The Abandons (2025) s01e02 Episode Script

1
[Mam] We've got rustlers!
- Where?
- Lower pasture!
- [dramatic music playing]
- [Mam] Fucking move!
[man yelling] There they are!
This was Van Ness.
Her tyranny's getting worse.
[Constance] We all know that without
the expansion of Van Ness Mines,
Angel's Ridge will
slide back into the mud.
[dramatic music continues]
[Albert] If all four families
work together,
we might have a better chance
to protect what's ours.
Heard you had
a rustler problem at the ranch.
We all know you had nothing
to do with that horror last night.
The attack required
a fair amount of brains.
[Willem] My visit here,
only to collect what's owed.
Get off her! I'll let the law
deal with your ungodly actions.
You think Hayworth
is gonna lock up a Van Ness?
[groans]
- [dark music playing]
- [gurgling]
Stone, go to the sheriff. Stick, silence.
- Each family gets two votes.
- Don't need two votes.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Mam] God gave us this home.
And only God can take it away.
[music fades]
[bear growling in distance]
[bear growling]
[grunting]
- [bear growling]
- [timbers clattering]
[grunts]
- [bear roaring]
- [mayor screaming]
- [screaming continues]
- [flesh tearing]
[intriguing music playing]
[grunts softly]
[somber music playing]
[music fades]
[indistinct chatter]
Oh God.
Who is that?
[sheriff] A grizzly.
Our mayor unfortunate enough
to be its morning meal.
Dreadful.
Bear headed west, most likely
to the summit, feed off the rivers.
We're gathering up
folks to watch the trails.
Make sure it's moved on.
I have three mines
pulling power off those rivers.
Our miners will hear of this.
A distraction that could slow
production for days.
My chief investor, Mr. Vanderbilt,
is due here tomorrow.
This won't land well with him.
We form a hunting party.
Track the beast,
kill it before fear of it
affects the work.
Yes. And we do it with haste.
No suspicion has shown itself.
[Miles] Suspicion rarely shows its face.
We're still not free
of the lie that we buried.
Or if I look for something
other than dread,
I see a growing bond
between friends and good neighbors.
I might need stronger specs
to see what you see,
neighbor.
[horse neighing]
[Albert] Mam, deputies.
I'll handle this.
Deputies.
[man 1] Ma'am, a man was killed
in town this morning by a bear.
- We're gonna track and kill the grizzly.
- [man 2] We're looking for hunters.
Request of Van Ness Ventures.
All to be compensated.
We could use
your tracking skills, Quentin.
And a fatted hog, Mr. Paxton.
Bear bait.
We're on our way to ride to Sáus River.
Meet with the Cayuse.
- Trade some horses.
- They need you here.
[speaking in Cayuse]
[in English] Maybe Lilla will join me.
Meet my people.
All right,
we'll take the trail at the ten bell.
- [man] The force of these tears must be…
- [hog grunting]
[barking]
[indistinct chatter]
…which suggests an age of…
- [man] Hunters!
- [muttering] …I believe five, six years.
[chatter continues]
[man] Hunters.
These vouchers can be used
for any town goods and services.
Compliments of my mother.
Who made the silver dandy
fucking hunter king?
I heard you will be going after the bear.
Be careful.
Right, I… I will.
Safely led by your brother's sturdy hand.
It's pomp and bluster.
Just Garret's way
of keeping sadness at arm's length.
Do not take it to heart.
As a favor?
To me?
[sharp whistle]
Whenever you're ready, brother.
And I shall pray
for a safe and bountiful hunt.
- She'll be praying for us.
- I heard.
[Constance] Friends,
neighbors, fellow citizens,
adversity has its way
of bringing us together.
Today, Angel's Ridge has that bond.
Let us pray for a fruitful hunt.
And return to our day.
Godspeed to all.
- [man 1] Godspeed!
- [man 2] God bless, ma'am.
[indistinct chatter]
Lead them well, son.
But do not put yourself in harm's way.
I know how to hunt, Mother.
Promise me.
Safe return you shall have.
[yells] Hunters!
[scattered chattering stirs]
[pastor] Put the poor fellow
in the graveyard shed.
Secure the latch or else the raccoons
will make a feast of him.
[Mam] Pastor, Mayor Nibley was a Catholic.
Father Duffy should give final rites.
Ah, I'll let him know.
Your priest, he's now Monsignor Duffy.
