The Good Lord Bird (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - The Good Lord Bird - full transcript

Somber fiddle music

Does that mean
you're taking care of Onion?

- That's what Pa said.
- No, he didn't.

Yeah, well, I'm not taking her.

Old Man's son
Frederick, my friend,

barely cold in the ground.

Didn't nobody think
to ask me what I wanted.

- Why is that?
- I'm cinching up and riding to Iowa.

- Iowa?
- The walleyed girl?

It d... I'm going courting,
it doesn't matter who.

I'm not riding
with the Onion on me.



Onion is your burden, too.

Uh, I will ride the Onion
to Tabor.

All we need is some supplies
and we'll be on our way.

Wait. Him taking care of her?

Yeah, what do you know
about taking care of a girl?

I know plenty. I helped raise
a couple of sisters

'fore they got sold off.

Fine.
I'll take you both to Tabor.

But then I cut you loose.

First, we have
to go back across the river

- and scrounge what's left.
- Fine.

We'll head out
as soon I get back.

You want us to wait here?

Yeah, we won't be long.



You see any Red Shirts,
give a holler.

Give a holler?
Why, so they can shoot us?

Hyah, hyah.

Melancholy banjo

We can't stay here.

What?

Let's git.

What about Owen?
He said to wait.

Forget about him.
This white folk business.

You can stay back, but I'm gone.

Organ playing

Hallelujah

Come on children, let's sing

About the goodness of the Lord

Come on, children, let's shout

All about God's rich reward

Guide our footsteps every day

Keeps us in the narrow way

Come on, children, let's sing

About the goodness of the Lord

Yeah, come on, children,
let's sing

About the goodness
of the Lord, mmm

Come on, children, let's shout

All about God's rich reward

Guide our footsteps every day

Keeps us in the narrow way

Come on, children, let's sing

Come on, children, let's shout

The Lord Almighty
has brought us out

There's none like him
without a doubt

Come on, children, let's sing

About the goodness

Of the Lord

energetic music

Come on. Hyah!

Come on.

You best wrap that bonnet tight
on your head and girl it up.

Pinch your cheeks some,

lick the dirt off your lips.

Whoa.

Afternoon, sir.

Where you going?

Why, I'm taking the missus here
to the Lawrence Hotel.

You got papers?

Well, sir,
the missus here got some.

Well, I don't need no papers

in that he's taking me
to Lawrence.

Are you taking that boy?

Or is that boy taking you?

Why, I'm taking him.

We is just passing
through from Palmyra,

and we heard
all the gun shooting,

so I drug him around this way.

What are you?

You part-colored or white girl
with a dirty face?

The best part of me
is nearly as white as you, sir.

But I just don't know
where I belongs,

being a tragic mulatto and all.

Yeah.

Well...

all the more reason
to run these free staters

out of this country.

Damn Yanks.

I'm Chase.

That's Randy.

Don't you worry, little angel.

You can ride with us.

You's too kind,
but we is heading

to the Lawrence Hotel,
so I reckon we'll be off.

Hold on, now.

We're going
to Pikesville, Missouri.

It's in your general direction.

Why not come with us?

These trails is dangerous.

Bob here's sick.

It's catching.

All the more reason
to ride with us.

I know a couple
slave traders up in Pikesville.

Sick or not, they'll give
a couple thousand for him.

Well, now, that do
sound like a fair offer.

But I can't do that.

For I promised my pa
to never sell him.

- Hey!
- Whoa.

There ain't nothing but...

free staters up in Lawrence.

What kind of work you seeking,
you carry such

a sour-faced coon?

Trim's my business.

Learned it from my pa.

Your pa?

Ain't you a little young
to be selling trim?

That ain't what she mean.

That is most certainly
what I mean,

and you'd be wise not
to try and correct me.

Well, wouldn't you
rather have a job

waiting or washing?

Why wash dishes when you can
do ten men in an hour?

Oh, that stirs my britches.

I know the perfect
place for you.

I know a woman
that can give you a job.

But it's in Pikesville,
not Lawrence.

