The Lowdown (2025) s01e07 Episode Script

1
Future Governor Washberg.
Pastor Mark Sternwick.
This is Marty Brunner.
He's my head of security and good friend.
[Pastor Mark]
We got big plans for this place.
You don't have a problem
selling to us at One Well, do you?
I do not.
- Can you read this?
- [Deidra] Looks like Chutto.
What do you want?
Listen, I'm just trying
to find out what happened to Dale.
- I barely talked to him.
- Okay.
He hung with Grandpa most of the time.
Frank Martin who owns Akron
came to me with a great deal.
It was almost too good to be true.
[Frank] Where the fuck do you get off
calling Donald Washberg?
I talk to him. You talk to me.
He wants to hear about Dale.
I told him where the land came from.
Dale Washberg's land?
That was my grandpa's land.
Did Dale ever mention
a guy named Chutto to you?
I've never heard of this guy.
Dale wrote this Chutto into his will.
He's given him his share
of Indian Head Hills.
Do you have any idea how big this is?
- [Frank] Betty Jo?
- I just heard something
that could be real important to you.
[Pastor Mark] We have been incarcerated.
White families
are being attacked every day.
In the media, in the press,
our government, everywhere.
Now, in prison, the white people
stay with the white people.
Blacks with Blacks, Indians with Indians.
Mexicans with Mexicans.
But in there, we had more power…
'cause God made us different.
Thank you, God.
"April 22nd, 1889 was a special day
in the history of our state.
Fifty thousand brave men
rushed out into the vast empty prairies
and staked their claim."
I'm so proud to see this community grow.
But we are not only building a sanctuary
where white men and women can live
free from the evils of secular society.
Listen to me now. We're going to
take back what we have lost.
"We honor them today
by reenacting The Land Run.
We honor the belief
that every man, woman, and child
deserves the right to own property
and live by the labor
of their own hands."
[Pastor Mark] Our education system
is trying to tell us
how to treat our white children.
Our education system is trying to tell us
how to teach our white children.
Children,
this vast empty land is your destiny.
[eerie music playing]
[Pastor Mark] Just like the two men
who fought over that well.
Sometimes violence… brings good fortune.
We are just the first
of many holy communities.
We are warriors for God.
And when we build our paradise,
our power will be limitless.
- Thank you, God.
- Thank you, Jesus.
[protestors clamoring, ululating]
Shit!
[clamoring, ululating continues]
Donald Washberg.
You're hosting a Land Run reenactment
to what?
To mock us? To rub in our face
that this land was outright stolen?
Irene, we're just… we're just trying to
reenact some bit of Oklahoma history.
Some things should not be celebrated.
When is our history gonna be taught?
You're even dressed like one of us.
Did you know Will Rogers was Cherokee?
Oklahoma is home of the red men.
Remember that.
[clamoring, ululating]
Irene.
Typical.
- [Donald] I-I know our
- [speaking Cherokee]
[ululating continues]
I wanna help. I I do.
Just Uh.
["Good Times" playing]
When I think of all the good times
That I've wasted having good times ♪
When I think of all the good time
That's been wasted having good times ♪
[Lee] Elijah, I have
one question for you…
Do you wanna change history?
Do you want to change
the history of the law?
- Lee, no.
- Are you wearing a hat?
- Yeah, I'm wearing a hat.
- Yeah, take that off.
- The hat's my thing.
- You didn't invent the hat.
It's weird. Take it off.
I can't talk to you with the hat on.
- It's not weird.
- Will you take it off? I'm serious.
- Get a kangol.
- Jeez.
[whispers] This is the story of my life.
Like, the shit I have uncovered is insane.
[whispers] What if more people die?
Yeah, okay. Well, they have.
Oh, God!
Yeah, but they're bad guys, so you
don't have to cry salty tears for them.
[whispering continues] This sounds
like it could be dangerous.
The guys who wanted me murdered
have been murdered,
so it's hard for me
not to see that as a positive.
You should probably
start parking out back.
No, no, no, no, no. I've got it.
I've got the smoking gun.
