

[TENSE MUSIC]

Once you've done that,
you'll be released

from your duties and your sentence.

Kill my brother.

And then you'll have
your freedom at last.

And there's so much
in this life to enjoy.

♪ ♪

I called around.

Everyone but the dairy
farmers has agreed

to bring their goods to our
farm and sell them there,

bypassing Melvin Stubbs
and the local grocers.

And finally setting
your own food prices.

But I'll need
extra hands to run things.

Connie,

do you think you and Brittany
might be able to help?

Well, we're coal people, not farmers.

You could stay with me and learn.

I could use the help

and the company.

The house has been too empty lately.

I'd love to hear how you do it.

Do what?

Handle your loss with such grace.

I'd like to hear that too.

- What do you mean?
- [SHEEPISH LAUGH]

I'm a widow too.

Seth and my first husband Sal and I

were helping dam workers
organize a strike.

We set up a potluck
for them at a dance hall,

and it turned out
that one of the workers

was an undercover strikebreaker

who chained the doors
and set the place on fire.

Sal burned to death.

And I wouldn't describe
my reaction as graceful.

I think I heard about this.

It was in Marion County,
Arkansas, wasn't it?

Whatever happened to
that undercover strikebreaker?

[DOOR CLICKS, THUDS]

[UNEASY MUSIC]

Seth.

[COUGHS]

Oh, I, uh, see you've invited company.

Yes, Martha and I were just
talking with Connie here.

She's from Harlan County.

Her husband was also killed
by strikebreakers.

She's come here to help.

♪ ♪

Hello, Connie.

I'm sorry about your husband,

but we're very happy
to welcome you here.

♪ ♪

You're too kind, Preacher.

It's late.

We should probably go and

get you and Brittany settled in.

This should help you two
get up on your feet again.

Mother,

is this the bad man?

[LAUGHS]

Of course not, dear child,
this man is a preacher.

Preachers aren't bad men.

Come along.

Thank you both for the money

and for sharing some
of your difficult past.

I hope to see more of both of you soon.

Good night.

[DOOR SHUTS]

So, what did you find?

A name.

Duvall.

As in Duvall Industrials?

I don't know if this Duvall

is the doctor or the doctor
just works for Duvall

Either way, they're
putting military uniforms

on so-called vagrants

and then testing chemicals on them.

They bring in uniform shipments...

[PAPER RUSTLING]

From Woodbury County.

[SIGHS]

Tintern Textiles.

What about it?

That's my father's company.

[GENTLE BANJO MUSIC]

♪ ♪

♪ Said it's a mean old world ♪

♪ Heavy in need ♪

♪ And that big machine ♪

♪ Is just picking up speed ♪

♪ And we're supping on tears ♪

♪ And we're supping on wine ♪

[PANTING]

♪ We all get to heaven
in our own sweet time ♪

♪ ♪

♪ So come, all you Asheville boys ♪

[TRAIN WHISTLE]

♪ And turn up your old-time noise ♪

[TRAIN WHEELS CLACKING]

♪ And kick till the dust ♪

♪ Comes up ♪

♪ From the cracks in the floor ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Singing "Hard times..." ♪

♪ "Ain't gonna rule my mind, brother" ♪

[GUNSHOT]

♪ Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind ♪

[GUN CLICKING]

♪ ♪

♪ Hard times ♪

[GUNSHOT]

♪ Ain't gonna rule my mind ♪

♪ Hard times ♪

♪ Ain't gonna rule my mind, sugar ♪

♪ Hard times ♪

♪ Ain't gonna rule ♪

♪ My mind ♪

♪ No more ♪