Lovecraft Country (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Episode #1.3 - full transcript
I understand y'all belong
to the Order of Ancient Dawn.
And my nephew might just be
the last blood heir of
Titus Braithwaite.
What the hell y'all doing here?
We... We're here to save you.
I can save my damn self!
Leti! Stay awake, stay awake!
Since you are a son among son,
I will give you a choice
who else survives your error
in judgment.
Wait!
I don't want to see him
until the ceremony at dawn.
So, what's gonna happen
in the ceremony?
My father intends to open a door
to the Garden of Eden.
He will heal your uncle as well.
I'm sorry, Uncle George,
I'm sorry, Uncle George!
- Hey, Lei, what did you do
to make a mark on this world?
What mountains did you climb?
Which angels gave you
their wings?
Which skies have you flown?
When you reached the heavens,
who was there to catch you
when you fell?
And did they tell you
that you saved them too,
like you saved me?
That they are mending your wings
and holding them up to the sun,
just to step back
and watch
you fly?
So go ahead, Lei.
Fly.
- What the hell are we doing
in this neighborhood?
- I told you,
I've got a surprise.
- And I told you
I promised Hippolyta
I'd be over to watch Dee
at 2:00.
- Bail is usually $40,
which means I owe you
around $500 for that,
and then there's that time
you wired me money
in Kentucky last Christmas
when I broke my camera.
- You said that was for
your light bill.
- Yeah, that's right.
You've paid
more than a few of my bills
over the years too.
You've been there for me
when I needed money.
And I wanna return the favor.
- Hmm.
- How would you like
to never pay rent again?
- What does that mean?
I bought a house!
- What game are you playing at?
- It's not a game, Ruby.
- There is no way in hell
you could afford
to buy this house.
- Come on!
- Oh.
Never mind. Now I can see why.
- All right,
it don't look like much now,
but when we're done
fixing it up...
- Where'd you get the money
to buy yourself a house?
- Our house, Ruby.
- Where'd you get
the money, Leti?
- That has three floors,
not including the basement,
and 13 rooms.
I'm gonna turn it
into a boarding house.
Make it a safe haven
for colored folks in need.
- Safe?
Just last year, there was
almost a riot across town
because a Negro couple moved in
to an all-white building.
- There's strength in numbers.
- No.
No, I don't have any time
for distractions right now.
I'm about to apply
at a Marshall Field's again
and I need to concentrate
on perfecting my résumé.
- I'll help you.
I'll even mend
one of your dresses for you
so you don't have to buy
a new one.
- I don't know, Leti.
- I know you think
I've used our relationship
to get over on you
through the years,
but this could be our chance
to really bond as sisters.
I'm taking the biggest room.
- I knew it! Come on.
I haven't even shown you
the best part.
It's an elevator.
- What?
- That's strange.
It was working before.
- Leti!
- Whoo!
- Oh, my God.
- That's not funny.
That's not funny.
That's not funny.
- I'll get it fixed.
- Oh, my God.
- Mama, Tic's done
burning breakfast.
- Hey, I heard that.
- You okay, Dee?
- Yeah. Yeah.
Everything's jake.
- Morning.
Morning.
- Hey, baby.
- I made you some eggs.
Go ahead. - Go ahead.
No, baby, you go ahead.
- The printer called again,
about, uh, about
the new additions to the guide.
They're about a month overdue.
- I keep forgetting
the deadline.
- He understands, considering.
- I'll go do it now.
- I took care of it last night.
Hope that's okay.
I know you didn't wanna miss
putting the guide out.
- I hadn't proofed 'em yet, Tic.
- They looked good to me.
- Okay.
Thanks.
- We should try the scrapyard
for some robot parts tonight.
Gotta be something good there.
- I'm not staying over
tonight, Dee.
- Why?
You've been here for weeks.
- I got some things
I gotta take care of.
Pop?
Can't pay a dollar I don't have.
Can't lock the door.
Hey.
Pan to mop.
Eh.
Say?
- I got you, kid.
- Ah, damn... damn... damn it!
Boy!
- That was Uncle George's
favorite story to tell.
I heard it so much,
I'm even dreaming about it,
like I was there with y'all
when the riot broke out.
Those white boys
had you surrounded,
and out of nowhere came
a mysterious stranger
swinging a bat
like Jackie Robinson.
Hit home runs
on all their heads,
saving you both.
And all he said
before disappearing was...
- "I got you, kid."
- We could've used
that stranger up in Ardham.
How Dee and Hippolyta doing?
- As good as can be expected.
I've been helping Dee
with her swing.
She could use you, a'ight.
- Hmm.
- I've worn out
my welcome there, Pop.
I was hoping I could stay here
just for a few nights.
- Yeah.
- Feels strange,
staying over there
without them knowing
what happened to Uncle George.
- They know what happened.
That hotheaded sheriff shot him.
Hippolyta saw the body.
We had a funeral.
End of story.
- I know that's
what we agreed on.
