The Abandons (2025) s01e06 Episode Script

1
[Constance] We are at a crossroads, Fiona.
My pursuit of your land is not greed.
- It is survival.
- [dramatic music playing]
Until we have weapons, there will be
no talk of any favor we pay in return.
I can deliver weapons.
My friend, the guns that you sold us.
Where the fuck are they?
It's a very interesting story, huh?
- [guns firing]
- [townsfolk clamoring]
[Elias] Go on, Trisha! I'll cover you!
[rifle firing]
Winston, is that you?
[Garret] I have never seen anyone
handle a weapon quite like that.
Let's hope you never do again.
[Constance] Yesterday's danger,
it will only get worse.
I need enough of Jasper Hollow
to show a significant profit.
You and the others
keep the rest of your land.
- [Trisha] How did you vote?
- We voted yes.
[Constance] Maybe now,
they have a chance to help us move on.
[dark music playing]
[Miles] Settled?
Fiona?
Fiona, what happened?
[dark music building]
[Miles] Fiona, stop!
Enough!
What happened in there?
She knows.
Knows what?
She knows the body isn't Willem.
She went on about letters.
She blames Dahlia.
"Her poor boy."
I could have ripped her fucking eyes out.
What have you done, Fiona?
- What have you done?
- I've done the right thing.
I told her no.
[dramatic music building]
[screaming]
[door slams]
Ma'am! Are you all right?
[intriguing music playing]
Lock the door, Xavier.
[music fades]
I couldn't sleep.
Too many things in my head.
Took to keeping busy.
The deal.
Van Ness, it's…
It's done?
Aye.
I'll tell of it all.
Let me clean up a bit.
Meet you all at market.
[knock on door]
That will be all.
Apologies for disturbing you.
Nelly Books, Red Bird's counsel,
paid a call last night.
Cavalry made concessions.
Red Bird has agreed to meet.
Talk peace.
They may not have a need for guns.
And this meeting…
When and where?
Believe midday.
Cat Creek.
Woods bordering Cayuse land.
Nothing to be done.
It's now an effort
of State and Tribal Affairs.
And what of my effort?
Those guns soaked my town in blood,
killed a child.
A debt is owed.
What is it you want from them?
Fiona and the others
denying my generosity,
it forces the need of a sharper sickle.
And so,
I now need to rid Jasper Hollow
of its stubborn weeds.
And if Cayuse rebels
are swinging those blades,
no one questions who and why.
Small-minded fear will see it as just…
another senseless attack
by brutal savages.
And the Cayuse get nothing in exchange.
Jack…
You know how much I respect
the people who have walked
on this land before us.
I entrusted the care
of the one I love most
to the kindness and wisdom of a good Cree.
And that loved one?
What would Emmet think of all this?
An act of a godless soul.
And a mind gone mad.
[tense music playing]
Thank you, Jack.
For everything.
Family matters being what they now are,
I think it best that you…
settled your affairs here…
and move on.
Find Mr. Roache.
Right away, missus.
Jack!
The Jasper Hollow deal.
They turned it down.
[laughs] No.
They said yes.
He was joyous! He…
We…
Why would he lie to me?
Throwing this scare to Red Bird
is all about saving the gun deal?
You have concerns?
- Are they one of risk or conscience?
- [laughs]
It's best I don't
lean too heavy into either.
I'll put Dupar to it,
and talk to our informant in the cavalry.
See if we can undermine this peace.
Mr. Roache.
Xavier, I…
- Last night, I need to tell you that--
- I am aware, Constance.
I was a timely distraction.
And it was a lovely thing.
But I'll give it no more weight than that.
Yes.
- That's good.
- [knock on door]
- I'm sorry.
- I believe we're done here, son.
I'll see to the task, ma'am.
The task that Mr. Roache
is referring to is--
None of my concern.
I have learned, Mother,
pursuing your trust is a wasted effort.
I will take to any task you require.
I saw Jack with a packhorse.
Is he headed north,
collecting the new survey facts?
Sit down.
[Jack] There's no changing her mind.
Mother is not thinking clearly, Jack.
It's this pressure from Vanderbilt.
I made a promise to your father
to stay on here,
help any way I could.
[tensely] I cannot see
how it is I help anymore.
Father loved you like a brother, Jack.
Your Cree remedies,
they eased his pain, but…
your stillness comforted his mind.
He knew we needed that.
[incredulously] Cavalry soldier.
What's going on, Jack?
[expectant music playing]
Why is that cavalry man
talking to Mr. Roache?
I don't know.
- Jack, what is it? How can I--
- Just…
- Wait here.
- No!
I cannot just wait here anymore!
I just…
I need someone to tell me the truth
so I know how to help!
Please!