Monsignor!
Ladies.
Splendid news on your clergyman.
I'm sure it was most deserved.
Well, what a day.
Our children coming together
in a time of need.
Turned a page, have we?
Tell that to the cattle
at the bottom of my fucking cliff.
If you cooperate…
it would guarantee your safety.
[scoffs] Safety? For my silver?
You make extortion sound like progress,
Constance.
The answer is no.
Don't ask me again.
[grave music playing]
[Issac] Welcome back, Father.
[Duffy] Thank you.
[Dahlia laughs] Apparently getting closer
to God requires a new horse and coat.
[scoffs] All well deserved.
[Duffy] Pastor Collier.
[pastor] I pray your travels were blessed
with more calm than our morning was.
Dearest Fiona.
Sweet Dahlia.
Father…
Monsignor Duffy.
I'm so thrilled. So proud of you.
It's but a change in color.
- Pastor tell you of our mayor's fate?
- Indeed.
Such a tragic end.
I gather the boys taking to the hunt?
They are.
[in Latin] I am glad to see you,
good priest.
[in English] And you as well,
Madame Giselle.
We could use your Latin skills
at services tomorrow.
Oh, alas… God demands
an even greater service
of me and my disciples.
[women laughing]
Any indication as to the fate
of the Van Ness boy?
The one gone missing?
Nothing told to us.
Will you be joining us for supper?
Your stew and a wicked game of fidchell,
that's the true reason
I make these monthly rounds.
[Moran] Ah, so it is.
It's the monsignor.
Pride of County Louth.
If you had any pride,
you'd pour a more respectable bottle.
Ah, the abuse we shoulder here.
- [liquid pouring]
- [laughs]
With Mass and your final sacrament,
will there be time
for absolution this trip?
[Duffy] Oh, time enough.
The pastor allowing us his church
as our needs demand.
Come on, let's get you settled.
I'll take that.
[sighs]
[Quentin] Found two sets of tracks coming
and going from the far bends of the river.
The grizzly likes it here.
Trap will take a good couple hours.
Gives us time to lay bait.
Thought the hog was the bait.
We lay crumbs along the tracks.
Lead the beast to the fatted prize.
Ah, Quint, you, Walter,
and Miles take a set.
- Me and Albie will lay the other.
- Are we taking your orders now?
Which party should I lend a hand?
You know, I think our commander here
could use some bear learning.
Why don't you, uh,
stay here and read him a nice story?
Best you come with us, son.
No, someone needs to keep
our orphans from going astray.
Grab the gizzards.
[gloomy string music plays]
[distant thunder rumbling gently]
[man speaking angrily in Cayuse]
[Lilla] What's put him in such a state?
[conversation continues]
[woman] He wants to join
the Cayuse rebels.
Struggles with his father's trust
in the treaty.
Treaties have not been kind to any nation.
No longer your worry, sister.
You left us…
for a life with outsiders.
Wait here.
[classical tune playing lightly on piano]
Ah! [claps]
[clears throat]
Apologies for the start, miss.
[Trisha laughs softly]
I was not aware I had an audience.
Are you here to pay mother a visit?
If your mother is Mrs. Van Ness.
Please, keep playing.
[laughs] Impromptu 90
is one of my favorites.
You know Schubert.
Just because a man looks a bit worn…
No, I… [laughs]
I meant no judgment.
Sure you did. Rightfully so.
[Roache chuckling]
Please.
Sit.
Most men around here
barely know "Ring Around the Rosie."
[playing "Ring Around the Rosie"]
[Trish chuckles]
[transitions into elegant melody]
[Constance] Vanderbilt visits tomorrow,
yet all my thoughts are with Willem.
[Jack] I know.
[Constance] I worry you don't put
much faith in Mr. Roache and his men.
I know nothing about him or his crew.
Other than the long list of crimes
they're wanted for.
I know Mr. Roache
presents certain challenges,
but we've got tasks in front of us
that may need someone
who can cross lines we cannot.
Too many boots tread those lines,
becomes hard for everyone to see.
I appreciate your loyalty, Jack.
That's the polite,
white lady way of saying,
"keep my tongue still."
[both playing Impromptu 90]
[both laughing]
[Constance] Mr. Roache?
Oh, Mother.
Told him to wait downstairs.
Thank you, Jack.
Dearest, would you collect
Mr. Nibley's trinkets for his family?