Just don't feel right.
- So what?
You want us to tell 'em
that wizards exist?
Huh?
That white folks got magic
on their side too?
- Maybe we just tell
Aunt Hippolyta.
- Hippolyta can't do shit.
We can't do shit. A'ight?
Best to just let it all die
with the bodies buried
under that lodge.
- Just feel like
if Uncle George was here...
- He's not here.
- If he was here...
- Well, he ain't here.
- If he was, he'd be saying we
need to find out all we can...
- Goddamn it!
- Looking good, boys.
- We need that elevator fixed.
- I'm working on it,
but colored elevator repair men
are hard to find.
- Leti, you know
there's a locked door up here?
- So pick it!
Hello!
What's your name?
- Baldwin.
Hey, you're a novelist too?
I'm James.
- I'm Ruby.
- I'd apologize
for my sister's rude behavior,
but she gets it from her father.
- You planning to move all that
junk out of the basement?
It'd be a great space
for a dance studio.
- Sorry.
No significant alterations
to the house
until that installment
contract's paid up.
- Where does this go?
- Put it in the kitchen.
- There's no room.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- I went over to Ruby's
old place looking for you.
Her neighbor said
you hit the numbers
and moved to the North Side.
It's nice.
- No, it's not.
Not really.
But it will be.
- Smart.
Moving in on a Sunday
when the whole neighborhood's
at church
and can't try to stop you.
- Why did you go by Ruby's
looking for me?
- Wanted to check in on you.
- You haven't checked in
since George's funeral
three weeks ago.
- I wanted to check in
before hitting the road.
- You going back to Florida?
- Yeah. It's time.
Hippolyta's doing better.
So is Dee.
- You're gonna miss one hell
of a housewarming party.
Everybody on the South Side's
gonna be here.
- Yeah?
- Mm-hmm.
- That'll be fun
for your neighbors.
I have a room
I haven't rented out yet.
You should stay, at least,
for the party.
- I told my boss I'd only be
gone for a few days.
About a month ago.
All right.
- Hey, what's that?
- Here we go.
I told you it was gonna be
Trumbull Park all over again.
- Maybe I will stick around
a little longer.
Oh, motherfuckers.
Son of a bitch.
Oh. Ooh.
- I don't see anything.
- No, no, no.
There was something banging
on that door to get out.
- Could've been a draft.
- Wasn't just the wind.
I heard voices.
- I believe you.
What we went through...
the stress of it...
Plus keeping it a secret.
And your neighbors know
what they doing.
I wouldn't be surprised
if the assholes
with the cars are vets.
- Well, I know they're the ones
tampering with that boiler.
- Excessive heat and noise,
same tactics we used in Korea.
- For what?
- I'll nail the windows down
in the basement,
keep watch for a couple nights.
- No, you don't have to do that.
- But I will.
- Thank you.
- You know, the...
This is the perfect place
for a darkroom.
- Hi!
Whew!
- Leti, Leti.
I think that
elevator's broken again.
- That'll quench your thirst
after taking the stairs.
- You heard about
that newcomer preacher
that's supposed to jumpstart
the movement, right?
- Michael, right?
- He's going by Martin now.
- I heard he was engaged
to a white woman.
- Nah.
They made him marry
a colored one last year.
- Loving a white woman
doesn't mean
he can't stand up
for colored folks.
I guess.
Ella!
- Leti!
- All right, now this is
your last pour.
No more, I say. No more.
Just one.
Ron is here?
- More?
- Yes.
- So greedy.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Thank you for bringing
all this food.
- Oh, I should be thanking you.
My icebox is overflowing
with food folks bring
when they come check in on us.
- Ah.
- Couldn't eat it all if we try.
Even with Tic
eating more than his share.
- He said he was helping out.
- He was.
Cooking.
Playing with Dee.
Helping out
with the travel guide.
Leaving cups upright to dry
after he'd wash them.
George always set the cups down
when he did the dishes.
- That it?
Tic remind you of George?
- No.
Just being foolish.
You seen Dee and her friends?
- Who's the coolest
in our group?
It's spelling my name.
- No, it's mine!
- Okay, okay.
Bobo, it's your turn.
Will I have a good time
on my trip?
- Gil, it's your turn.
- Who are we talking to?
That ain't funny, jerk!
- I didn't do it!
- Me either.
- It moved by itself.
- Y'all are assholes!
- Dee.
Diana.
Hello?
- Man, I've been looking
for you.
Where you been?
- The porch.
Keeping watch.
- You thought
it'd be a good idea,
let the neighbors see
a soldier live here, huh?
You was always real smart.
Hey, I wanted to ask you
about Letitia.
- What about her?
- Me and her, we used to tussle
back in high school,
if you know what I'm saying.
And I'm feeling
nostalgic tonight.
But I heard you been
staying here rent-free.
- And?
All right, man. All right.
But if that's yours,
you might wanna tell her.
- Sorry.
I didn't realize
I started my monthly...
