TURN: Washington's Spies (2014–2017): Season 2, Episode 8 - Providence - full transcript

Tracks lead south.

15, maybe 20 men.

But it don't look like regular
army to me, you know?

Tallmadge. They went south.

Yeah, well, it doesn't matter.
We were too late.

We were late? No, we were lucky.

What, you wanted to turn up
in time for all of this?

The Lord's watching out
for us, Ben.

It's like that word your
father used to preach about.

What's that word?

- Providence.
- Yeah, providence.



Look at that.

I found that
on the lieutenant there.

Turns out Washington decided
to pardon Hewlett after all,

but the day before these
poor bastards executed him.

And in doing so
they've all but signed

the execution order
for Abraham in New York.

God, huh? God's watching?

- He's laughing at us.
- Hey, Abe isn't dead yet, all right?

Without Hewlett's word,
Abe will hang.

- Three days.
- What?

It'll take three days for news of
this to reach New York at least.

- Yeah, so?
- So we've got three whole days to get into the city,

break Woody out of jail, and
haul his ass back to safety.

- Yeah, three whole days.
- That's right.



Because it only took us three
months to properly infiltrate

a man onto the island
in the first place, right?

Yeah. Well, that was your plan.
This one's mine.

Cold!

Hungry!

We spotted some
footprints, Captain,

but they have all their toes.

He can't have gone far.

There ain't a living
creature out there.

Ain't no creature 'cept us.

And a pair of frozen cows.
Died recent by their look.

Recall Akinbode. Have him
meet us at the shore.

We're sailing on to Oyster Bay

with orders from
Major John Andr?

to hunt down
some hidden rebels there.

- Sir?
- Hewlett's no frontiersman.

He could never have
eluded us in good health.

I expect the snowmelt
to reveal his body somewhere.

Perhaps we'll return
here in the spring.

? Hush, hush ?

? There's snakes in the garden ?

? Soul for sale ?

? Blood on the rise ?

? Hush, hush ?

? Know there will come a day ?

? As they're hiding
in the cover of night ?

- ? I can't wait anymore ?
- ? Soul for sale ?

? I can't wait anymore ?

? Hush, hush. ?

- Thank you, Lars.
- I thought that Sackett moved

- all of his devices to Valley Forge.
- Mostly did.

But not all his treasures
could fit in his wagon.

Including...

our way into New York Harbor.

- My God, is this...
- Yeah.

Davey Bushnell's
underwater machine.

The Turtle, he calls it.

The Turtle?

I knew Bushnell at Yale.

I can't recall
much about the man

other than stories
that he exploded

kegs of gunpowder
on the Mill River.

Like the one
you're touching now?

150 pounds of powder
fired by a gunlock.

You see, you yank that there

and then a watchwork timer,
it ignites the magazine.

Then you got 10 minutes to row
away before it goes boom.

My God.

I thought that Sackett wouldn't
let you touch this thing.

Let's just say
I grew on the bastard.

Yeah, I'm sure you did.

How on earth do you navigate
this while underwater?

Ah, Ben Franklin
suggested to Sackett

to coat the gauges with foxfire.

You know, from dead trees.

So now the compass
glows in the dark.

And I'll be damned, Benny,
but it works.

All right.

All right, well,
I'm coming with you.

Sorry, but it's a one-man craft.

Tight as a fish's
arsehole in there.

You can ride along on
the whaleboat if you like

as it tows me into harbor,
but once we get close...

Wait, if there's
only room for one,

then how the hell
do you get Abe back?

I said it was my way
into New York, Ben.

Never said it was my way out.

No, Caleb, I'm sorry. I can't
let you do this alone.

That's all right, Benny.

'Cause I ain't asking
your permission.

Our little spy ring
might be done for,

but Abe is still alive.

And you know I'd do
the same for you.

So let's get that
bastard in the water.

This, gentlemen, will be the
last battle of the war.

You mean for them or for us?

Their ships will sail into the
river and reinforce the garrison.

Yes, I should hope so.

Our main force will cross
into Staten Island,

march up its eastern coast,

and with their fleet occupied,

you will be free to cross
the narrows into Brooklyn.

It's precisely what Howe did
not two years ago.

I will take a good idea
wherever it comes from.

He did it in August,
not the dead of winter.

All the more reason
they won't be expecting us.

I assure you, the whole of the
king's troops in New York

does not exceed 3,500 men.

How did you come
by this intelligence?

Are you certain it's accurate?

Completely.

Because you risk
the entire army.

If you're not up to leading the
men, Charles, then I will.

Excuse me.

- Your Excellency.
- Marquis.

Tell me, Lafayette,
did Albany agree with you?

I confess I never made it there.

I was summoned
to Boston instead.

Who summoned you?

Conrad G?rard, the new
emissary from Versailles.

