Washington Black (2025) s01e05 Episode Script

1
[Medwin Harris]
Previously on Washington Black
[Theodora] Fancy Mouth has a contact
for us to sell the molasses.
I'm a 22-year member of the RSL.
-Like your father, Titch.
-My father is deceased.
These are from your father,
posted within the last few months.
His last letter was from the Arctic.
[George Washington "Wash" Black]
We should go find him.
[Edgar Farrow]
Nat Turner.
But you you and I are different.
Folk like you and I, Washington,
we know that when our eyes close,
they will open again
and see a better place.
You sound like her.
Kit, my friend.
See?
Not so different after all.
Slave catchers.
They're lookin' for a Black boy
and his British companion.
Jack Crawford.
A threat to be contained.
We can help each other.
I reject you.
It's important to know
who you're marrying.
To live in a skin
other than one's own
I think that given
the correct amount of time,
you may be able to appreciate me
in the way that I now appreciate you.
-I don't understand.
-I'm more complex than meets the eye.
[horses whinnying]
-[bell tolling]
-[people chattering]
[tense music playing]
[sniffs]
Oi.
Look at you.
Gonna be a proper toff.
[Gordon Alistair] Bloke like this,
probably never been hungry
-a day in his bloody life.
-Yeah.
But who wants to be him?
[laughing]
[sighs]
Get on with the rest of it, then.
-[clearing throat]
-Right.
This Rothburn,
he wants to prolong our business.
But I cannot have my ship
service a slave trader.
Not anymore.
You, you must get him
to sign this termination agreement.
And it's that simple, eh?
Well, he could get a little rough,
but nothing a man like you
can't handle.
Oh, he can handle it, alright.
Especially in that getup.
[laughing]
-What about the money?
-Ah.
[coins jingling]
The rest when you return
with the signed agreement.
[sighs]
And what's to say
we don't cut your throat
and take what's there?
[both laughing]
Never you mind, mate.
We're just havin' a go, that's all.
You hired us to do a job, Mr. McGee,
and we're gonna do a job.
You have to be convincing.
He has to really believe
that you are me.
I'll do what I need to, mate.
Come on then.
[bell ringing]
[dramatic music playing]
[Gordon as McGee]
Well, he signed it. Eventually.
Well done.
I plan to leave immediately.
-Mm.
-I'm off to Halifax
to meet my future bride
who will be my entree
into royal society.
And here's me never having
been past East London.
Well, what's to stop you?
You can keep the suit.
-You won't miss it?
-I have dozens.
-Dozens?
-[coins jingling]
[Paddy]
Money's all here. Let's go.
I'm grateful for you gentlemen.
Especially you.
To play a role so far from
your own part in all of it.
Astonishing.
[tense music playing]
-Paddy.
-[Paddy] Yeah, mate?
You ever felt like
you were meant for more?
[Paddy]
I reckon.
[inhales deeply]
-[knife stabbing]
-[gasping]
[grunting]
What have you done?
The Guv didn't clear this!
The guild will do for you, Gordon!
Do for us both!
[breathing heavily]
Sorry, Paddy.
[knife stabbing]
[grunting and panting]
[breathing heavily]
[sucking teeth]
William McGee.
William McGee.
[clearing throat]
William McGee.
[sighing]
[inhales sharply]
William McGee.
-Mr. William McGee?
-Yes.
[clerk] One way passage
from London to Halifax.
Ah.
Welcome aboard.
Thank you.
-[people chattering]
-[tense music playing]
Hello.
How are we doing today?
[epic music playing]
[sea birds calling]
[Tanna grunting lightly]
The silhouette is quite flattering.
Yes, but I was hoping for something
a little more modern.
[Mr. Goff clears throat]
I'm fully aware
of the modest shift in fashion
brought on by Queen Victoria,
but I like what I like.
-I hope that's fine with you.
-[Mr. Goff chuckles softly]
[Tanna softly grunts]
[people chattering]
[light piano music playing]
Two more?
[Sam] We should toast John,
seein' as how he got took by hunters
on your watch.
[chair scraping]
[Miss Angie]
Hey, that's enough!
That's enough.
So, what you was plannin'?
To beat up on Sam?
One of your own lieutenants?
[sniffing]
It's worse than I thought.
You're drunk on foolishness.
I can't win with you.
Bashed or sober.
You had your chance to win.
Now, if you're straight
and you want to talk
I'm listenin'.
[chattering and piano music continues]
[dramatic music playing]
[birds chirping]
-For you, sir.
-Thank you.
[tense music playing]
"Mr. Goff,
you're being played for a fool.
"McGee is not the man you think.
You will find him at the fighting docks.
Willard."
[faint shouting]
[crowd shouting loudly]
[punching thuds]
-[grunting]
-[crowd shouting]
Come on.
[onlooker]
Yeah, come on!