- It's okay.
Hey, no big deal.
- See you downstairs?
- Yeah.
- You think Marshall Field's
hasn't hired you
because you're colored?
- Of course I know that.
And I'm willing to work
harder than anybody else,
if that's what it's gonna take.
You know, if more colored folk
thought like me,
the race would be
a lot further along.
Oh, no.
- Oh, no.
- Damn.
- Excuse me.
- Where are the kids?
Dee!
- James, grab the shotguns
from the closet.
Ruby, get Floyd's car keys.
- Come on,
put your hands together.
Yeah.
Come on, y'all.
We gon' take everything back
that the devil stole.
- We're taking everything!
- Yeah!
Hey.
Yeah, that's it.
Come on, make the devil mad.
Stomp on his head!
Let him know you're going
to get your stomp, yeah!
- Letitia Lewis.
You have quite a record here.
What group you with?
The Monkey Urban League?
No, wait, I know.
The National Association
for the Advancement
of Cockroaches.
I've gotten a lot of complaints
from your neighbors about you.
- Have you gotten
the 21 reports I've filed
about harassment
from those same neighbors?
- Burke, Crane,
have we received any complaints?
- Not that we can recall,
Captain.
- Anything strange happen
in your new house?
Hmm?
A'ight, how about this?
Did someone tell you to buy
the Winthrop house?
- Gal like you can't afford
that mortgage.
Not even renting out rooms.
You tell me who helped you buy
the Winthrop house
and this ends.
- You really don't know anything
about that house
you moved into, do you?
We found the body parts
of eight niggers
buried in the room
below the basement.
So if history is any indication,
you won't last in that house
very long.
At all.
- Get out
of my house!
- Come on, guys.
There's nothing we can do?
Leti?
Leti, we got a big problem.
None of the boarders like
that you put a bigger target
on our backs
by busting up
those white boys' cars.
They're all moving out.
- It'll be safer for them.
- Who cares about them?
We got an installment contract
to pay that we can't afford.
- Ruby, it'll be fine.
I-I still have some
of the money Mama left.
- What?
- All that money came from Mama?
- I, um...
I was just as surprised
as you are
when I got the call.
The bank said that, um...
she'd left me an inheritance.
- But Mama didn't have
any money.
- I guess she did.
- And she just left it all
to you?
You didn't even come
to her funeral.
Hell, you don't even go by
her last name.
- I know.
Hell, it don't make any sense.
But to be honest, I'm tired.
I'm tired of trying
to figure out
her crazy motivations.
Mama never did anything
for anyone
or for any damn reason
but herself.
And I didn't tell you be...
Because I knew
it was gonna hurt you.
- Thank you for looking out
for me.
- Ruby, don't...
- Don't.
Now, you look down on Mama,
but you're worse.
- What the hell's that
supposed to mean?
- At least Mama didn't pretend
to be anything but selfish.
Now, you say
you bought this house
'cause you wanted to help
our people,
but looks to me all you've done
is move in your artist friends.
And if you were half the sister
that you claim you wanna be,
you'd have split that money
with me and Marvin,
regardless of Mama's wishes...
- But...
- But you didn't!
No, you lied to me.
You begged me to move in here
'cause you really wanted us
to be sisters for once,
but that was just more
of your bullshit.
Just you burying your guilt
for doing what you always do:
look out for Leti first.
And I'm the fool
'cause here I was thinking,
all these years
that I've been helping you,
sending you money,
that you were just a fuck-up,
but really,
you're just fucked up.
- Montrose.
- Hey.
- What you doing here?
- Figure I'd hit a few balls
with Dee,
help her with that swing.
Oh, I got this.
- Just set 'em over there.
- I'm sorry.
- Oh, I got it.
I got it, I got it.
- I got this.
George's favorite.
- I spilled coffee on his copy.
I saw his body.
The bullet hole
where that sheriff shot him.
And I know you and Tic
took care of that vile man.
I don't wanna know
the details of that, but...
What you told me happened...
Something doesn't feel right.
Tic's been staying here a month,
and every day of it,
I have this nagging feeling
that he's not
telling me something
about my husband's death.
- Hell...
Hippolyta, I...
I'm not sure what you want me
to say.
What else you think happened?
- I don't know!
Something.
- What's all this?
- My house is haunted.
Hell.
- Walk me through it.
- All right, um...
the realtist, JJ,
he was cagey
about the previous owners,
but he called it
the Winthrop house.
Now, I haven't been able
to dig up anything
on the name Winthrop,
but I did find out
the last owner of the house was
a man named Hiram Epstein.
Epstein was a scientist
at the University of Chicago.
Until he was fired
for unethical
experimental practices.
- Unethical how?
- Article doesn't say,
but I think he was
experimenting on humans.
Eight bodies were found
in my basement.
- When?
- I'm not sure.
But remember the night
of the housewarming party?
Police captain's the one
who told me about the bodies,
and he was asking all these
questions about the house,
like he had some sort of
connection to it.