Being that it is dangerous out
here for a girl like myself,

I reckon Pikesville
is as good a place to go as any.

And if I can make money
selling trims, as you claim,

then why not?

Let's load the wagon.

Aim your lies about trim
in a different direction.

What I done?

Pa taught me all about
shaves and hair trims.

"Trim" means tail, Henry.

Birds and the bees. All that.

Pensive music

I'm the youngest of eight.

All boys, only one sister,
Clarice.

She's married to Randy.

He... he ain't much to look at,

but he's good to my sister.

And they got-they got
a little one on the way.

And hopefully it's a boy,
so they can name him after me.

One thing I learned as a girl

is men together talk guns, spit

and tobacco. But to a woman,

they'll spill their guts
about losing their best dog

and their dreams and their
thoughts on the constellations.

Winds might kick up tonight.

But I'll keep you warm.

Percussive music

In my travelings thus far...

Which was none... Pikesville

was the grandest town
I'd ever seen.

Move it!

I was busy reloading,
but I-I needn't have bothered.

Is that true?

Old John Brown dead?

Yes, sir!

Yeah.

You killed him?

Why, I throwed
every bullet I had at him

sure as you standing there.

I walked straight up to him.

He shot at me twice, but missed.

I pulled on his beard.

Said, "You yellow-bellied thief,

I'm gonna gut you like a pig!"

His story changes
from one drink to the next.

You'd a-thunk it would dawn
on some of them that he was

cooking it all up,
the way his story growed legs.

Come on down! Guess who's back.

I once pulled a bullet

out of a slaver's backside.

And he was so grateful

he give me a bowl of ice cream.

Something I ain't never
had before.

But the taste of that ice cream

weren't nothing
compared to seeing

that bundle of beauty
coming down them stairs.

Cupid bust a charge
right through my heart.

Romantic strings

Where's my money?

Oh, that's a hell of a way

to treat the man who just

killed John Brown
with his bare hands.

I don't care who you killed.

You owe me nine dollars.

That much?

Where is it?

I have something

a lot better than nine dollars.

There, look.

Shit, what is that uglification?

You got my money?

Well, what about the girl?

I carried her all the way
from Kansas.

Then you can take her
right on back to Kansas.

Hold on, now.

I'll take a look-see.

All right.

You flat as a pancake.

Ah, you small down there, too.

How much you owe?

- Nine whole dollars.
- Well... nine.

All right, I'll take her
and we're square.

Even let you
get a little time with Pie.

I give you five minutes.

Five minutes?
I take ten minutes to whiz.

Whizzes is extra.

All right, let's go then.

Not now. You need a bath.

Come on. You can give it to me.

Take the other one to the Pen.

We'll come to terms
on him later.

Excuse me, but he belongs to me.

And now you both belong to me.

Take him to the Pen.

- Come on.
- Pie.

Give her a good scrub,
get her ready for work.

Get out of them rags and get in.

I don't need no bath.

You smell like buffalo dung.

Go on, get in.

Uh-uh.

- You gettin' in this tub.
- No, I ain't.

Get from under there.

I ain't.

I ain't gonna hurt ya.

Don't be scared.

You sure?

'Course, baby.

You a young thing.
You don't know nothing.

You ain't got nobody
in the world.

Come on out.

Don't be scared.

Come on.

Goddamn cockeyed idiot.

Don't move.

If you ever steal from me,
I'm-a send you skint alive

down the road, you little shit.

- I ain't no thief.
- Good.

- Now go and get washed up.
- I-I can't.

No, wait, wait, wait.

You done put me in the
damn fryer, you heathen.

You gonna get me hanged.

Oh, my...

Them rebels find out
you was on the Hot Floor,

peeking at them white whores,

they'll cut out them little
grapes hanging between your legs

and stick 'em down your gizzard.

I can't take no chances on you.

- You gots to go.
- But I could be useful.

Uh, w-washing dishes
and cutting hair and such.

That don't help me, child.

P-Please, wait.

I knows my letters.
I can teach you.

- You lying lizard.
- I ain't lying.

I swear it.

If you let me stay here
and keep my secret...

