Lovecraft Country (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - Strange Case - full transcript

You wanna run chest first

into some magical treasure hunt.

We already got one large
gun ambush.

You won't tell them nothing,
boy.

How you know there's 34 lodges?

You really gonna
let him chase his tale,

looking for answers you already
have?

Leti's
inheritance didn't come from her mother.

It came from you.

So, you want something
in this house?

I just want Hiram's orrery.



The police captain was
asking all these questions about

the Winthrop Palace, like he had
some sorta connection to it.

You come here and try and take
my lodge's rightful property.

Forgive me. Did I miss
your official initiation

into the order?

Titus locked his pages
in a booby-trap vault.

Imagine the possibilities
if the pages were to be found?

I'm sorry.

For us,
it's a rat race to the finish line.

And it's winner takes it all.

What if I told you that
I could change your life,

forever?

Wake up, Ruby.

Wake up.



- You lost, ma'am?

- I'm Ruby Baptiste.

I'm...

Stop staring at me!

- Ma'am, you okay?

- What did you do to her, boy?

- I was just trying to help.

- It's okay, ma'am.

He can't hurt you anymore.

You're safe now.
- Get over there.

- Did you molest her? Huh?

Answer me, boy!

What did you do to her?
- Wait, officer!

He didn't hurt me.

I just... I got lost.

- There's no need to protect
this animal, ma'am.

If he did something to you...

- I swear he didn't.

He was just trying to help me.

- Let's get you
somewhere safe, ma'am.

Okay?

You're all right.

- What's happening over there?

- You see that woman?

- Right in here. Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

- Your husband's been
real worried about you, ma'am.

Mm-mm.

No.

You can't take me back there.

- It's okay, ma'am.
- You don't understand.

He's not my husband.
He did something to me.

- And he told the operator
all about your condition.

You just need your pills.

Let me out of here.

Holy shit.

I think these are the fits
her husband mentioned.

- Oh.

Stop fighting it.

- You're only slowing
the process.

- Pickets and non-strikers...

- Wouldn't want to disturb
the neighbors.

- Cermak Road and Cicero Avenue.

Cicero...

- I don't want...

I don't want to die.

- He would say
that metamorphosis isn't death.

- American-born Greek soprano
Maria Callas

christened the stage
in Italian opera "Norma."

A swarm
of 16 billion Kenyan locusts

are moving across North Africa,

with Great Britain
in their crosshairs.

Scientists say locust nymphs
hatch from eggs,

and they will go through
five molting stages

where they will shed their skin

and develop their wings.

After seven days,
they will reach

full sexual maturity
as adult locusts,

destined to devour
everything in their path.

- I'll go by the library
and get some children's books.

- See if you can teach her
enough English

to write up a protection spell.

Good idea.

- Right? Think so.

- Hey, Pop. What you doing here?

- Where's Yahima?

- Gone.

- What?

You just let her
walk out of here?

How long ago?
Maybe we can find her.

- Titus's pages?

Atticus!

Atticus!

Atticus, stop!

Somebody, help!

Somebody! He's gonna kill him!

- Whoa, whoa, hey, hey, hey!

Get the fuck off me!

- Montrose!

Montrose. Montrose, come on.

Go get some ice!

- Did you take photos of 'em?

- Of what?
- Titus's pages!

- Tic, I need you to calm down.

- God damn it, Leti!

If you took photos of 'em,
give 'em to me!

- A butterfly lives a full life
before it dies.

And a caterpillar emerges
from the same cells,

the essence of the butterfly,

yet different.

It's more.

I wanted to apply this process

of metamorphosis to humans.

But my research was
all theoretical.

It was laughed at
by the academic community.

Until, by chance,

I met a disgraced professor

named Hiram Epstein.

He wanted nothing more

than to understand the universe,

but it was beyond his reach.

So he created doorways.

Not scientific, mind you,

but magical.

Though one could argue
they're one and the same.

I know that you're awake, Ruby.

- Did I die

to turn into that white woman?

- No.

The potion just mimics
metamorphosis.

Wears off after a time.

- Magic exists?

- Does that scare you?

Scared the shit outta me
to wake up white.

Then...

when I was stumbling
down the street,

crazed and disheveled

and screaming
at everybody around me,

they weren't scared of me.

They were scared for me.

They all treated me like...