That's him.
Look who's standing beside him.
- That's Hiram Epstein.
- Mm-hmm.
- They knew each other.
- And Lancaster's name keeps
popping up
in a string of articles
as the lead detective
in a number
of missing person's reports
from the South Side.
- You think he was supplying
this Epstein guy
with test subjects?
- Mm. Oh, and then this.
I took these
the day we moved in.
The body parts that were found
in what is now my basement?
It took all night,
but I was able to find
all eight faces.
Lucy, Anarcha, Grover...
- Colored folks who disappeared
on the South Side.
- Now restless souls
trapped in my house
with their killer.
They want out.
I know it.
- Uncle George would reference
a haunted house story right now
that proves that these ghosts
aren't gonna stop
till you join 'em
on the other side.
I think it's time to move out.
- The night
of the housewarming...
that was my first time.
- Your first time what?
Leti.
Leti, I'm sorry if I... - No.
No, no, no.
No, I don't regret it.
I needed it.
I needed to feel something.
We haven't even talked
about all the crazy shit
that happened in Ardham.
- Monsters...
the spells,
Uncle George's death.
- And I died too.
And honestly,
since I've been back,
I've felt like a ghost.
Like something's missing.
And I keep grasping
at everything,
trying to avoid it.
Pioneering,
the church, my sister...
you.
Hell, I thought
the world was one way,
and I found out it isn't.
And it terrifies me.
But I can't live in fear.
I won't.
I gotta face this new world
head on
and stake my claim in it.
- Where'd you say
you found her again?
- Mama couldn't really commune
with the dead,
but she was a hustler
who believed in doing
her research.
- If the spirits are
as malevolent
as you claim, child,
you'll need a seal of protection
to keep us safe
while we purge the house.
I'll reach out
for the spirits' energy
until I find it.
Here, I feel a presence.
Take my hands.
Form a circle.
And don't let go.
No matter what.
Mama Oya,
I, your dutiful servant,
call upon you
to use me as a vessel,
so together,
we may cleanse this space
of these tormented spirits.
- Found 'em. Terry.
- Let's get 'em.
It's working!
Chant with me now.
- Shit.
- Our marks!
- Let's go!
- Leti!
Betsey!
Phillip!
Lucy! Jasper!
Anarcha! Rufus!
Grover! -
- Olivia! Please!
- Out of my house, bitch.
Get the fuck out of my house.
- Help me!
Help me cast him out!
- Get out of my house, bitch.
Get the fuck out
of my house, bitch!
- Please!
- Get the fuck out of my house.
You are not dead yet!
You can still fight!
- Get the fuck out
of my house, bitch!
- Get the fuck out of my house!
- It's amazing you're even
standing here today,
considering the opposition
you were up against.
And you didn't just do it
for yourself.
To really be providing
a sanctuary
for those in the community
most in need of cheap housing?
That's what makes
this story newsworthy.
It's helping our community.
- It was my sister
who really inspired it all.
- Well, it is truly...
It is truly remarkable.
I have one last question. - Hmm.
- Off the record,
do you know anything
about the disappearance
of three
of your white neighbors?
- I hadn't heard
anyone was missing.
- Can I grab a photo?
- Sure.
- The bank has wired your money.
I appreciate your help.
JJ, I think you better grab
that box and go.
- Leti's inheritance
didn't come from her mother.
It came from you.
- How'd you figure it out?
- Winthrop.
I saw his name
carved on the frame
of your father's
favorite painting.
- Horatio Winthrop was
a founding member
of the Sons of Adam.
But he was banished
after stealing pages
from the Book of Names.
He was sick of Titus
having the only cipher
to read the Language of Adam
and tried to develop his own
from the stolen pages.
Hiram Epstein
was a follower of his.
- I didn't come here
for a history lesson.
- Then what did you come
here for?
- To make sure you stay
the fuck away from my family.
- Shall I continue the lesson?
Most of the Order never create
their own spells.
They don't have the discipline
or the talent.
Those that do usually get
one spell in their lifetime.
My father's claim to fame
was invulnerability.
He thought
if you couldn't be harmed,
you'd live forever.
He had to remove it
when he attempted to open
the door to the Garden of Eden.
It's extraordinary really,
when you think about it.
Every spell
the Sons have created
has come from just one
deciphered chapter
of the Book of Names,
orally passed down by Titus.
The Book is gone
and Titus locked his pages
in a booby-trapped vault
only he could access.
But imagine the possibilities
if Horatio Winthrop's pages
were to be found.
The Language of Adam could
finally be decoded
in its entirety.
Call me when you're ready
to learn more
about our family legacy.
And Tic, really, you...
Have to be smarter than this.
You know you can't
just go around
killing white women.
What if I told you that
I could change your life...
forever.
We need to be able
to defend ourselves.
You have his blood.
Must be the key to finding
his pages.
You can't win this game
they setting up for you to play.
You gon' help us or not?
For us, it's a rat race
to the finish line.