I saw it with my own eyes. Trust me.
[normal] You have proof?
Not just another feeling?
[normal] Concrete evidence. Like,
you remember Watergate, Deep Throat?
That's-That's like me.
I mean, this is the kind of article
that could change an election, you know.
As long as we get it published in time.
[sighs]
Okay, I'm curious.
When can I expect this piece, Lee?
You're gonna get it soon, all right?
I just need to have, like, a quick
five-minner, and then Pulitzer Prize.
[inhales deeply, grunts]
[exhales]
[clears throat]
Oh. Thanks.
Say you're making a purchase,
a motorboat or maybe a sports car.
Can I write this off? Can I deduct this?
You give me a call,
I'm gonna give you the facts.
- It's probably gonna be a yes for me
- What do you know about wills?
- I'm with a client, Lee.
- Uh-huh.
Hey, dude.
So what do you know about wills?
- Oil wells?
- No, no, like last will and testament.
Specifically in the state of Oklahoma.
Like, can you handwrite one?
As long as the testator writes
and signs and dates it.
Yeah,
it doesn't even need to be notarized.
Okay. And that'll hold up in court?
Well, the family can contest it,
and they probably will, no pun intended.
But as long as you have a good lawyer,
then you don't need to worry about that.
All right. I need to get a good lawyer.
[chuckles]
I am a good lawyer.
[country music playing on speakers]
Betty Jo, you better not have drug me
all the way out here for some bullshit.
No, it's no bullshit. And that better not
be a bag full of ripped up newspapers.
I'm a man of my word.
Should we ask Alan about that? Oh, wait.
I had nothing to do with it.
Sure.
I wasn't the only person he worked for.
He was a rough customer
mixed up with even crazier motherfuckers.
I don't wanna know. I just want my money.
Hey. You get it
when I get what I came for.
Well, I have to count it, don't I?
- Here?
- In the bathroom.
You're not gonna slip out a window,
are you?
You think this is the type of place
that has a window in the john?
This ain't Southern Hills.
And, Frank, there's two people with guns
that are in this bar,
people I grew up with in Avant,
and if you're in a pickle,
they're the type of people
you want having your back.
You know what I mean?
["The Future's Not
What It Used to Be" playing]
[zipper opens]
[gasps]
I left Decatur, hell bent to forget ♪
Bought a ticket back
To Skowhegan, Maine ♪
[song ends]
Okay.
This is the location of the will.
If that document gets out, you're fucked.
And how do I know
that this is the real thing?
I know the guy who saw it.
- Who?
- [sighs]
Lee Raybon.
That hippie writer?
He was sniffing around,
so… I became friends with him.
Poor guy. He thought we were doing
all this detective work together.
Squawks like a crow.
You know he's not making it up?
I'm sure of it.
- Great meeting you guys.
- You too.
- What was your name again, sweetie?
- Jenna.
That's right. Bye now.
[door opens]
[door closes]
- Try it again.
- [engine cranks]
Nothing.
Man, I swear that's the last time
I let you take my car.
- Sorry, Cyrus.
- Yo, Cyrus, I gotta ask you something.
Make an appointment, Lee.
I got papers to deliver.
What's wrong with your car?
Acting funny all day. Now it's done.
[engine cranks]
All right, I'll take you in the van.
All right, fuck it.
Put some wear on your shit.
These the papers?
Yeah.
That Monte Carlo, man.
It's too much trouble.
[Ray humming]
- Hey.
- Oh. Where is he?
- No, it's just me.
- Thank God.
I wanted to talk.
[sighs] My blood pressure just spiked.
Come on in, come on in.
So, where is the old man anyway?
I don't know. I haven't seen him today.
You haven't?
He's supposed to come
to a parent-teacher conference.
He is? You haven't
talked to him about it?
He doesn't listen to me.
Oh, honey, he doesn't listen to anybody.
I'm sure he's out somewhere
acting like a hillbilly Indiana Jones
trying to uncover God knows what.
That boy is just obsessed
with the Washbergs.
Yeah, but I mean, he is right though.