- A human being.

I know your transformation
was painful.

- That wasn't pain.

That was something else.

Like being unmade.

- I promise,
it'll be easier next time.

- No, there won't be
a next time.

- I have some business
to attend to.

- Am I free to go?

- You are free
to do whatever you please.

- Somebody, anybody,

sing a Black girl's song.

Bring her out to know herself,
to know you,

but sing her rhythms

of caring and struggle

and hard times.

Sing her song of life.

She's been dead so long,

closed in silence so long,

she doesn't know the sound
of her own voice,

her infinite beauty.

She's half notes,
scattered without rhythm,

no tune.

Sing her sighs.

Sing the song
of her possibilities.

Sing a righteous gospel,

the making of a melody,

and let her be born.

Let her be born

and handled warmly.

I'm outside Chicago,

and this is for colored girls
who have considered suicide,

but are moving to the ends
of their own rainbows.

- I did take pictures
of the pages.

I just didn't have a chance
to develop them yet.

- Thank you.

For stopping me.

- If I wasn't there,
would you have killed him?

- I've imagined it enough.

When I was younger.

Mostly after he beat me.

That violence that's in him,
I thought wasn't...

Could never be in me.

I found it in the war.

- Seeing that side of you
scares me.

- Please don't be scared of me.

Let's stop with the bullshit.

I don't believe for a second
that I am special enough

for you to share
your conjuring powers with.

There are
a thousand colored girls

on the South Side.

Why share magic with me?

- Why not you?

The first time
I laid eyes on you

was the first time in a while
that I had felt magic

where there was none.

And I will need a favor
when the time comes.

- What kind of favor?

- There's a friend that I owe.

A woman friend.

Is that a problem?

- Might be when I find out
what kind of favor it is.

- It's small, really.

Inconsequential.

But until then,
you do as you please.

Go as you please,
in whatever skin you like.

I am curious.

I saw the money I left
still on the nightstand.

Why didn't you use any of it?

- Didn't have to.

I enjoyed my entire day

using the only currency
that I needed:

whiteness.

I don't know
what is more difficult,

being colored or being a woman.

Most days, I'm happy to be both,

but the world keeps
interrupting,

and I am sick

of being interrupted.

- So what's next for Ruby,

uninterrupted?

- Come in, Miss Davenport.

- Six typing seminars.

Five numbers courses.

Maybe I should be worried
about you taking my job.

- Uh, your... your résumé,
it speaks for itself.

But...

Tell me what's not on there.

Who is Hillary Davenport?

I'm... an imported good.

I grew up in a small town
in Maine and...

- Really? What town?

I'm from Waterville.

- Oh, it's a tiny town.

You've probably never heard
of it.

- Try me.

- Well, we moved to Chicago
after my father died,

and my mother was...

an unlucky fool for love.

After every breakup,
she would drag me and Leti...

She would drive my sister and I
to Carson's

and march us
up and down the aisles,

where the salesclerk would
greet us with smiles.

That was all my mother needed
to make her feel whole again.

And I always dreamed of being

on the other side
of the counter,

to pass on that feeling

to a tired, overworked mother.

- How do you feel
about coloreds?

You know, working with them.

- Oh.

You're talking about
the colored gal out front?

Well, if she's qualified
and hardworking,

I don't see a problem with...

offering her
the same opportunities

us white folks take
advantage of.

- A number of my employees quit

when corporate headquarters
ended our whites-only policy.

- Oh, but they're...
They're no race crusaders.

They're just chasing
that mighty dollar.

Uh, how does...

assistant manager sound to you?

- Yes. Yes!

14 times over, yes.

Thank you so much,

but I don't wanna take up
any more of your time.

- Oh, don't be silly.

It's my job to make sure
everyone feels right at home.

- Welcome to
the Marshall Field's family.

Uh, shall we take a tour
of the store?

- But first, the ladies' room.

- Uh, Miss Davenport,

you dropped your, uh...

perfume?

- Was it the ofays
or the niggers this time?

- Miss Davenport,
you look beautiful.

- My lips may not be
the Blarney Stone,

but here's hoping
good luck rubs off on you

your first day.

- And where is she?

Made me wait.

12 minutes now,
I've been standing here.

Where's the perfume girl?

The service here is...

- It's awful.
- I'm finished with her.