And it's winner takes all.
Hello?
to the Order of Ancient Dawn.
And my nephew might just be
the last blood heir of
Titus Braithwaite.
What the hell y'all doing here?
We... We're here to save you.
I can save my damn self!
Leti! Stay awake, stay awake!
Since you are a son among son,
I will give you a choice
who else survives your error
in judgment.
Wait!
I don't want to see him
until the ceremony at dawn.
So, what's gonna happen
in the ceremony?
My father intends to open a door
to the Garden of Eden.
He will heal your uncle as well.
I'm sorry, Uncle George,
I'm sorry, Uncle George!
- Hey, Lei, what did you do
to make a mark on this world?
What mountains did you climb?
Which angels gave you
their wings?
Which skies have you flown?
When you reached the heavens,
who was there to catch you
when you fell?
And did they tell you
that you saved them too,
like you saved me?
That they are mending your wings
and holding them up to the sun,
just to step back
and watch
you fly?
So go ahead, Lei.
Fly.
- What the hell are we doing
in this neighborhood?
- I told you,
I've got a surprise.
- And I told you
I promised Hippolyta
I'd be over to watch Dee
at 2:00.
- Bail is usually $40,
which means I owe you
around $500 for that,
and then there's that time
you wired me money
in Kentucky last Christmas
when I broke my camera.
- You said that was for
your light bill.
- Yeah, that's right.
You've paid
more than a few of my bills
over the years too.
You've been there for me
when I needed money.
And I wanna return the favor.
- Hmm.
- How would you like
to never pay rent again?
- What does that mean?
I bought a house!
- What game are you playing at?
- It's not a game, Ruby.
- There is no way in hell
you could afford
to buy this house.
- Come on!
- Oh.
Never mind. Now I can see why.
- All right,
it don't look like much now,
but when we're done
fixing it up...
- Where'd you get the money
to buy yourself a house?
- Our house, Ruby.
- Where'd you get
the money, Leti?
- That has three floors,
not including the basement,
and 13 rooms.
I'm gonna turn it
into a boarding house.
Make it a safe haven
for colored folks in need.
- Safe?
Just last year, there was
almost a riot across town
because a Negro couple moved in
to an all-white building.
- There's strength in numbers.
- No.
No, I don't have any time
for distractions right now.
I'm about to apply
at a Marshall Field's again
and I need to concentrate
on perfecting my résumé.
- I'll help you.
I'll even mend
one of your dresses for you
so you don't have to buy
a new one.
- I don't know, Leti.
- I know you think
I've used our relationship
to get over on you
through the years,
but this could be our chance
to really bond as sisters.
I'm taking the biggest room.
- I knew it! Come on.
I haven't even shown you
the best part.
It's an elevator.
- What?
- That's strange.
It was working before.
- Leti!
- Whoo!
- Oh, my God.
- That's not funny.
That's not funny.
That's not funny.
- I'll get it fixed.
- Oh, my God.
- Mama, Tic's done
burning breakfast.
- Hey, I heard that.
- You okay, Dee?
- Yeah. Yeah.
Everything's jake.
- Morning.
Morning.
- Hey, baby.
- I made you some eggs.
Go ahead. - Go ahead.
No, baby, you go ahead.
- The printer called again,
about, uh, about
the new additions to the guide.
They're about a month overdue.
- I keep forgetting
the deadline.
- He understands, considering.
- I'll go do it now.
- I took care of it last night.
Hope that's okay.
I know you didn't wanna miss
putting the guide out.
- I hadn't proofed 'em yet, Tic.
- They looked good to me.
- Okay.
Thanks.
- We should try the scrapyard
for some robot parts tonight.
Gotta be something good there.
- I'm not staying over
tonight, Dee.
- Why?
You've been here for weeks.
- I got some things
I gotta take care of.
Pop?
Can't pay a dollar I don't have.
Can't lock the door.
Hey.
Pan to mop.
Eh.
Say?
- I got you, kid.
- Ah, damn... damn... damn it!
Boy!
- That was Uncle George's
favorite story to tell.
I heard it so much,
I'm even dreaming about it,
like I was there with y'all
when the riot broke out.
Those white boys
had you surrounded,
and out of nowhere came
a mysterious stranger
swinging a bat
like Jackie Robinson.
Hit home runs
on all their heads,
saving you both.
And all he said
before disappearing was...
- "I got you, kid."
- We could've used
that stranger up in Ardham.
How Dee and Hippolyta doing?
- As good as can be expected.
I've been helping Dee
with her swing.
She could use you, a'ight.
- Hmm.
- I've worn out
my welcome there, Pop.
I was hoping I could stay here
just for a few nights.
- Yeah.
- Feels strange,
staying over there
without them knowing
what happened to Uncle George.
- They know what happened.
That hotheaded sheriff shot him.
Hippolyta saw the body.
We had a funeral.
End of story.
- I know that's
what we agreed on.
Just don't feel right.
- So what?