Yes, of course.
I hope you come bearing
more than just knowledge of Schubert.
I do, ma'am.
But my findings…
they will not provide much comfort.
We searched every mining camp,
yours, Clugage and Pool's,
the smaller ventures.
Jails. Hospitals.
Nothing.
No trace of Willem.
Ma'am.
Where are you from, Mr. Roache?
Many places, ma'am.
I prefer my mysteries
inside the bindings of a book.
[chuckles]
Northeast mostly.
Family didn't settle much.
And was it the allure of danger
that brought you west?
Mostly came for the solitude.
A place where no one asks questions.
Safe travels, Mr. Roache.
Have yourself a lovely day, ma'am.
[man] Pull!
Here.
Here.
And here.
The bloodier ones.
Is that bloody enough for you?
[cattle mooing]
[knock on door]
Ah!
A delightful aroma!
Rabbit and greens.
Have a seat, dear one.
Should be hot enough.
Here, get the bowls.
Your sisters will be over the moon
with your appointment.
They ask of you quite often.
Maeve never forgetting
your banishment from St. Catherine's.
Nearly strangled
the Mother Superior with a mooring rope.
[Fiona] That witch pushed me in a lake.
- Tried to drown me.
- [Duffy laughs]
Her idea of a swim lesson.
That rope saved me arse.
I thought you were expelled
for stealing the chaplain's mule.
I borrowed the mule.
And it was from Our Lady of Good Faith.
Dismissed from three schools, was it?
- That's enough from you.
- [chuckles]
I'll have my revenge on a fidchell board.
Oh!
I'd expect nothing less.
I forgot about the abbey at Boyne River.
It was four schools.
- Was it?
- [Duffy] Yeah.
- [Fiona] You sure? Fuck off.
- Yeah. [laughing]
Gut the pig, lay the bait,
and we settle in.
Wait for the kill.
Preparations are all in order.
Cut it at the river, get a good artery,
let it run upstream a bit,
then lay a trail of ripe blood
right to the trap.
I'll lend you a hand, Walter.
[snorting]
[Walter softly] It'll be quick.
[bear growling]
[Quentin] Don't move.
[roaring]
[rifles firing]
[body thuds]
[bear exhales gruffly]
[Dahlia] Father's purchase of our land.
Secured it before he passed.
Yes. Angus Teller.
Entrusting your care
to his fierce Irish nanny.
After the Great Fire,
she nursed him back to health.
Never left his side.
[Fiona] Enough sentimental delay,
Killian Duffy.
Time for your comeuppance.
Bring your best, fiery lady.
[laughs] I will.
[papers rustling]
In search of more Schubert?
[chuckles lightly]
It seems my neglect has become
a mad sorting of dead composers.
The man you were playing with today,
Mr. Roache,
he is a scout,
with experienced men,
hired to search for Willem.
Have they found anything?
I am sorry to say they have not.
[somber music playing]
Is he gone, Mother?
Your father's love of Schubert
has taken hold of you.
It reminds me of him.
Yes.
I miss him too.
Very much.
[Fiona] Smash!
My game. Seven over five.
- Shite.
- [Fiona laughs]
I cannot beat her, Dahlia.
Your victories are mounting.
Half quid a point.
[Fiona] Oh, that's a good thing.
I need bounty to pay Peter.
Buy my wings.
[Duffy chuckles]
This from the Vatican?
A much humbler address.
My diocese in Oregon City.
Archbishop Blanchet.
[coins clinking]
This ascent…
means your monthly journeys here,
they will end?
Not for a while, but yes.
I'm to take a parish in Seattle.
A rugged harbor
in need of God's firm hand.
It's about time.
All your years of service recognized.
[Duffy] A debt paid.
Your winnings.
This new appointment affords me
the wages to amend my years of losses.
It was play.
- [coins clink]
- I cannot take this.
Your service, Fiona.
It was a game of love.
Not gifts.
- I'm sorry. A foolish--
- No, I see your generosity.
[Duffy] You see my ignorance. It's-- it's…
And I've got a homily still to write.
I thank you both.
A wonderful meal, fine company.
I shall see you at confession tomorrow.
Good night, ladies.
Fuck's sake.
Killian, wait.
[Fiona sighs]
Your appointment
gave me so much pride, truly.
The money is just
a heavy reminder that now
your grace and status will be out
of reach for someone as simple as me.