You're right, son.
Get your horse and a gun.
My final service to your father.
[darkly intriguing music playing]
No school today, teacher?
- It's a Synod holy day.
- Ah.
I guess I just like to see you
in that handsome suit.
Right.
Thank you.
Perhaps…
next time I am well-suited,
you'll spend a day with me.
Walk along the delta?
Picnic?
Perhaps.
And it's not just the suit I like.
Work to do, girl.
Oh, Albie.
Now you know how it feels.
[Albert laughs]
[Garret] The cavalry soldier.
Is that why we're following our own men?
Your men are on their way
to commit treason.
Mother knows this?
Mother requested it.
Red Bird, he needed
weapons to fight the war.
She needs a deadly favor to win hers.
- Jesus. The Hollow.
- Yes.
And, today, Red Bird sits down
with Cayuse chiefs and Indian Affairs.
Talk of a potential peace
to end all fighting.
Your mother can't let that happen.
Trish. Good morning.
- I trust that you had--
- I trust nothing!
Was it all a ruse?
What?
A cruel story?
Your feelings?
That you've loved me since the day we met?
- I told no story.
- Some sly game to open my heart?
Knowing it would open my legs?
- I-- I don't--
- Elias, I am so lost in all of this.
[menacing music playing]
[soldier] Mornin'.
Hyah!
[menacing music fading]
[Elias] We are owed an explanation.
Help us to understand
why you turned down the deal.
I sat with Constance.
I looked her in the eye.
She knows that wasn't Willem's body,
suspects us.
All she wants is land.
There's no trust in a woman
who'd trade family for dirt.
[Miles] It wasn't your place.
We voted.
It was not a simple matter
of stick and stone.
[Elias] No.
It's a matter of you needing
to have your hand on every fucking lever.
[angrily] She turns everything her way.
[dark music playing]
Her divine madness
deciding every fucking move!
As if Trisha
wasn't leading you by her skirt.
This is not the time.
This is about the deal.
Your brother can't hear reason.
Van Ness whispers in his ear.
Is that so wrong?
Huh?
That I want to live a life
that's not twisted up by piety and rage?
That I want to love someone?
We are trapped in that house with you.
[Fiona softly] Hmm.
You fuck one rich cunt,
and you think you're better
than all of us, son? Is that it?
[Elias grunts]
[Fiona grunts]
- [Fiona] I'll fuckin' kill ya!
- [Elias] Get your hands off me!
- [Dahlia] Stop! What are you doing?
- [Albert] Mam, stop!
- [Dahlia] Stop!
- [Walter] Enough!
[yelling] Enough! Enough!
Enough.
You asked me to join you.
To vote.
To fight.
But fighting is all you do.
You've no excuse.
You're not even blood.
This is madness.
It's not fucking madness.
We're family.
You talk of family.
You dressed a soldier up
in Willem's clothes
and you fed him to the fucking wolves.
- What?
- I saw it.
Papa, why didn't you say anything?
What of your priest, Fiona?
Was that you as well?
Tell them.
[somber music playing]
I gave the soldier to the fucking wolves.
I turned down Van Ness.
I killed my own priest.
And I would do it
a thousand fucking times over.
Because this is my home.
This is my fucking home!
And I would kill for this family.
[poignant music playing]
[soft piano melody playing]
[slamming keys angrily]
Ugh!
[expectant music playing]
[revolver clicks]
Think we didn't know
we was being followed?
Huh?
White man's got you soft, Cree.
Your tracking skills are shit.
[revolver clicks]
Not as shit as yours.
[suspenseful music playing]
[suspenseful music continues]
[bones cracking]
[tense music playing]
[exhales]
- No!
- [rifle firing]
- [all clamoring]
- [dramatic music playing]
[speaking Cayuse]
- [dramatic music continues]
- [clamoring continues]
- [groans]
- [dramatic music building]
[man groaning]
[man] Fucking Cree!
[screaming]
[music fading]
Death of that Cayuse…
[sighs] The fault
does not land on you, Jack.
It's not just one death, son.
Careless hands
playing with the fate of peace?
Thousands will die.
We saw this man on the pass with another.
Skinny, milky eye.
- No personal documents.
- [items clatter]
Except this.
Every uniform and badge
within a day's ride.
I want them hunting the milky-eyed fuck.
I have a few questions before I hang him.
Next time Roache sees me,
likely to put a bullet in my head.
Your mother will see
everything I did today as a betrayal.
I am a risk.
Where will you go?
I have a bit more mending to do.
As do you.
Your family needs you, son.
A strong hand.
Calm mind.
You have to help her see clearly.
I know.
[sighs]
I am in your debt, Jack Cree.
Mr. Van Ness?
I found quite a few records on that name.