I hope you expressed
my deep regret

at the loss of his predecessor

as well as the vital
intelligence he was carrying.

That was not the purpose of
the meeting, I assure you.

He wished me to convey
a message to you personally.

King Louis has commenced
negotiations

with Messieurs Franklin
and Adams

of the American delegation.

Negotiations?

A treaty of alliance
between France

and the United States
is imminent.

The number of regulars
taken prisoner at Saratoga,

in particular, has earned
King Louis' support

and the admiration
of Parliament.

Fire!

Fire!

Would you stand back, William?

- Two. Two.
- Two sons? All right, just stop.

Back off, all right? Just back off.
I can't breathe.

If you want some counsel, you've just
got to give me some room, all right?

I'm dealing with this gentleman first.
You, come here.

All right, so, corruption of blood,
do you know what that means?

No.-It means you
cannot transfer your property

to your sons before
the British seize it.

Corruption of blood?

Now, do you have a brother
that you can count on?

He's the reason I'm here.

All right, well,
a cousin, a relative...

Don't believe a word that comes
out of this Tory bastard's mouth.

I'd rather be a Tory
than a snitch, Gareth.

Shut your gob, Gareth.

- Shut it, Gareth.
- Boys! Boys, look!

"King Louis to make treaty
with illegal Congress."

The French have joined.

No, no. Where?
Where? Where? Where?

Whatcha think of that, Woodhull?

I think it changes everything...

for your side.

The French?
Are you certain?

General Gates fears the French

will position their navy
between here and New York,

in which case we'll be cut off.

He's ordered the army
to evacuate Philadelphia.

You're leaving?

Well, New York has its charms.

Not that I'm quite
certain what they are.

But I know we'll be happy there.

- We?
- I'm going with you.

Your father will never
abandon this city.

John, I am going with you.

You wish to elope?

I wish to be with
the man I love.

I'll elope if I must.

It will make you
a stranger to your family.

They will shun you.
They will disown you.

I don't care.

They may abandon you,
but I won't.

Your husband will be
your new family.

Don't mind me.

I'm just enjoying the show.

How did you get in here?

Major Robert Rogers

of the King's Rangers.

- And you would be, eh?
- Don't answer him.

I'll wait upstairs.

Ah.

- John.
- Don't worry.

He won't test me any further.

He's smarter than he looks.

Oh, this Philly filly

ain't no common actress.

I smell a secret.

I find it hard to believe you can
smell anything past yourself.

Secrets can kill,
you know, John.

I have a license to kill anyone

who's seen the secrets
on this piece of paper.

Do you want to take a peek?

Do you even know
what this is, John?

According to the letter
I received from London,

I'm assuming it's
the property of our king

stolen from his throne room
by an American spy.

And retrieved by me.

What else has London told you?

Only that I'm to verify the seal
and witness you destroy it.

And see that I'm paid, John.

Ha!

That part burns you
just a wee bit, doesn't it?

I received the letter
four months ago.

I wonder what took you
so long to lay hand to it.

Well, I'd explain it to you,

but with your lack
of field experience,

I somehow doubt that
you'd comprehend a lick.

Let's get this
over and done with.

I want my payment in gold.

I'm authorized to extend
a line of credit.

In gold.

I'm off for
the Northwest Passage.

Far away from this army.

Far away from this war.

I somehow doubt that
the emperors of the Orient

will accept a letter of credit.

Give us a day
to collect the bullion.

You can claim it
at the customshouse.

It does burn you, doesn't it?

Good luck with your evacuation.

About bloody time.

Was starting to think
you weren't gonna turn up.

Just 'cause we happen to be
on your side of the sound,

don't try and pawn your worthless
dollars off on me again.

I'm not risking my arse on this black
market for the pleasure of it.

Robeson?

Major.

What are you doing here?

I might ask you the same thing.

Take me back to Setauket

and we shall never speak
of this again.

Aye.

Fancy the
chances, eh, sir,

me finding you here.

? Oh, my son John
was tall and slim ?

? He had a leg for every limb ?

? But now he's got
no legs at all ?

? For he run a race
with a cannonball. ?

There's not near enough air.

Sorry, little fella,

not enough air
for the both of us now.

All right.

Down we go.

Oh, shite.

Lordy.

Uh, Lord...

I know we haven't spoken
in some time, but...

Appreciate it.

Sweet Lord.

What on earth is that?

Don't move!

Shit.

Uh...

would this be York City?

Surrender your vessel.

Thank you for coming, General.

Would you care to sit?

I'm fine as I am.

Shall we toast the French?

I think it they
who should be toasting us.

Providence is on our
side, not the papists.

We're all on the same side now.

Well...

providence favors the righteous.

And the bold.

Are we to carry out
the attack on New York?

Circumstances have changed.