[overlapping shouting]
[crowd cheering]
[panting]
-[boxer grunting]
-[punching thuds]
[dramatic music playing]
-It's over!
-[crowd cheering]
Get up there!
Get up there!
[overlapping shouting]
Get up! Come on!
Come on!
[people chattering]
[Mr. Goff] No gentleman
would carry on like this.
What sort of fraud are you?
Come now, Mr. Goff.
A gentleman minds his business.
I'm sure Tanna would agree.
Look at the way
you're looking at me.
Is that how you look at her?
Is that why she feels like
she has to hide her truth?
Because I'm telling you, Mr. Goff,
I am her destiny,
and you, nothing.
You lied to me.
I'm the liar?
You lied about your daughter
to everyone.
I think we're both better off
if sleeping dogs keep snoring.
Eh, mate?
[tense music playing]
Our contract is binding.
[dramatic music playing]
[Farrow]
It's one thing to harbor a runaway,
but Washington's wanted for murder!
[Christopher "Titch" Wilde]
Mr. Farrow, I can explain.
This is Erasmus' doing.
You didn't think to tell me this sooner?
You've put us all
in grave danger!
-[agent] I'll see to the other boy.
-[Farrow] He's over there.
What should we do?
They will not lay a hand on you.
I will stay and defend you.
[Young Wash]
No, you should go.
Then, we will.
Harrison deserves
to see the world too.
-Don't worry, I'll get you out.
-[Nat Turner] Come on, boy, we're leaving.
Go to the Half-Seas-Over Tavern.
It's a safe place.
Ask for Captain Holloway.
He sails north.
He's part of our network.
Put this on,
it'll help you blend in.
Go out the back door
and stick to the alleyways.
[people chattering]
-[overlapping chatter]
-You know he's one of the first ones
to want to do that.
[laughing]
I know this one
would have tried to do it.
You would have tried to do that.
[laughing]
Look, come Fancy Mouth!
Where's little pirate?
Alright, now, go on.
[people continue chattering]
Someone gone and dead?
Us, if we don't find a Captain Holloway
who's headed north.
Are you acquainted?
Blue vest by the bar.
A bit of a drunk,
but he's a good man, that.
Solitary.
Sympathetic, too.
He won't endanger the little pirate.
Stay with her.
Captain Holloway?
Yeah?
Wash.
Sit.
You stayin' above water?
Remember, Barrington taught you
to fight against the waves.
[melancholy music playing]
Take this.
So you always know where you stand.
Negotiate?
No.
It's a gift.
[Titch]
So, you'll help us?
[Holloway]
Aye.
You and the boy
follow me to my ship.
It's at berth 21.
It's time.
Thank you.
[dramatic music playing]
-[people chattering]
-[sea birds calling]
[horses grunting]
Halt.
A man of your description was seen
leavin' the Half-Seas-Over Tavern
with a Black boy
and a white Englishman.
Fugitives travelin' together.
[Holloway]
I don't know anything about that.
[Mouse] Reckon we have us
a bit more of a word first.
What say you, friend?
You a captain?
[Holloway]
If not, my ship will pay the price.
[Mouse] Well, the man we seek
is also a captain.
That can't be a coincidence.
Can't it?
In a port city waist-high in captains?
-[Mouse] Then show me your ship.
-[worker] No scraps today!
-Get outta here!
-[Titch shushing]
[worker]
Go on, get!
[shushing]
[horse nickering]
[suspenseful music playing]
[Mouse] Come on.
Where's Holloway?
[panting]
I fear we cannot outrun them.
There's nowhere to hide out here.
-We can jump.
-Wash, no.
You can't swim.
They'll be here any moment.
-No, Wash!
-[water whooshing]
[grunting]
[Mouse]
Over here, boss!
-[footsteps thudding]
-[Titch and Young Wash panting]
[ominous music playing]
[quietly grunting]
[shushing]
[Mouse] I think I see them!
Over there, come on.
[footsteps thudding]
[panting]
Wash, he's here.
Let's go. Come on.
[melancholy music playing]
Come on, now.
You're almost there.
I got you. I got you.
[grunting]
There you go.
[exhales deeply]
-[Titch grunting]
-[Holloway] Come on.
[both panting]
You okay?
[breathing deeply]
Capital.
[dramatic music playing]
[glaciers cracking,
water splashing]
[whale calls]
[Titch]
Here we are once again, Wash.
Strangers in a strange land.
I wonder what research
has drawn my father here.
[wind whooshing]
[people chattering]
Excuse me, I'm looking
for a Monsieur Lapin?
[indistinct chatter]
Thank you.
Good day, gentlemen.
Uh, Captain Holloway sent us.
[muttering indistinctly]
[with French accent] He's surprised
to see another Black face in the Arctic.
-Bon.
-Right.
Holloway said that you might guide us
to the locale of a particular outpost.
That of James Wilde, the Englishman.
-We are here.
-[Titch] Right.