A. Winston.
The Cree interfered.
Followed my men.
And your son was with him!
Garret now privy to all endeavors.
Give it a day.
Then reach out to Red Bird.
We still have a transaction to complete.
Something more pressing, ma'am.
The cavalry know
Dupar had a hand in the killing.
If they find him, he'll give us both up.
Well, then you will find him first.
My crew is already looking for him.
And the Cree?
Something I need to do there?
Jack is gone.
He's no longer in my employ.
I will take care
of my son's enlightenment.
[intriguing music playing]
[door opening]
His Cree remedies.
He is not coming back for them.
I know.
You spoke to Roache?
I did.
At least now you understand
why I wanted to distance you from it all.
Deception.
Treason.
Murder.
What mother would not want
to distance her children from that?
Your father's good caution
weighing heavier on you than I thought.
Clearly I have become
the evil you must now run from.
I am not running from you, Mother.
I am bringing you back home.
No more murder.
We use the law.
Adam Winston was a Special Marshal.
Reported directly to Andrew Jackson.
Helped free Texas from the grip
of Mexican land barons.
Then, for reasons unknown,
he turned.
Killed eight Rangers in one night.
Cavalry unit sent to pursue him,
slaughtered.
That was 20 years ago.
But his wanted status still very active.
Why are you showing me all of this?
Our quiet, bespectacled distiller,
I am quite certain, is Adam Winston.
Oh my God.
His skill with a gun.
This is how we take the Hollow.
Miles sells to us, or he hangs.
With his access to the river,
it breaks Fiona's grip.
The others will have to give in.
Abandons or not,
gives us enough source of profit
to appease Vanderbilt.
Keep us growing.
And you did all of this
on your own?
Yes, Mother.
And it is the only way we move forward.
I will not allow any more talk
of rebels or treason.
[poignant music playing]
Then we do it your way.
[knock on door]
That will be Jenny to do a thorough clean.
- [Jenny yelps]
- [pot clattering]
[Jenny whimpering]
No.
Shut up!
[tense music playing]
[indistinct yelling]
I need money, silver,
a couple horses, food, and water.
Get myself south.
The boy! Have him fetch it!
We just hand that all over to you?
Why the fuck do you think I'm here?
You got just as much to lose as I do.
I get caught,
and I'll tell the law about Mama.
Outlaws, guns in the cellar, treason,
murder.
Ain't enough silver on the coast
stop a rope tightening around her neck.
Get him what he wants.
[tense music continues]
[pot clatters]
[both grunting]
You're a fool, boy!
Enough! Don't hurt him!
Just… No!
[panting] I will get you what you want.
You have my word.
All right.
Go on.
Get!
Mother.
- [gun firing]
- [Jenny screams]
[gun fires]
[dark music playing]
I still don't think
what you did was right.
But things I said in anger…
Anger I deserved.
Things that came out of my foul mouth…
hateful.
I am sorry.
[gentle music playing]
Mr. Van Ness?
All those things he said
about what the missus did?
Dupar was quite mad, Jenny.
That was plain to see.
Why then was he brought in
to protect us with Mr. Roache,
who shot him dead?
Sorry, sir.
Chewing at your ear.
I'll quiet myself now.
Imagine the sheriff
will sort things out come morning.
Yes.
I am sure it will get sorted.
[sighs]
Stay at it.
I will get Hilde and Beatrice
to come help with this mess.
You all right, son?
Jenny was also a victim of Dupar's rage.
He whipped me, killed her.
Would have harmed Mother
had you not done your job.
As protection.
[sighs] Jenny will gossip.
Dupar's babbling of murder and treason.
[somber music playing]
From this moment on…
nothing will ever happen in this family
without your knowledge and support.
[somber music continues]
- [Jenny] No! No! No!
- [gun firing]
My God.
Jenny.
[expectant music playing]
Forgive the trespass.
You here to deliver her next demand?
Mrs. Van Ness has no more demands.
She will ravage the Hollow
by forcing the hand
of an unsettled nation.
What's that mean, Cree?
Ready yourselves.
Hell is comin'.
[dramatic music playing]
Wake the others. Now.
["Wicked Ones" by Dorothy playing]
This night
Ain't for the faint of heart ♪
For the faint of heart
For the faint of heart ♪
This night
Ain't for the faint of heart ♪
'Cause the faint of heart
Don't fall apart ♪
[rock song continues]
Ain't no sleep when the wicked play ♪
All we do is yodel-ay-hee-hoo ♪
Hee-hoo ♪
Ain't no love when the wicked run ♪
All we do is yodel-ay-ah ♪
Ay-ah, ay-ah ♪
- We're the wicked ones, wicked ones ♪
- [song fades]
[somber music playing]