I'll teach you.

Knowing your letters
ain't something

- you can lie about, you know.
- I swear it.

All right.

You teach me letters,

and I'll girl you up a bit,

work it out with Miss Abby
so you can start cleaning beds,

emptying piss pots
and working in the tavern

until you're ready
for the Hot Floor.

That'll give you a little time.

But you stay away
from them girls.

I will. And what about Bob?

- Can you take me to him?
- You leave that be.

You best worry about saving
your own skin right now.

And don't you
go nowhere near that Pen.

You hear me?

Slow, bluesy guitar music

I settled into
Pikesville pretty easy.

It weren't hard.
Pie set me up good.

She done me up like a real girl.

And I got to know
all her regulars,

especially the important ones.

Right this way, Judge.

Like the judge.

I was always trying to see
if I could spot old Bob,

but I never could.

Go on.

Weeks passed, and I

kept thinking
I had to sneak off to see him.

But somehow...

time just got away from me.

Good, good.

$2,000? I think you're trying
to get one over on me.

He's strong as an ox.

Loves to work.

There's no nigger in the Pen
worth that much money.

It's a good deal, Judge.

You think it over.

Anybody see Bob?

Pretty, pretty, yeller, yeller.

Anybody see a fella named Bob?

He's a colored fella,
about this high.

Anybody seen Bo...

Damn stupid fool.

- Get away from me.
- Sibby.

Don't mind her.
She feebleminded.

Come on, sit by me, Sibonia.

Coming through.

What you need?

I'm looking for Bob.

Ain't nar Bob here.

What you want him for, anyway?

He's a friend.

Hmm.

What's a redbone like you need
a friend in this yard for?

I ain't come out here
for you to sass me.

You sassing
yourself by the way you look.

You own Bob?

No. I owes him.

Well, you ain't got to fret
about paying him what you owe,

- 'cause he ain't here.
- Miss Abby said

- she ain't sold him.
- That the first lie

- you heard from white folks?
- You sure got a smart mouth

for a colored living in the Pen.

And you sure got a smarter
one for a big-witted,

tongue-beating,
muleheaded sissy.

Walking around
dressed as you is.

How I covers my skin
is my business.

It's your load.

Ain't nobody
judging you around here.

But dodging a white man's evil
takes more than

a bonnet and
pretty undergarments, child.

You'll learn.

Come on, sister.

This child is troubled.

Let the Devil have him, then.

Go on over yonder
with the rest, sister.

So you faking crazy?

And you sporting trouble
playing folks like a fool.

I'm doing what I got to do,
wearing these clothes.

I ain't talking about that.

Talking about the other thing.

That's more dangerous.

There's whispers of you
knowing how to read and write.

- How you know that?
- Don't matter how I know it.

Is it true?

Tell you about your friend.

- You know Bob?
- Is it true?

I know my letters. I can write.

You agree to write me something?

Like a pass?

Or a bill of sale?

I'll arrange for you to see Bob.

I'll do it.

You don't keep your word,

something liable
to happen to Bob.

I said I would.

Don't you stretch
your mouth to nobody about this.

Especially Pie.

If you do, I'll know about it.

And you'll wake up
with a heap of knives

poking out that pretty neck
of yours.

I'll send word for you
about a church meeting.

Afternoon, pretty redbone.

What you need at my Pen?

Uh, I got lost.

What you looking for?

I'm looking for Pie.

Don't mention that
high-siddity bitch to me.

She's my friend.

Pie ain't nobody's friend.

But old Darg
could be your friend.

You can be Darg's friend.

Why don't you do me a favor
and give me a little sugar?

You old enough.

I best be going.

Uh, Pie's waiting for me.

What's these letters?

"Pie."

That's what it spells,
but what's the letters?

"Pie."

P-I-E.

How you get that name, anyway?

How you think?

Chocolate. Cherry.

Furry.

Making you nervous
somewhere again?

No, i-it ain't that.

Do you think
you could get me some paper?

Don't ever ask me that.

I-I know it's dangerous, but...

Who's it for, boy?