The enemy's as well as ours.

Philadelphia

will soon be recovered.

And I wish you to serve

as military commandant
of the city.

I've longed to drive them
from the capital.

House by house if need be.

There shall be no such need.

The regulars will soon be evacuating
to New York within the week.

And am I to pursue them?

That task falls
to the army in the field.

How long am I

to remain in Philadelphia?

How long?

Well, surely you
understand my concern.

No, I'm afraid I don't.

This is the promotion
you've long sought.

Who the hell am I going to fight

from behind my glorious
desk in Philadelphia?

You know, the French
wouldn't even be here

if it weren't
for my victory at Saratoga.

And it was my victory,

no matter what laurels General
Gates lays at his own feet.

This isn't about Gates.

But he's behind this, isn't he?

Gates or Lee.

Or those Judases in Congress.

The decision is mine.

You need more time
to recuperate.

You are a commander
who joins the fray

and engages
the enemy personally.

If you can't lead by example,

your men will lose heart.

The men are mindful
of my leg, sir.

But it gives them heart.

It reminds them of victory

and the sacrifice
that victory requires.

I can fight.

Let me prove it to you.

And I assure you that my glory
will not detract from your own.

It will only enhance it.

This has nothing
to do with glory.

Says the glorified.

Right, right.

What the devil
did you sail in?

Well, the inventor,
he called it an Infernal.

And by God, was he right.

I sent a man for rope.

Perhaps we'll hang you with it.

Doubt we'll have time
for all that.

What's that?

Three, two, one.

Yeah.

What's that handle for?

- Shite.
- No, hold on.

What did you think, the heavens
would open up and spirit you away?

It's been 10 minutes
by my count.

Although arithmetic
was never my strong...

I heard it from over there.

Take those men and
look down that alley.

This one's empty, Captain.

You, head back.
Search that stall.

Keep looking...

Thank you for visiting
holy ground, Major.

Don't stop.

More. More.

Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Shh.

Sir!

Mr. Woodhull.

You have a visitor.

You're going to wish
you had confessed.

He don't
look like much, sir,

but he's a snake in the grass.

Thank you, Warden.
I'll take it from here.

Huh?

Look at you.

- Look at those whiskers.
- Where the hell did yours go?

Mine came off.

What are you doing here?

What do you mean,
what am I doing here?

I'm here to save your bacon.

You're walking out
that door today, huh?

Right through the city gates and
all the way to Valley Forge.

- No.
- What?

- No.
- What do you mean, no?

- I mean you have to go.
- What?

- You have... shh.
- No. No.

- What, without you?
- They still think I'm a Loyalist.

- I've maintained innocence and my story.
- Abe, but...

And when Hewlett gets traded
back and he writes to them,

that story will be intact.

- You have to go.
- Listen, Hewlett is dead.

What?

He's dead.

Are you... are you certain?

Are you certain?

I stood over his grave.

Now look, we rode out
to Connecticut

to free him, right?

We did all we could.

Washington even wrote
the man a pardon,

but it was too late.

Now look,

Culper is dead.

But you don't have to be.

Now let's get out of here.

Come on. Come on.

- No.
- What are you doing?

- Abe...
- No, no, there is still a chance.

Did you... did you not
hear what I just said?

If they were going to kill me,
they would have done it already.

This place, this prison
is a business.

All right? Yates gets a stipend

for each person that's in here, but
it's not enough to turn a profit.

So for that, he relies on
family gifts, bribes.

Mary, she sends
provisions, cutlery,

guineas every week
like clockwork.

So if I die, so does his
revenue, all right?

I'm not even sure if he's told the
commissary that I'm even a spy yet.

Do you know what I had
to do to get in here?

What the hell are you doing?
I didn't ask you to come here.

I shaved off my beard for
you, you ungrateful shite.

- Well, you missed a spot.
- What are you doing?

Washington pardoned Hewlett.

That means that he still holds
out hope for me, for us.

And now that the French
have joined our cause,

the British will relocate
their headquarters to New York.

Our operation is needed here
now more than ever.

Do you understand?

Lower the knife.

Now you listen to me, Woodhull.

If you do make it out of here
Tory bona fides and all,

there is no way Samuel Culper can skulk
around in New York in the future.

That's why we need a man here.

I've already told Ben about him.

- What, Townsley?
- Townsend.

His name's Townsend. He owns a
boardinghouse in the Bowery.

I left my bag there
before I was arrested.

- All right, slow down.
- Hidden in the bottom of it is a vial of invisible ink.

You need to get that ink to him.

You need to show him
how to use it.

What if he doesn't take it?

You're gonna
have to convince him.

But I know this man.

He is the answer to our problem.

And Culper is not dead.

Neither is our ring.

It's just not completed yet.