- You can't uplift
the lives of our customers

if you're not
at your counter, Tamara.

- So sorry, Miss Davenport.

Was only supposed to be gone
a couple of minutes.

Madge needed
some shoes re-shelved,

but then Barb needed
her dressing rooms wiped down.

And Cathy... - Tamara?

- Yes, ma'am.

- Exhale.

You're not in any trouble.

I just... like to get to know
all of my employees.

I remember you saying
you applied on a whim.

- I'm sorry.
Did I say that to you?

- Mr. Hughes must have
mentioned it.

He also told me
that your hiring caused...

quite a stir.

I hope you're still feeling

a part
of the Marshall Field's family.

- I am, ma'am.

- And j-just remember,
no matter what anybody says,

they can't take
your educational achievements

away from you.

- I wouldn't call
a seventh grade education

much of an achievement.

- You didn't graduate
from high school?

So you took
some accounting courses

down at
the Frederick Douglass Center?

- I didn't even know
they had those there.

- Hmm.

Mm.

Your hands are a bit ashy.

- For how hard we work,

they should give all this to us
for free.

- Madge, you look
like Marilyn Monroe

in "How to Marry a Millionaire."

- Barb, which way
is the wind blowing?

- That coat would close

if you stopped stuffing
your face with bonbons.

- All right,
it's been 30 minutes.

We really should get back
on the floor.

- Well, Hillary,
you're the boss.

So we can either head
back out there

to the salt mines, or...

- You can try on
these naughty stilettos

and live a fuckin' little.

- Come on.

- Mm.

- Oh, speaking of... of bosses,
has...

has Paul ever... gotten fresh
with any of you?

- Paul, "I live
in a Norman Rockwell painting

with my wife and two kids,"
getting fresh?

No way.

- Like my father always says,

"Boy, is paranoia the price

of being a working girl
in America."

- Hillary, let's see you strut!

- Wowee!

- Oh, cut a rug!

- You should sign up
for Herb Mintz's show.

- With the rhythm in those hips,

she's ready
for the colored version.

- Okay, can I just say
what we've all been thinking?

I hope we don't see
any more Tamaras

coming through the front door.

- Well, if there are,

let's hope they're
more qualified than her.

- Course she's unqualified.
She's a Negro.

- Barb!

- What?

I was polite enough not to use
the less civilized word.

- Hillary, you were
with Tamara earlier.

You seem comfortable with her.

- I was giving her work advice.

- You think you can convince her

to take us to a bar
on the South Side?

It'll be like a safari.

And we need a guide.

- Why would you want
to go there?

There's nothing special
about the South Side,

trust me, I know.

- Oh, my God.
- You've been there?

- Were you scared
being around all of those...

- People?

- We're going.

- Ooh.
- Oh, yes!

- What a hunk of man.

- He's with you?

- Only when he behaves.

- Night-night, ladies.

- He's so... oh.

- Can't just be showing up here.

- It doesn't look
like I embarrassed you.

- How was the first day

of your dream job,
Miss Davenport?

- Well, it's better than being
someone's damn charwoman.

Hmm.

- You don't want me to kiss you
as Hillary.

- Do you want to kiss Hillary?

- I wanna kiss...

whatever you want me to kiss.

- Hmm.

- Hold off on that.

I'm gonna need that favor.

Tonight.

- Finally,

the devil tells me
what deal I've made with him.

- I need you to attend a party.

Miss Braithwhite

will give you the rest
of the details when you arrive.

- There's a box
in the back seat.

It's got your name all over.

- Mm.

- They were up north,
is that correct?

- Oh, right, right, right.

- You could view
the captain's accomplishments

as a way to immortality.

- We suffered a major loss
in the Ardham incident,

but initiation must
remain exclusive.

- Perhaps he's recovered
Horatio's stolen pages.

- It was a unanimous decision
by the members

that I take the reins
of our social club.

- What of the rumors
of defection

following Hiram's death?

- Mr. Lowe was
certainly unexpected.

- There were some
that abandoned us,

but look around.

It's only made
our brotherhood stronger.

- The fuck is that bitch?

You were supposed to be here
an hour ago.

- William does like
a demanding woman.

- What you need me to do here?

- Simple, really.

Just, uh, hide this
in the police captain's office.

- Captain?

William didn't say anything
about no cops.