I ain't supposed to say.

I snuck down to the Pen
to see about Bob,

only he weren't there.

And the only way
to get word on him

was to promise to write a pass
for this lady... Sibonia.

Then when Darg came,
I lied and said I was lost.

Darg saw you?

You gonna
bring trouble on all us.

I'm sorry, Pie.

You ain't writing nothing,

and you ain't going back down
to that Pen, you hear me?

Yes, ma'am.

Slow, bluesy guitar music

Here. Get my back.

You keep off them low-down,
no-account niggers.

Either that
or don't come round me.

Ooh-whee.

I'd like to get you
on the Hot Floor.

It might be time
to put you to work upstairs.

But Pie said I'm not ready yet.

It don't matter what Pie says.

Get back to work.

Come on. This way.

I been looking all over for you.

You ain't been looking too hard.

I went by the Pen,
but you weren't there.

Been working out at the sawmill.

We can't all have jobs wearing
dresses and being indoors.

That weren't my choice.

I'm sorry about all this, Bob.

You missed the church meeting.

Sibonia was waiting on you.

- You made a deal.
- That there deal is dead.

- I found you myself.
- It don't work like that.

You gave your word.
If you don't do it,

there's gonna be trouble.

What y'all building, anyway?

Ain't you heard?

There's gonna be a hanging.

I have it on good authority

that Negroes from the Pen

were trying to get papers
to get free,

then come back here
and lead an insurrection.

Yeah.
At least a couple dozen of them

were planning on killing
white families by the hundreds,

including the preacher,

who did nothing but love
those ungrateful Negroes.

And how do you know this
to be true?

- Huh? Who's your informant?
- All I can say is

it's a reliable
colored informant,

well known to many townsfolk.

Nine of them were found out.

Four of them belong to you.

There's big trouble.

They're planning
to hang nine slaves

for a plot of insurrection.

That's all? Only nine?

Atmospheric music

They should hang them all.

- Every last one of them.
- You ain't mean that.

Truth is,
soon as I looked at Pie,

I knowed she was the one
who told the judge.

Coloreds turn the tables
on one another all the time,

just like white folks.

The only difference is the white
man put his treachery on paper.

Coloreds put theirs
in their mouth.

Wh...
But they hanging nine people.

Uh, that could be us.

Ain't nothing
gonna happen to you.

I already worked it out
with Miss Abby.

For me and you.

But we can't be seen together.

And don't be seen
talking to any other coloreds.

You hear?

Just lay low.

Now you got to get out.

I ain't think anybody else
be up here.

That's all right,
Miss Henrietta.

The more the merrier.

Hmm.

This was supposed
to be a good trip.

I come back
for the woman I love,

take her away from all this,

make her a proper wife...

She didn't even take me serious.

I take it you speaking on Pie.

I just know I could be
the man she wanted,

if she just
give me half a chance.

You love her?

Well, yeah.

She's the prettiest damn thing
I ever laid my eyes on.

Guess I just got tired
of sharing her.

And I convinced myself that
that's what she wanted, too.

I mean, what whore
wants to stay a whore?

I'm for getting
the hell out of here.

Why, Miss Henrietta...

...you may be on
to something there.

Really?

Why not?

I got a little ranch
a few hours outside town.

Now, the house needs
some tending to.

Oh, I'm good at tending.
I tends all day.

B-Bob, he's right handy
tending, too.

It is slow living,
but it is good living.

We love slow living.

Bob says the slower the better.

And you can cook, right?

Of course.
I got all kinds of recipes.

All right.
I got to settle some shit...

Won't take me
more than a few days...

And then we'll get out of here.

Yeah, it'll take us a few days
to get Bob out the Pen.

Who?

Remember? My slave Bob?

We all traveled here together.

Oh, I ain't got no use
for no Bob.

And there ain't
no way Miss Abby's

gonna let me
take the both of you.

Hey, mister,
where'd you get that feather?

Owen?

I'm surprised
you can see straight,

carousing around like a drunk.

I'm not carousing.
I'm surviving.

You were the one
who left me and Bob behind.