There is something weird going on.
I was trying to help him
figure it out, but…
Hey, maybe you can talk to him.
Tell him I'm good at this stuff.
Tell him I can help him.
I mean, he listens to you.
- Oh, the hell he does.
- Yes, come on, he does.
Please.
Honey… [inhales sharply, exhales]
if Uncle Ray could teach you
one thing, let it be this.
Are you listening to me?
Hey, now listen up.
The world is corrupt.
It's all kinda effed up.
There's people like your daddy
who fight it.
And then there's other kinds of people
who use that corruption
to get what they want.
[Heather] Can I help you, mister?
Yeah, that'd be great.
I'm looking for an old guy named Arthur.
It really don't matter what your daddy
uncovers or what corruption he finds.
'Cause it just keeps coming.
No matter what, it keeps coming.
What for?
[Ray] It's like a never-ending game
of Whac-A-Mole.
I wanna give him some money.
[Ray] That's not to say
that the truth isn't important.
It is.
I know,
but it's not worth getting hurt over.
Or getting put in the trunk of a car.
And it's not worth
getting those you love hurt.
Thank you.
[Ray] Sometimes the best that people
like you and me can do is stay out of it.
Don't get caught up in all that bullshit.
[doorbell rings]
Yeah?
Arthur Williams?
Yeah.
My name's Frank Martin. May I come in?
Now, you can either get to school
or you can help me dust all this shit.
Your choice.
I think I'll stick to school.
[laughs] I don't blame you.
[Pastor Mark] Well, this goes beyond just
trying to keep these boys out of trouble.
I'm helping them grow as men
and creating a community for them.
All right, y'all bow your heads,
close your eyes.
[reporter] No blacks, no Jews,
whites only.
Shit! What was that?
It's a preacher
at a place called One Well.
- One Well? Hmm.
- You heard of it?
- Yeah, I think I have.
- You've been there?
Hell no. And I wouldn't recommend
you going there, either.
Thanks for the tip.
You bet.
[Pastor Mark] But this is not about race.
I mean, this is
about keeping community together.
I mean, we have to be able to decide
who we wanna live with.
I mean, you don't just let
anybody into your house.
[Marty] Hello?
Hello?
[eerie music playing]
[sighs]
[tapping keys]
[person groaning] No!
[Marty chuckles] Church.
Oh, shit.
[sighs, breathes heavily]
[eerie music continues]
[men shouting and cheering]
- [man] All right, come on, man.
- [man 2] All righty, let's go.
[music continues]
- [men hooting and laughing]
- [person screaming]
That will teach you… [indistinct]
[continues screaming]
[men clucking, hooting continues]
[person groaning]
[person screaming in distance]
[screaming continues]
[screaming]
Oh, shit.
[Lee] Listen, man. I need a lawyer,
a land lawyer, you know anybody?
I know gun lawyers, drug lawyers.
I know baby mama lawyers,
baby daddy lawyers,
accident, mesothelioma lawyers.
Meso… I don't know. Fuck.
I know all kinds of lawyers, man,
but you know what?
After we finish dropping papers,
there's a guy you should meet.
- He's my cousin.
- All right, but you trust him?
I trust him more than I trust you.
That's good.
[Lee] Can you believe this guy
wants to be governor so fucking bad
that he's willing to take a hit out
on his own brother?
You're dealing with greedy people, and
greedy people don't know right from wrong.
You get in their way, you get tossed.
Doesn't matter
if you're a journalist or a preacher.
Look at Greenwood. They massacred
Black folks and Indigenous folks,
and they did it for greed and hate.
Look at them.
They knew what they were doing.
They were making Tulsa white.
They were making a system.
They were creating a wealth class,
and they were knocking down lot
after lot, dropping shit from planes.
Regular hateful folks don't drop shit
from planes. That takes hate and power.
These people were hateful.
These people had a superiority complex.
These people had money in their eyes.
Those are the people
that drop shit from planes.
And whatever it was,
whatever that thing that was fueling
the fire underneath, it's still here.