You trying to get me killed.

- Ruby.

Do you care for him at all?

Beyond the opportunity
he's providing you?

William is the rightful heir
to this lodge.

The captain tried to kill him
to take his seat.

Shot him in the back

and dumped his body in the river

like he was a piece of trash.

Lancaster believes
that he succeeded.

But William survived
with my help...

And with yours,
he'll have his revenge.

- What?

- You okay?

- How long was I out?

- Not long.

I let you sleep.

You've been going nonstop.

This looks like

the "Little Orphan Annie"
radio puzzles

I used to play with
when I was younger.

I'm guessing
it's a little more complicated.

- Well, I figured I'd start
with what's in my arsenal.

These are my initials
in the Language of Adam.

- Hmm?

A and...

- S. For Sampson.

Grandfather on my mother's side.

- Hmm.

And with the letters
in the word "protection"...

11 out of 26? Not bad.

- That's if the Language
of Adam is analogous

to English.

- Mm.

- This looks like
some kinda symbol.

- Mm-hmm.

- It shows up in the...

body of the text as well,
which might suggest

it's similar
to the Chinese hieroglyphics.

This would've been a lot easier
with Yahima's help.

But honestly,

I understand
why your father let her go.

Keeping her against her will
would've made us

no better than Titus.

- Yeah.

I'll make us some coffee.

- Leti?

- Hmm?

- My pop didn't let Yahima go.

- What?

- Titus's pages isn't
the only thing he got rid of.

- Oh.

- Leti.

- Oh, okay. He...

- Leti. Leti.

He... look, he probably thought
he was protecting me

by destroying everybody's access

to more magic.

- Oh, no, no, no, it's this.

This is evil.
It's the devil's tools.

It is corrupting all of us.
- No, no.

Leti, Leti, it's not. Look, it...

- No.

- It's not inherently evil,
all right?

It's what we do with it
that matters.

What we wanna do?

Protect ours.

How can that be bad?

- Look at what your father did
to protect you.

- No.

- I'm gonna go back there.
Get the door.

I'm out there dancing
like a fucking monkey.

For what? A goddamn ring.

Get me a shirt from the closet.

I'm sweating like a stuck pig.

- I can't smell it,
but here you go, boss.

- Dusty old farts would be lucky

to have someone
who has their wits about 'em

the way you do.

- It's gonna take
Horatio's pages to get me in.

Where are we on Kentucky?

- I convinced the county sheriff

that it'd be
in their best interest

to protect
the Winthrop Observatory

from possible vandals.

- Good.

Bleeding cunt Christina wants
the orrery,

we'll let her bring it
right to us.

Has Zenone dropped a dime

on the location
of the loot he stole?

- Not yet.

But he'll talk soon enough.

The dead always do.

Tamara, what?

No.

No, it's... it's wrong.

You have to put the white heels
with the monochromatic dresses.

It's the way to appeal
to our upmarket clientele.

- Don't mean
to be disrespectful,

but I'm doing
my best here, ma'am.

- Oh, your best isn't
good enough.

You wanna be a credit
to your race,

you have to be better
than mediocre,

and do you wanna know why?

Because white folks are
even more fucked up

than you think they are.

They have got shit
you can't even imagine.

That's why you gotta be
exponentially better than them,

so you don't end up
in some closet,

half-dead,
with your tongue cut out.

- Miss Davenport.

Is everything okay over here?

- We're fine.

In fact, T-Tamara was
just promising

to take us all out
to the South Side tonight,

where we can let our hair down.

Right, Tamara?

- Y'all need to stop.

- Girl, you are crazy.

- Sammy, girl,
does your man speak?

- He don't have to.

See, a quiet man will tell you
everything you need to know

with just his eyes.

- Not just with his eyes,
but with something else too.

- Ooh.

- Uh, y'all two
finally together or what?

- Together?

Girl, they haven't even
smacked lips yet.

- Shut the hell up.

Y'all hens wouldn't have
nothing to cluck about

if you had some
cock-a-doodle-doo's pecker

in your own coops.

Oh, mother beckons, you bitches.

Mm.

Sassy Sarah Vaughn has something
in store for the masses.

- Hopefully something good.

- Good?

It's ripped from the headlines.
Gravitas.

Ooh.