[Lapin]
James Wilde is here.
-Uh, how soon can we leave?
-I cannot take you, Monsieur.
There is a storm coming,
and this time of year,
the storms, they come
too strong, too fast,
and you do not want to tempt death, oui?
[sighs]
Well, if not your guide services,
perhaps I might purchase the map.
[Lapin] It is, as they say,
your funeral, Monsieur.
We'll see about that.
Come.
Judging from the topography,
there are no serious inclines
along the way.
It does look quite doable.
Those men did not think so.
[Titch] We have a map.
We'll soon have all the supplies we need.
Think how far we've come
for yet another adventure, Wash.
What's to stop us now?
Huh?
Shall we sally forth?
[dramatic music playing]
[wind whooshing]
[dramatic music continues]
Ah.
[sighs]
It's magnificent, isn't it?
[sighs]
This way.
[shudders]
I'm quite sure my father's camp
is just on the other side
of that mountain.
[dramatic music continues]
[wind whooshing]
[shivering]
[ice crackling]
Titch. Titch.
[ice cracking]
-Titch, the ice!
-[Titch screams]
Titch!
-[screaming]
-Titch!
[Titch yelps]
Titch!
-[people chattering]
-[birdsong]
[gentle music playing]
[Wash]
Let's make you a home.
It just needs a bit
of heartbreak and hosannas.
A bit of magic.
[gentle music continues]
[grunting]
[gentle music continues]
[sighs]
[chuckles]
[chuckles]
[muffled shouting]
I hope the horse ride
was to your liking.
I do appreciate this time spent with you.
Well, how can a woman resist an outing
of "unimaginable splendor"?
Well, you'll have to forgive
the occasional rhetorical flourish.
If I were to become more agreeable
about our arrangement, will you
Tanna, I find myself
despising this term, "arrangement."
Is it too audacious of me
to want your love?
[scoffs] Well, one would
call that running before walking.
Well, then I shall be the fastest walker
you ever laid your eyes upon.
Well, I'd want your assurances
you'd honor your word.
-You'd pay our mortgage?
-Certainly.
-Taxes?
-Of course.
-Maintenance?
-All business then, is it?
Do you have a problem with that?
Very well.
As my father said,
this would be a business transaction.
Rest assured, you and your father
would be taken care of financially.
And in the meantime
I will do whatever I can
to make sure that you're happy.
And if you're ever not,
I can only presume
that you will let me know
each and every time,
which I will welcome with open arms.
Now shall we?
Where are you taking me?
Did you think the lovely ride
was the extent of the splendor?
[horse neighing]
Your father was kind enough
to inform me of your passion.
[gentle music playing]
[McGee sighs deeply]
[Tanna Goff] [chuckles softly]
Never seen anything quite as beautiful.
That is your wedding gift.
[Tanna] The piano is lovely,
but I cannot accept it.
-I'm sorry, it's just
-You love another.
I've come to understand the truth
of certain things now.
You have feelings
for this Jack Crawford.
-Mister, I
-But I believe in us.
And I hope that,
given the correct amount of time,
you might come to believe the same.
And I can offer you something
which he never could.
A life free from terrible danger.
Speak plainly, sir.
I met a man
yesterday, formidable.
A hunter, I presume, and he promised
a dark fate for your friend.
He even asked for my help in the matter.
-He what?!
-But I rejected him.
Was his name Willard?
Yes, a devil sent to tempt.
I looked into his eyes
and I heard your words.
"Be more than what
the world expects of you."
I'm trying to be better, Tanna.
Because of you.
Then I have need
of your carriage.
Shall I go about the rest
of my day on foot?
I need your help
if I'm to warn Mr. Crawford in time.
You are asking me to aid
my competitor for your heart.
I'm asking you to do the right thing,
not the easy thing
or the convenient thing.
Are you the man
you say you are?
The man I asked you to be?
Very well.
To Miss Angie's.
I'll show you the way.
[dramatic music playing]
[horse whinnying]
[people chattering]
[tapping glass]
[object clanging]
Hey, Jack?
-[Miss Angie] Stranger?
-Hey.
What brings you here?
The boy.
Where the boy?
-What, you ain't see him outside?
-Miss Angie!
[panting]
Where's Wash?
So, you her, huh?
[Miss Angie]
Medwin.
Where's Wash?
Oh, God.
He took him.
Willard is still alive.
Tanna, what
[tense music playing]
[wagon rattling]
[horse chortling]
-[Wash grunting]
-[rope rustling]
[rope creaking, tearing]
-[thuds]
-[grunting]
-[John Willard] Whoa!
-[muffled exclaiming]
-[horse whinnying]
-[tense music continues playing]
I will find you, Mr. Washington!
Even if you run
to the ends of the Earth
[Willard's voice echoing]
I will find you!
[dramatic music playing]
♪♪
[music fades out]
[fanfare playing]