You get in the way of that,
you're gonna get smoked.
Be smart like me.
Take care of what's in front of you.
Be smart like me,
and they can't touch you.
Fuck, yeah!
Okay, listen, man.
[sighs] Hi, um [smacks lips]
I got some friends, and they're natives.
This rich rancher dude,
he willed them his land.
But if they go public with the will,
they could get in a lot of trouble
with the family. I mean these are
- These are scary people.
- Mmm.
- [Cyrus] Dead rancher.
- [Lee] Yeah, he
[Cyrus snaps finger] Dale Washberg.
[Lee] Okay, Yeah, yeah.
Right. I just figured that
I could bring them in here.
They can show the will to you
and maybe you'd help them out.
I mean, I-I got cash.
But it's not about mon
[sighs, smacks lips]
What you getting out of this deal?
Well, you know, I consider myself
kind of a truthstorian. You know?
One of them caring
white boys I see, yeah.
- Well…
- Yeah, as you can see,
I am pretty busy with a lot.
I got no room for
Look… [stammering] I know how
it all sounds, right, with the Washbergs.
I-I get it. It's just. See, it's…
There's this hate, you know,
that's simmering underneath everything,
and it's got power, and it's got greed,
and it's got money in its eyes, right?
And they're all mixed up in, uh, um…
You know, a superiority complex, right?
And whatever it is that's fueling it all,
right, it's still there.
[whispering] Down there.
Fueling everything, and I wanna fight it…
[normal] …and-and, Daymond,
I want you to fight it with me.
[sighs]
I don't know what the fuck you just said,
but you with my cousin.
My cousin good people, all right?
But what you care about Indian lands for?
Look, man, if I see an injustice,
right, and I don't do anything,
what does that make me?
[snaps fingers]
I'll help you.
You will?
'Cause I ain't scared
of no rich whites. Aight?
I don't care what your name is.
- Washberg, Wilberg… [stammers]
- [laughs]
Wilson Picket.
I don't care. I ain't scared.
This is great.
This is absolutely great. Okay, yeah.
I told you he'd know what was up. He was
always like that, since we were kids.
Reading, studying, getting A's
while we were skipping school.
- Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck.
- What?
I got a parent-teacher conference.
Look, it's on the calendar. Yeah.
- I swear to God, you stress me out.
- Oh, fuck!
- I assured her I'd be there.
- What am I supposed to do?
I don't know, man. Just wait in the van.
Well, drive around
I know you didn't just ask me
to drive around while you're in
- a parent-teacher conference.
- I'll drop you off, okay?
- It's on the way.
- Come on, man.
["Head Over Heels" playing]
Yo, one second, one second,
you remember that gun you gave me?
- Yeah.
- I lost it.
How the fuck did you lose a gun?
[stutters] I don't know. It's…
You don't wanna know.
[clicks tongue, sighs]
Hold on, wait.
This one already comes with bullets.
Don't take it
to your little parent-teacher conference.
Okay.
Thank you!
[song continues]
[Frank] Mr. Williams, I've been told
that you're in possession of a will
that says you own a piece of property
at a place called Indian Head Hills.
Problem is there's been a mistake.
That will is null, and that land
is in the process of getting sold,
and because this will is fraudulent, well,
you could be in a whole heap of trouble
if you're holding onto it,
and we don't want that.
Just so we have the paperwork in order,
I need to take that document
to the lawyers.
Say: "Here's the thing we've been fretting
over, and it's all good. No harm done."
And it's only fair I leave you
with a little something.
One thousand US dollars, cash.
For your trouble.
You give me the paper,
and I give you the money.
[stammers] How's your brother Tim, Jimmy?
Is he still married to Dorothy?
She was a real party girl, that one.
You were real drunk, and you fell down,
and that girl, she, she sat on your head.
[laughs]
I'm coming, I'm coming, I'm coming.
How long they been going?
[Francis] Like, a while now.
I'm sorry I'm late.
I got totally bogged down at work.
- Dad!
- Just gonna fly in there. Be right back.
Hey, sorry I'm late.