You want us to tell 'em
that wizards exist?
Huh?
That white folks got magic
on their side too?
- Maybe we just tell
Aunt Hippolyta.
- Hippolyta can't do shit.
We can't do shit. A'ight?
Best to just let it all die
with the bodies buried
under that lodge.
- Just feel like
if Uncle George was here...
- He's not here.
- If he was here...
- Well, he ain't here.
- If he was, he'd be saying we
need to find out all we can...
- Goddamn it!
- Looking good, boys.
- We need that elevator fixed.
- I'm working on it,
but colored elevator repair men
are hard to find.
- Leti, you know
there's a locked door up here?
- So pick it!
Hello!
What's your name?
- Baldwin.
Hey, you're a novelist too?
I'm James.
- I'm Ruby.
- I'd apologize
for my sister's rude behavior,
but she gets it from her father.
- You planning to move all that
junk out of the basement?
It'd be a great space
for a dance studio.
- Sorry.
No significant alterations
to the house
until that installment
contract's paid up.
- Where does this go?
- Put it in the kitchen.
- There's no room.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- I went over to Ruby's
old place looking for you.
Her neighbor said
you hit the numbers
and moved to the North Side.
It's nice.
- No, it's not.
Not really.
But it will be.
- Smart.
Moving in on a Sunday
when the whole neighborhood's
at church
and can't try to stop you.
- Why did you go by Ruby's
looking for me?
- Wanted to check in on you.
- You haven't checked in
since George's funeral
three weeks ago.
- I wanted to check in
before hitting the road.
- You going back to Florida?
- Yeah. It's time.
Hippolyta's doing better.
So is Dee.
- You're gonna miss one hell
of a housewarming party.
Everybody on the South Side's
gonna be here.
- Yeah?
- Mm-hmm.
- That'll be fun
for your neighbors.
I have a room
I haven't rented out yet.
You should stay, at least,
for the party.
- I told my boss I'd only be
gone for a few days.
About a month ago.
All right.
- Hey, what's that?
- Here we go.
I told you it was gonna be
Trumbull Park all over again.
- Maybe I will stick around
a little longer.
Oh, motherfuckers.
Son of a bitch.
Oh. Ooh.
- I don't see anything.
- No, no, no.
There was something banging
on that door to get out.
- Could've been a draft.
- Wasn't just the wind.
I heard voices.
- I believe you.
What we went through...
the stress of it...
Plus keeping it a secret.
And your neighbors know
what they doing.
I wouldn't be surprised
if the assholes
with the cars are vets.
- Well, I know they're the ones
tampering with that boiler.
- Excessive heat and noise,
same tactics we used in Korea.
- For what?
- I'll nail the windows down
in the basement,
keep watch for a couple nights.
- No, you don't have to do that.
- But I will.
- Thank you.
- You know, the...
This is the perfect place
for a darkroom.
- Hi!
Whew!
- Leti, Leti.
I think that
elevator's broken again.
- That'll quench your thirst
after taking the stairs.
- You heard about
that newcomer preacher
that's supposed to jumpstart
the movement, right?
- Michael, right?
- He's going by Martin now.
- I heard he was engaged
to a white woman.
- Nah.
They made him marry
a colored one last year.
- Loving a white woman
doesn't mean
he can't stand up
for colored folks.
I guess.
Ella!
- Leti!
- All right, now this is
your last pour.
No more, I say. No more.
Just one.
Ron is here?
- More?
- Yes.
- So greedy.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Thank you for bringing
all this food.
- Oh, I should be thanking you.
My icebox is overflowing
with food folks bring
when they come check in on us.
- Ah.
- Couldn't eat it all if we try.
Even with Tic
eating more than his share.
- He said he was helping out.
- He was.
Cooking.
Playing with Dee.
Helping out
with the travel guide.
Leaving cups upright to dry
after he'd wash them.
George always set the cups down
when he did the dishes.
- That it?
Tic remind you of George?
- No.
Just being foolish.
You seen Dee and her friends?
- Who's the coolest
in our group?
It's spelling my name.
- No, it's mine!
- Okay, okay.
Bobo, it's your turn.
Will I have a good time
on my trip?
- Gil, it's your turn.
- Who are we talking to?
That ain't funny, jerk!
- I didn't do it!
- Me either.
- It moved by itself.
- Y'all are assholes!
- Dee.
Diana.
Hello?
- Man, I've been looking
for you.
Where you been?
- The porch.
Keeping watch.
- You thought
it'd be a good idea,
let the neighbors see
a soldier live here, huh?
You was always real smart.
Hey, I wanted to ask you
about Letitia.
- What about her?
- Me and her, we used to tussle
back in high school,
if you know what I'm saying.
And I'm feeling
nostalgic tonight.
But I heard you been
staying here rent-free.
- And?
All right, man. All right.
But if that's yours,
you might wanna tell her.
- Sorry.
I didn't realize
I started my monthly...
- It's okay.
Hey, no big deal.