- Now they got him locked up.
- That's not my fault.

Now, you were supposed to wait.

I came back there
and you both were gone.

I been seeking you
for a long time, kid.

That's why you here?

The one reason.

Though the other
is we got to to do something

about the hanging.

There's gonna be an attack
on all these pro slavers.

I came here to get
a proper count of things,

see what we're up against.

Now sit tight.

Yeah, we'll be riding here soon.

And quit sipping that joy juice.

So you just gonna
leave me again?

No, I'll be back for you, Onion.

You got to trust me.

And you find us
when the fight is done.

How?

Where will you be?

We'll be the only ones left
drawing breath.

Somber music

Not so fast.

- What you need me for?
- Set a minute and talk.

I-I got to go work.

Every Negro in this world
got to work.

But I'm more interested in what
you been saying about Sibonia

and them letters.

I ain't said nothing
about nobody.

Your job was to come back

and write Sibonia
some letters and passes

and be quiet about it.

And you ain't do it.

Now we all likely
to get sold off soon

'cause Miss Abby
thinks we is trouble.

I'm telling you, I didn't
tell nobody about nothing.

That lie ain't worth
a pinch of snuff out here.

Onion might be many things,

but he never wanted
nobody to get hurt.

Your word
don't mean shit 'round here.

This little bird been flapping
its wings, I can feel it.

Run. Run!

Dramatic music

Bring in the accused leader
of this wicked insurrection.

Sibby.

I aim to find out about
this murderous plot.

We know you are the leader.

Several people have said it,
so don't deny it.

I am the woman,

and I ain't ashamed
nor afraid to confess it.

Who else was involved?

Give us all the names.

Me and my sister, Libby, and
I ain't confessing to no other.

No reason to drag this out.

Now, you tell us what we need
to know, this could be painless.

Come on, Sibby.

Who was gonna
give you the papers?

Pain ain't nothing new to me.

We got other ways of getting you
to tell it if you want.

Go ahead.

Set Darg on me again,
if you want.

But it can't be whipped out
of me nor plumbed in any way.

I am the woman. I done it.

And if I had the chance,
I'd do it again.

Stop. Stop.

I'm gonna let these fine people

pull out your teeth,

tar you, feather you,

if you don't tell me
who was helping you.

You give me names,

I'll make sure you die fast.

Preacher?

Please give us some space
and some quiet, gentlemen.

Gotta respect
the preacher. Back up.

Hello, Sibonia.

I've come to find out
everything you know

- about this insurrection.
- Oh, Preacher.

You come for no such purpose.

Maybe you were persuaded
or forced.

But would you...

you,

the man who taught me
the word of Jesus.

The one who taught me
that Jesus's

sacrifice was for me

and all my brothers and sisters.

Would you now ask me
to forfeit the lives of others

who would help me?

But, Sibonia,

yours was a wicked plot.

Had you succeeded, the streets
would run red with blood.

You have no problem with blood

unless it's the blood
of white folks.

You and my wife are friends.

Reverend,

it was you and your wife
who taught me

that Jesus
has no respecter of persons.

Do you remember
teaching me that?

What does it mean?

That in His eyes,
we're all equal.

Yet I am a slave.

My husband was a slave.

My children were slaves.

All sold away from me.

And after the last one was sold,

I said, "I will

strike a blow for freedom."

I had a plan, Reverend.

Slow, somber music

But I failed.

I was betrayed.

Or maybe...

it was the will of the Father

to protect these good folks.

Don't you think it might
have been God's gentle hand

putting a stop to this?

This weren't God.

This was fear.

I tell you right now.

Had I succeeded,

I would have killed you
and your wife first

just to show them
that followed me

that I could sacrifice my love

to have justice for them.

I would have been miserable
for the rest of my life.

But in my heart...

Mmm...

God told me I was right.

Sometimes,
a sparrow got to fly wild...

...for it to be set free.

Sibby...

let us pray.

God, our common Father,

we pray for our justice

to be in accordance
with Your will.

Mm.

May those deemed the worst by us

be regarded the best by You.