Hey, big guy. Sit down.
I mean, you got this.
Hey, what happened?
What the hell is he even doing here?
That's between your mom and me.
- What is?
- What? You.
You are between your mom and me.
I asked him to come.
Why would you do that?
Because he's in my life.
[huffs]
And he's going to be in my life,
and he's going to be my stepdad.
And you're gonna call him that?
Dad, it's the truth.
I shouldn't have walked out of there.
[clicks tongue, sucks teeth]
Fuck… I can't go back in there now.
You do great in school.
Come on, hon… [stammers]
I don't need to listen to some nerd
teacher tell me about how great you are.
I know how great you are.
Hon, if they don't think you're great,
they can go straight to hell.
- I don't know what I'm doing here?
- For me.
No, don't do that. That's not me. That's
not the way I'm gonna show up for you.
I'm not gonna be one of the parents who's
at every dance recital and soccer game.
I'm gonna parent you by trying to show
you what a good man looks like, all right?
I'm gonna show you
how to follow your dreams.
What?
I just want you to be my dad.
Yeah, well,
and I wanna be somebody worth admiring.
Dad, I've always admired you.
[Lee] You good?
No.
[whispers] Fuck.
[door closes]
[sighs]
[phone buzzing]
- Hello.
- Hello, Lee. Marty.
- What the fuck do you want?
- There's something I need you to see.
Yeah, what's that?
Just get down to the
Crest Hill Burn Unit.
The Crest Hill Burn Unit?
Listen, motherfucker.
Get to the Crest Hill Burn Unit!
[line beeping]
[breathing through ventilator]
[Marty] I found him in the woods,
some kind of punishment.
Listen, you were right about Donald
being connected to those skinheads…
There's a church nearby
that Don was selling his land to.
There's a preacher, ex-con,
says he's building a community.
What kind of community?
Some kind of Nazi fantasyland
or some shit. Look, it's bad news.
But that is not Donald's land to sell.
What?
I just met the real owner.
[Arthur] Grandma Dolores
said he was a good man.
Always wore a suit. A white man suit.
If you could just give me the will.
I never met him.
He… He died before I was born.
I'm looking for a piece of paper
signed by Dale Washberg.
My pa, he was back in the woods.
Dale Washberg.
And the last thing he remembers hearing
was John saying…
I think you're really confused, grandpa.
…that that land will drive you crazy.
Oh, my God!
It has driven people nuts. You're nuts.
[chuckles]
They said it was a real hot summer.
A white man wanted to give land back to
the Indians. That's what you're saying?
Yeah, that, and then he was found dead.
- [scoffs]
- [chuckles]
[Frank] Fuck.
[clanking]
[paper rustles]
[door closes]
- [clanking continues]
- [Frank] Shit.
[paper rustles]
Hey, stop that! Hey.
- Sir, you stop that.
- Don't you fucking touch me!
[stammers]
I don't think Donald knows any of this.
Oh, come on. Bullshit!
It's-it's Frank, the Akron guy.
It's coming from him.
What? Frank Martin?
He brokered this whole deal.
Donald didn't even know who the buyer is.
Oh, come on, you sure?
[clanking]
[Arthur panting and groaning]
Just give me the will, and I'll go.
Put your hands down, Mr. Williams.
I'm not gonna hit you.
You know how humiliating it is
to shove an old man like that?
My God.
[gunshot]
[people clamoring]
Oh, shit!
What happened?
He shot him.
He's dead.
Fuck.
[engine starts]
Shit!
[pants]
- Let's go.
- Let's go.
[pants]
[Lee] Motherfucker!
- Fuck!
- Yeah, it's a blue truck, F-150,
plate number MAQ4B2.
We spotted him fleeing the scene
and followed.
[horn honking]
Frank Martin.
I'm pretty sure he's armed.
Goddamn it, old man, why'd you come
at me? Why the fuck did you come at me?
They're gonna alert the highway patrol.
How does Frank even know about
the fucking will? I only told one person.
- Who?
- Betty Jo Washberg.
[Marty] Oh, get the
fuck out of here. Hey!