- See you downstairs?
- Yeah.
- You think Marshall Field's
hasn't hired you
because you're colored?
- Of course I know that.
And I'm willing to work
harder than anybody else,
if that's what it's gonna take.
You know, if more colored folk
thought like me,
the race would be
a lot further along.
Oh, no.
- Oh, no.
- Damn.
- Excuse me.
- Where are the kids?
Dee!
- James, grab the shotguns
from the closet.
Ruby, get Floyd's car keys.
- Come on,
put your hands together.
Yeah.
Come on, y'all.
We gon' take everything back
that the devil stole.
- We're taking everything!
- Yeah!
Hey.
Yeah, that's it.
Come on, make the devil mad.
Stomp on his head!
Let him know you're going
to get your stomp, yeah!
- Letitia Lewis.
You have quite a record here.
What group you with?
The Monkey Urban League?
No, wait, I know.
The National Association
for the Advancement
of Cockroaches.
I've gotten a lot of complaints
from your neighbors about you.
- Have you gotten
the 21 reports I've filed
about harassment
from those same neighbors?
- Burke, Crane,
have we received any complaints?
- Not that we can recall,
Captain.
- Anything strange happen
in your new house?
Hmm?
A'ight, how about this?
Did someone tell you to buy
the Winthrop house?
- Gal like you can't afford
that mortgage.
Not even renting out rooms.
You tell me who helped you buy
the Winthrop house
and this ends.
- You really don't know anything
about that house
you moved into, do you?
We found the body parts
of eight niggers
buried in the room
below the basement.
So if history is any indication,
you won't last in that house
very long.
At all.
- Get out
of my house!
- Come on, guys.
There's nothing we can do?
Leti?
Leti, we got a big problem.
None of the boarders like
that you put a bigger target
on our backs
by busting up
those white boys' cars.
They're all moving out.
- It'll be safer for them.
- Who cares about them?
We got an installment contract
to pay that we can't afford.
- Ruby, it'll be fine.
I-I still have some
of the money Mama left.
- What?
- All that money came from Mama?
- I, um...
I was just as surprised
as you are
when I got the call.
The bank said that, um...
she'd left me an inheritance.
- But Mama didn't have
any money.
- I guess she did.
- And she just left it all
to you?
You didn't even come
to her funeral.
Hell, you don't even go by
her last name.
- I know.
Hell, it don't make any sense.
But to be honest, I'm tired.
I'm tired of trying
to figure out
her crazy motivations.
Mama never did anything
for anyone
or for any damn reason
but herself.
And I didn't tell you be...
Because I knew
it was gonna hurt you.
- Thank you for looking out
for me.
- Ruby, don't...
- Don't.
Now, you look down on Mama,
but you're worse.
- What the hell's that
supposed to mean?
- At least Mama didn't pretend
to be anything but selfish.
Now, you say
you bought this house
'cause you wanted to help
our people,
but looks to me all you've done
is move in your artist friends.
And if you were half the sister
that you claim you wanna be,
you'd have split that money
with me and Marvin,
regardless of Mama's wishes...
- But...
- But you didn't!
No, you lied to me.
You begged me to move in here
'cause you really wanted us
to be sisters for once,
but that was just more
of your bullshit.
Just you burying your guilt
for doing what you always do:
look out for Leti first.
And I'm the fool
'cause here I was thinking,
all these years
that I've been helping you,
sending you money,
that you were just a fuck-up,
but really,
you're just fucked up.
- Montrose.
- Hey.
- What you doing here?
- Figure I'd hit a few balls
with Dee,
help her with that swing.
Oh, I got this.
- Just set 'em over there.
- I'm sorry.
- Oh, I got it.
I got it, I got it.
- I got this.
George's favorite.
- I spilled coffee on his copy.
I saw his body.
The bullet hole
where that sheriff shot him.
And I know you and Tic
took care of that vile man.
I don't wanna know
the details of that, but...
What you told me happened...
Something doesn't feel right.
Tic's been staying here a month,
and every day of it,
I have this nagging feeling
that he's not
telling me something
about my husband's death.
- Hell...
Hippolyta, I...
I'm not sure what you want me
to say.
What else you think happened?
- I don't know!
Something.
- What's all this?
- My house is haunted.
Hell.
- Walk me through it.
- All right, um...
the realtist, JJ,
he was cagey
about the previous owners,
but he called it
the Winthrop house.
Now, I haven't been able
to dig up anything
on the name Winthrop,
but I did find out
the last owner of the house was
a man named Hiram Epstein.
Epstein was a scientist
at the University of Chicago.
Until he was fired
for unethical
experimental practices.
- Unethical how?
- Article doesn't say,
but I think he was
experimenting on humans.
Eight bodies were found
in my basement.
- When?
- I'm not sure.
But remember the night
of the housewarming party?
Police captain's the one
who told me about the bodies,
and he was asking all these
questions about the house,
like he had some sort of
connection to it.
That's him.
Look who's standing beside him.