Yes, Jesus.

I pray You forgive Sibonia
for any transgressions...

...and if we whites are wrong,

please forgive us.

God in Heaven,

amen.

Amen.

Hang her if you want.

You find someone else

to preach to this town,

for I am finished with it.

"I Shall Be Released"
by Nina Simone

They say everything

Can be replaced

They say every distance
is not near

So I remember

Every face

Who's going first?

Of every man

Who put me here

Oh

I see my light

Come shining

From the west unto the east

Any day now

Any day now

- I shall be -

Released

Any day now

Any day now

I

Shall be

Released...

Get your lazy,
good-for-nothing ass up.

Them spittoons
ain't gonna clean themselves.

Board up the windows and doors.

Let's go.

Come on,
I'm getting you out of here.

I ain't leaving
without my money.

Forget the money. Let's go.

It's all I got!

Behind you.

Come on, Onion. We got to go.

Tense music

Onion.

Get someplace safe.

Get back.

- Go, go, go.
- Let's go.

Onion.

Owen says you're a drunk.

Said you've been swearing
and using tobacco.

Is that true?

- Captain...
- Is it true?

Captain, it's true.

I fell in love
and got my heart broke.

Did you commingle with anyone
in a fleshly way

- without being married?
- No, sir.

- You didn't?
- No, sir.

- You promise?
- I am still as clean

and pure as the day I was born

in that fashion.

Your soul is more precious
than your life.

You know that, right?

- You know that?
- Yes, sir.

Yeah. Salmon, what's-what's...

what's the Good Book say
about that?

- Ezekiel 16:8?
- Uh...

uh, "Wh-When I passed

- by thee, uh..."
- "When I passed by..."

- Yeah. Oh, Jason.
- I don't remember.

- Help him out.
- Father!

- What? John Jr.
- Uh...

-"When I passed by thee
and looked upon thee,
-"When I passed by thee..."

behold, that was
the time of love

and the Lord spread
his skirt over thee

-and covered thy nakedness."
-Yeah. "And covered
thy nakedness."

Onion. Onion, have you kept
your nakedness covered?

- A-As much as possible, Captain.
- Have you been reading the Bible

- at all?
- Uh, not too much, Captain.

But I been thinking
in a godly way.

You been?

Well, that's-that's something,
boys. We can work with that.

You stand for the Lord,
the Lord will stand for you.

You know that.

Pa, we got to go!

Have I ever told you the story

of King Solomon
and the two mothers

with the one child? Have I?

No? Oh, I have to tell you that.
I have to tell you.

Pa. Cannon.

We gonna kill 'em all.

Oh, shit.

- Fuckin' run!
- Come back here.

My name is Captain John Brown!

And I am here

in the name
of the Great Redeemer,

the King of Kings,

the Man of the Holy Trinity,

and I hereby order you

to git!

Git, in His holy name!

Git. For He is on
the side of justice

and you are on the side
of chains.

Brown!

Death is coming for you today!

Oh... shit.

Eerie music

In that moment,

just like the rest
of the country,

Chase was divided in half.

Them Red Shirts
is bound to circle back.

We better get
while the getting's good.

Good idea.

We only come this far to put
a hurtin' on those heathens

and rescue our Little Onion,
who's a good luck charm

to me and our whole army.

And we haven't
forgotten you, Robert,

our soldier in training.
Who's your friend?

He ain't no friend of mine.

Well, you're right.

I stand corrected.

We are all brothers
in this fight. Join us.

Pa, we got to ride.

Then let's ride.

Come on, Onion. Here we go.

Here we go.

What do we do?

Don't shoot. He's a preacher.

You...

are a man of God?

No, I'm a child of God.

Once dead in sin,

now baptized
by the blood of righteousness.

Those are good words.

Go in peace.

"Sweet Thang" by Shuggie Otis

Hah!

The Old Man was nuttier
than a squirrel turd.

Wasn't nothing
to "going in peace" about him.

But in that moment,
that was fine by me.

Ooh, baby

Sweet thang

Ooh...

Baby

Sweet thang

Ooh...

Baby