Fresh from ravaging the shores
of Great Britain,

a savage... mm...
African-eyed cicada

is poised to take over
the world.

Leading a drag swam

to lay waste to Chicago's
most lavish of balls,

tonight.

Featuring...

a never-before-seen dance
called...

Locusta Migratoria.

- Child.

- Hey!

- What's up, y'all?

- Whoo!

Yeah, baby!

- The band is just so groovy.

- Yep.

Groovy.

- Come on, Tam.

Show us how to do
the Bunny Hop Mambo.

- Easy, tiger.

Upsy-daisy.

Are you coming, Hillary?

- I'll be right behind.

- Let's dance!

- Tamara, wait.

- It's late, Mr. Hughes.

I really should get home.

- The party's just started.

Mr. Hughes.

Please, sir!

I don't wanna do this!

- Just let me smell it.

I heard you girls smell sweet
down there.

Ow!

You nigger bitch!

- You're not William.

That's the only door
in this house that locks?

What's in the basement?

- Guess Ruby got
interrupted again.

- He told you about that?

- I've been where you are.

Disillusioned and pissed.

Disgusted by a world not built...

- Please shut the fuck up.

You can't relate to who I am.

And I've spent enough time
on your side of the color line

to know that the only thing

that you white women are
disillusioned with

is yourselves.

- You're right.

We want to be you and you...
You wanna be us.

But you misunderstood
William's invitation.

It wasn't just to be white.

It was an invitation

to do
whatever the fuck you want.

That's the currency of magic.

Unmitigated freedom.

Who are you really,
uninterrupted?

- I'm...

giving you my notice.

- You're quitting?

Why?

Look, if this is about money...

- It's about you, Mr. Hughes.

- Me?

- From the moment we've met,
I've been...

attracted to you.

And as your subordinate,
I would never

allow my licentious ways
to jeopardize your reputation

with the company.

So...

quitting is the only option,

so I can finally fuck
your brains out.

Mm.

Oh, mm-mm-mm-mm.

- Huh?

- Always in control,
aren't you, Mr. Manager?

You don't mind if I take control

for a little while?

Earlier, you mentioned

you also wanted to chat.

What about?

Important, um... it wasn't.

I, uh... oh.

I just thought it might be a...

A good time to, uh, fire Tamara.

She's... - Mm-hmm.

- Not carrying her weight
around here... oh!

On your knees, Mr. Manager.

Suck it.

- Oh.

- Hillary, your eyes.

- You like them?

Little piggy.

- That hurts... oh.

- Sweet enough for you?

- I wanted you to know

that a nigger bitch did this
to you.

- Hmm?

- You okay?

- I've been trying to say
a prayer for Yahima.

My mama's faith was real.

That's why she dragged
me and Ruby to church

every Sunday.

But it never made me
a true believer.

I just became...

someone who could perform
the part.

Hell, I don't even know
what it is I'm searching for,

coming back to this.

Guess I just seen so much bad...

And I'm just trying to find
something good.

- I know I brought
a lot of that bad.

I've been trying
to bring some good too.

- What does that mean?

Listen.

Last time I thought
we were going somewhere,

you were planning to go back
to Florida.

- There was a girl

when I was over in Korea.

It ended...

in a strange way.

- Did you love her?

- I don't know if what I had
with Ji-Ah was love.

I never had any good examples
of it growing up.

My parents' love was...

enduring, but unknowable.

- Growing up, I...

Felt love wasn't special.

My mama fell into it
every two seconds.

And Ruby was just like her.

I didn't wanna be with a man
if I...

if it didn't mean something.

- This is special.

And I'm not at all confused
about that anymore.

- What's in the basement?

- Ruby.

Just give me a moment.

- You and your lady friend go
in and out of there

at all hours of the day,

and I wanna know why.

- William, what's wrong?

- Oh!

- God, what...

- You've been William
this whole fucking time?

"Suffer."

- Operator.
How may I direct your call?

- 555-438-521...

3093-2915.

How'd you know?

- You believe me now?
- How'd you know that, damn it?

- You should've listened to me.

What are you?

Could you do me a favor?
Can you read this to me?

"He who has felt
the deepest grief

is best able to experience
a supreme happiness.

We must have felt
what it is to die,

that we may appreciate living."

On your knees!

After years of oppression...

unfair oppression...

sweet revenge.