- That's Hiram Epstein.
- Mm-hmm.
- They knew each other.
- And Lancaster's name keeps
popping up
in a string of articles
as the lead detective
in a number
of missing person's reports
from the South Side.
- You think he was supplying
this Epstein guy
with test subjects?
- Mm. Oh, and then this.
I took these
the day we moved in.
The body parts that were found
in what is now my basement?
It took all night,
but I was able to find
all eight faces.
Lucy, Anarcha, Grover...
- Colored folks who disappeared
on the South Side.
- Now restless souls
trapped in my house
with their killer.
They want out.
I know it.
- Uncle George would reference
a haunted house story right now
that proves that these ghosts
aren't gonna stop
till you join 'em
on the other side.
I think it's time to move out.
- The night
of the housewarming...
that was my first time.
- Your first time what?
Leti.
Leti, I'm sorry if I... - No.
No, no, no.
No, I don't regret it.
I needed it.
I needed to feel something.
We haven't even talked
about all the crazy shit
that happened in Ardham.
- Monsters...
the spells,
Uncle George's death.
- And I died too.
And honestly,
since I've been back,
I've felt like a ghost.
Like something's missing.
And I keep grasping
at everything,
trying to avoid it.
Pioneering,
the church, my sister...
you.
Hell, I thought
the world was one way,
and I found out it isn't.
And it terrifies me.
But I can't live in fear.
I won't.
I gotta face this new world
head on
and stake my claim in it.
- Where'd you say
you found her again?
- Mama couldn't really commune
with the dead,
but she was a hustler
who believed in doing
her research.
- If the spirits are
as malevolent
as you claim, child,
you'll need a seal of protection
to keep us safe
while we purge the house.
I'll reach out
for the spirits' energy
until I find it.
Here, I feel a presence.
Take my hands.
Form a circle.
And don't let go.
No matter what.
Mama Oya,
I, your dutiful servant,
call upon you
to use me as a vessel,
so together,
we may cleanse this space
of these tormented spirits.
- Found 'em. Terry.
- Let's get 'em.
It's working!
Chant with me now.
- Shit.
- Our marks!
- Let's go!
- Leti!
Betsey!
Phillip!
Lucy! Jasper!
Anarcha! Rufus!
Grover! -
- Olivia! Please!
- Out of my house, bitch.
Get the fuck out of my house.
- Help me!
Help me cast him out!
- Get out of my house, bitch.
Get the fuck out
of my house, bitch!
- Please!
- Get the fuck out of my house.
You are not dead yet!
You can still fight!
- Get the fuck out
of my house, bitch!
- Get the fuck out of my house!
- It's amazing you're even
standing here today,
considering the opposition
you were up against.
And you didn't just do it
for yourself.
To really be providing
a sanctuary
for those in the community
most in need of cheap housing?
That's what makes
this story newsworthy.
It's helping our community.
- It was my sister
who really inspired it all.
- Well, it is truly...
It is truly remarkable.
I have one last question. - Hmm.
- Off the record,
do you know anything
about the disappearance
of three
of your white neighbors?
- I hadn't heard
anyone was missing.
- Can I grab a photo?
- Sure.
- The bank has wired your money.
I appreciate your help.
JJ, I think you better grab
that box and go.
- Leti's inheritance
didn't come from her mother.
It came from you.
- How'd you figure it out?
- Winthrop.
I saw his name
carved on the frame
of your father's
favorite painting.
- Horatio Winthrop was
a founding member
of the Sons of Adam.
But he was banished
after stealing pages
from the Book of Names.
He was sick of Titus
having the only cipher
to read the Language of Adam
and tried to develop his own
from the stolen pages.
Hiram Epstein
was a follower of his.
- I didn't come here
for a history lesson.
- Then what did you come
here for?
- To make sure you stay
the fuck away from my family.
- Shall I continue the lesson?
Most of the Order never create
their own spells.
They don't have the discipline
or the talent.
Those that do usually get
one spell in their lifetime.
My father's claim to fame
was invulnerability.
He thought
if you couldn't be harmed,
you'd live forever.
He had to remove it
when he attempted to open
the door to the Garden of Eden.
It's extraordinary really,
when you think about it.
Every spell
the Sons have created
has come from just one
deciphered chapter
of the Book of Names,
orally passed down by Titus.
The Book is gone
and Titus locked his pages
in a booby-trapped vault
only he could access.
But imagine the possibilities
if Horatio Winthrop's pages
were to be found.
The Language of Adam could
finally be decoded
in its entirety.
Call me when you're ready
to learn more
about our family legacy.
And Tic, really, you...
Have to be smarter than this.
You know you can't
just go around
killing white women.
What if I told you that
I could change your life...
forever.
We need to be able
to defend ourselves.
You have his blood.
Must be the key to finding
his pages.
You can't win this game
they setting up for you to play.
You gon' help us or not?
For us, it's a rat race
to the finish line.
And it's winner takes all.
Hello?