- [Lee] Shit fuck.
- [Marty] Watch the road!
- [Marty] What the fuck, man?
- All right. All right.
- What the fuck?
- [tires squeal]
[Lee] Whoa!
[sighs]
[Lee] Oh, shit! Shit! Shit!
I got you, motherfucker.
- Come on!
- [engine stalls]
- Shit!
- What?
[Lee] Oh, shit!
[sighs]
- Frank.
- Trip, oh, thank God.
Frank?
Listen, now, I know you told me that
you wanted me to handle things on my own
and I… I did,
but there's been some trouble.
Calm down and talk to me.
Dale Washberg wrote a will.
And there's only one copy.
And I tracked it down.
Okay, good.
But, uh, he and I, we had a…
we had an altercation and he's dead.
[Frank stammers]
It was an accident, but he'd come at me.
He'd come at me with a gun.
Do you have the will with you?
Yeah, I do. But look, there
wasn't nothing I could do.
Okay, okay. Hey, hey. Shut up.
No more talking on the phone,
just meet me. I'm at One Well.
Trip, I told you. I told you that
pastor's crazier than a shithouse rat.
I ain't going out to One Well.
- You don't know what you're getting into.
- Oh.
They're not gonna hurt you. If they
wanted to, they could do it anywhere.
[breathing shakily]
Okay.
Don't hang onto the will.
Get rid of it. Now.
Okay, okay.
Shit.
She did this.
How could she fucking do this? Fucking…
[phone buzzing]
- [Betty Jo] Leave me a message.
- [line beeps]
You lying bitch!
You just got an old
man killed, all right?
I hope whatever you got out of this
was worth it,
because you are
nothing but fucking trash!
Hey, look… [pants] …Frank can't get far.
The police will get him.
We've been following this fucking guy
for 20 miles.
Did you see one highway patrolman?
Did you get an Amber Alert on your phone?
Look, they can find him.
Come on,
why did you even mention his name?
The guy does, like,
20,000 cop benefits a year.
- Come on, what were you even thinking?
- Don't blame this shit on me.
Oh, what, it's my fault?
I know what you're upset about.
Fuck!
Goddamn it. Fuck!
Hey, look,
I think I-I know where he's headed.
But out here, it seems white families
are being attacked every day.
In the media, in the
news. Our government.
You can see it
in the way that they treat us.
I'm so proud to see this community,
this congregation, grow.
Thank you, God. And thanks
to our great benefactor here. Thank you.
You see his truck?
I can't tell which one is his.
Shit. We gotta get closer.
Is that it?
Yeah, yeah.
All right. Here we go.
[sighs]
Hey, you can't just walk up in there.
Listen, if I get into trouble, just…
you'll have my back.
I'll give you a signal.
- What signal?
- I don't know.
- Something. We'll figure it out.
- What the f
Are you…
Oh, this motherfucker…
Wasn't I clear
that these are dangerous motherfuckers?
[Lee] I still got
a little Hunter S. Thompson in me.
We are just the first
of many holy communities,
communities that will sprout…
Oh, shit.
Please watch your language,
but come on in, son.
Everybody's welcome. Have a seat.
[groans] Uh…
I'm-I'm sorry, I…
There's been a terrible crime. And, um
A terrible crime?
Someone's been murdered.
[breathing shakily]
I'm-I'm looking for Frank Martin.
Shit, that's him.
[all scream]
- [Lee] This is a murderer!
- No!
- Hey, hey, Jimmy.
- No, no!
You're coming with me. Yes! Yes!
- He pulled a gun on me. I stood my ground.
- This man is a murderer.
Son, I don't know who you are,
but you shouldn't have come in here.
You killed him.
- I stood my ground. It's my right to
- Bullshit!
- He'd come at me with a gun.
- No! He's a bad guy. I mean it. Get him.
I stood my ground.
No. [panting] I'm not the bad guy.
He's the bad guy. Come on!
- Shoot him.
- No, no, no. He's a murderer.
No, he murdered somebody.
[birds chirping]