Dear woman,
I am the simple one.
You're my beacon, good priest.
My faith held strong because of you.
You're the strength, Fiona.
Your faith is unshakable.
[bittersweet music playing]
Beyond my guidance.
Beyond my weakness.
[Duffy chanting in Latin]
[prayer continues]
[bells tolling]
How will you tell of it?
All that happened?
Things we did?
Confessional holds mercy.
Priest brings our truth to God,
God delivers forgiveness through him.
But what if my truth…
What if…
the thing…
Willem… did to me…
I brought on myself?
[sniffles]
Our vengeance…
wrong?
Willem Van Ness was a sad, broken thing.
He could never have your light,
so he sought to snuff it out.
God did not let that happen.
God didn't kill him.
We did.
We killed a man.
You tell our priest a simple story of it.
Your life threatened,
striking back your only choice.
And what will you tell him?
It was an act of love.
To keep safe the life of someone good,
I took the breath of someone evil.
Willem's death is not your sin.
Any burden you feel, give it to God.
The telling of it sets us free.
[sniffles]
Dampness settles in after midday.
Thank you.
You are a mother who understands
the weight of a lost child.
Willem's absence is
tearing us to pieces.
I struggle,
deeply…
accepting that the fate of my son is…
God's alone to decide.
There are times we have no hand
in fixing the thing that breaks us.
Faith is a rigorous act.
Yes.
Surrender does not come easy.
I admire your faith, Fiona.
Envy it.
I'll leave you to your priest.
Willem is in my prayers.
Monsignor.
Fiona.
["Wood & Weather Beaten Lines"
by Maya Solovey playing]
[church bell tolling]
Just like the first time that we wept ♪
Glistening smile lines for thee ♪
Settling stillness on this day ♪
Look to your faces ♪
Ashen gray ♪
He doesn't move, it feels like years ♪
Never a smile, not even tears ♪
Covered in doubts
And covered in leaves ♪
Only in dreams will ♪
I be believed… ♪
[Duffy] Please.
Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.
It has been nearly two months
since my last confession.
[somber song continues]
[man] Right this way, Mr. Vanderbilt.
Watch your step, sir.
[song fades]
[Garret] What did he say?
Mr. Vanderbilt's shipping enterprise
is in jeopardy.
He cannot risk any losses.
If our decline does not stabilize,
he will be forced to withdraw his stake.
[indistinct chatter]
[Elias] If I was Quentin,
I would've shit myself seeing that bear.
It smells like you did! [laughing]
Pardon, folks.
These spilled out of the padre's gear
when he rode off.
I called after him,
but he was already at a full gallop.
I figured you'd know
how best to return it.
- Thank you, Issac. Join us?
- Kind of you.
Those are not your business, Mam.
They're in my hands now.
Clearly God's intention.
It's from the archbishop.
Father Duffy was elevated to monsignor.
[Elias] Well, it's about time.
[dark music playing]
Issac, the priest,
which road did he take out of town?
West end. Toward the mines.
With me.
Now!
[dramatic music playing]
[riders urging horses]
- [Fiona] Come on!
- [exclaiming]
- [Fiona] Killian!
- [music subsides]
[tense music playing]
Has something happened?
Issac found these outside his forge.
Ah.
My inferior knot work. [chuckles]
The task of returning them
taken with such urgency.
This trail leads to only one place.
I wasn't aware the Van Ness family
needed Catholic sacrament.
They do not.
It is a call of courtesy from my bishop.
Archbishop Francois Blanchet?
The one who wrote,
"At the current state of our debt,
we are unable to provide monetary gains
until a parish
has been assigned to your guidance."
The horse, the clothes, the money…
it wasn't the church.
Who ended your vow of poverty, Killian?
Oh my God.
Constance.
Oh shit.
[Fiona] Torn from
the fucking pages of Matthew!
Silver pieces buy the betrayal.
Our confessed sins, now hers.
To turn against us!
I had no idea the measure of those sins.
- Ahh!
- [spits]
Your anger is just.
My sins,
man's oldest.
Pride.
Envy.
Greed.
A priest falling to them is unforgivable.
A righteous and brutal penance is due.
[grave music playing]
Do it without guilt, son.
God already forgives you.
Putting this burden on the innocent.
You're not a priest.
- [grunts]
- Just a fucking coward in a collar!
We're finished.
[dramatic music rises and fades]
[somber music playing]