I pray you've not been attending
me this entire day, Mrs. Woodhull.

It was no trouble.

How do you feel?

Oh, wretched.

But I no longer despair.

I never thought to have
a roof over me.

Never sleep in my own bed.

It's good to be home.

Richard.

Glad to see you, old friend.

I'm so sorry that you got caught
up in all of this, Richard.

- You and your family.
- You have nothing to apologize for.

We recovered from it
as will you.

And now, if there's anything
I can do to be of service...

You already have. You've kept
the town running in my stead.

- Well, it wasn't just me.
- No doubt young Abraham was helpful, too.

Abraham remains in New York.

What?

I take it his studies
are going well.

He's been in prison
this whole time.

They say he's been spying.

But I know that this is
some kind of misunderstanding.

Indeed there is, Mrs. Woodhull.

He was operating
under my sanction.

Have you not communicated with
the authorities, Richard?

As a father,
I feared my testimony

would be perceived as biased.

Fortunately the major
has no such bias.

I will write to his jailers

and order them to release him.

But there is another matter
that I must attend to first

now that I've recovered
some strength.

I was thinking of taking some
of Mr. Franklin's inventions

as mementos from my time here.

Is that really necessary, John?

What better memento could you
have of this place than a wife?

Something the matter?

Not for me.
It's for General Arnold.

I would think he'd be
crowing about the French.

To the contrary.
He seems melancholic.

"I do not relish
the coming of spring."

I would prefer the
hardships of the field

to the comforts of the city.

Yet if glory is beyond my grasp,

my sole consolation will be
to resume our acquaintance

"and cast my eyes upon you
on a daily basis."

They're giving him Philadelphia.

He's coming here?

John, what's wrong?

This could be
a blessing in disguise.

Margaret...

Why are you calling me that?

I need you to remain here.

To befriend Arnold and make
an introduction to me.

Remain here?

I... I thought we were
going to be together.

We shall be.

And with the blessing
of your father.

The man who contrives the defection
of Arnold will be lauded,

hailed as the savior
of the colonies.

I'll be given land and title,

all the things your father
thinks I lack.

What if Benedict Arnold
doesn't want my friendship?

I suppose there's
a first time for everything.

I mean, what if he wants
something more?

Peggy, you are an expert

in the art of fending off
an ardent suitor.

And you can look
to your father for help.

If he found my pedigree lacking,

I can only imagine what he would
think of an apothecary's son.

Peggy...

don't you understand?

We wouldn't have to elope.

Make me a man you can marry

and your father
will give me your hand.

Planning to sketch me?

Trying to commit you to memory.

You have drawings of me, but I
have nothing to remember you by.

My great-great-grandmother
was forbidden to marry

the man she loved,
yet they ended up together.

Then there is precedent.

She wed him in secret.

They were Quakers.

They didn't require a
meetinghouse or a clergyman,

just a simple vow
such as we are married.

And it wouldn't matter
that there were no witnesses,

- for the only ones needed to be...
- We are married.

If you'll have me, that is.

Yes, we are married.

I'm sorry, we've closed.

I've just returned
from a long journey.

I'm in need of a drink.

Where is the major?

Perhaps you should be seated.

He didn't return?

I did my best, Mrs. Strong.

The brutes murdered
Hewlett before we arrived.

My sole consolation

was meting out the same rough
treatment they'd given him.

I even sustained this wound.

I'm here to console you

if you so require.

You're not alone.

Good evening, Mrs. Strong.

I thought you were lost.

I feared for you, too.

Major.

- This is...
- Somewhat of a surprise?

I did everything
I could to rescue you,

as my men will attest.

I have no doubt of it.

But I outwitted the rebels

and escaped.

Were you injured, Captain?

Was it the young
rebel lieutenant?

An adversary of no consequence.

Hmm.

Well, it is a pity that
you sustained an injury.

I do hope that
it didn't cut too deeply.

Mrs. Strong, I have come to
escort you back to Whitehall.

That is, if you
are ready to travel.

I'll gather my things.

"Whereas Major
Rogers hath demonstrated"

inestimable valor
in service to His Majesty...

and whereas he hath proven
himself a steadfast servant,

loyal and humble,
in securing the king's realms,

- "and whereas he..."
- Just get on with it.

Your king is waiting.

Northwest passage
ain't gonna discover itself.

As you wish.

Your mission
must remain a secret.

You may collect your reward.

Right through there.

How about you get it for me?

Hmm?

Very well.

- It's me!

Who is the coward behind this?

Was it Andr??

You wouldn't dare
hatch this on your own,

you pissant!

On whose orders?

The...

The king.

? Oh, Father dear ?

? You've seven sons ?

? You may wed them
all the morrow ?

? For the fairest flower ?

? Among them all ?

? Was pulled
the day on Yarrow. ?