The Buccaneers (2023) s02e02 Episode Script

1
[Guy] It's been three months
since Jinny and I left England,
and in that time we've become acquainted
with an entirely new life.
Everything has changed,
except the way I feel.
I'm still dazed
by the speed of our escape.
Still haunted
by the million words left unsaid.
[sighs]
Having word of Nan
simply through newspapers is agony.
And I refuse to believe the headlines
which proclaim her constant joy.
[crowd cheering]
The bliss of their honeymoon tour.
Is Nan's happiness real?
I know the huge burden
this letter puts at your door…
but Nan has no truer or more loyal friend.
I am well aware that what I'm asking
will shatter the Tintagel marriage,
and yet, Lizzy, I must ask for your help.
Every fiber of me longs to run to Nan,
but this letter gives her the means
to come to me, to be with me.
My world is here now,
but it can be our world.
So, Lizzy,
please find a way to give Nan this letter.
Do what's right for Nan.
With endless gratitude, Guy.
["North American Scum" playing]
Do I gather the duke
and duchess are a sensation?
An exhausted sensation
delighted to be home.
[sighs, groans]
You have three months' worth
- of correspondence in the hall.
- Ah. And a lifetime to answer it.
Oh.
A triumphant tour
and best behavior… eventually.
Well done.
[Cora] Delighted to meet you.
I trust that your journey
wasn't too arduous.
Are we happy with "arduous"?
[Richard sighs]
Go for "difficult" to be safe.
She practically curtseys in her sleep.
[all chuckle]
- Cora, show them.
- Oh. Yes, Mother. [chuckles]
[chuckles]
And she walks like she's on wheels.
[Cora, Mrs. Merrigan chuckle]
That's very good.
Now, do you know your conversation topics?
Yes. The weather, the scenery,
the generosity of the hostess.
And you've learned your list of lords
and in which county they reside?
I believe I could guess what they all had
for breakfast.
- [sighs]
- Well, I believe you're ready.
[Mrs. Merrigan gasps, laughs]
So, this is it? I…
I've got butterflies. [chuckles]
You'll look after my precious girl?
Mrs. Merrigan,
we're merely polishing your jewel
to be presented to the world
for admiration.
[chuckles] So, they'll all be there
at this Tintagel feast?
Every year, before parliament opens,
the duke invites
all the most influential lords.
And your special invitation's
from the duchess.
You know, at your wedding, I shall wear
ostrich plumes that brush the ceiling.
- [women laughing]
- [chuckles] So will I.
[Cora, Mrs. Merrigan laugh]
[Mrs. Merrigan]
Oh, Cora. Tonight, your life begins.
[Cora chuckles]
[exhales deeply]
- How was that?
- Good.
- [maid] Your Grace.
- Thank you.
[sighs]
[door closes]
[crying]
[crying continues]
[sniffling, breathing heavily]
[people outside chattering]
- Your Grace.
- Lizzy!
Nan! [gasps] Oh, my Nan!
I missed you so much. Oh, how's it been?
The papers made it sound crazy.
The crowds!
It's been madness everywhere we've been
and the places we saw and…
[sighs] It's so good to see you.
[sighs]
It makes me miss Jinny a little bit less.
- And a little bit more.
- Both. [sighs]
There is someone else
you might be pleased to see.
[laughs]
I am. I am very pleased to see him,
but, Nan, I wanna hear how you are.
- Pleasure, as always.
- As always.
[stammers] Be right back.
Nan.
I need to talk to you.
So…
How are you? Truly.
I'm all right. I am.
We've been so occupied.
Everywhere we go is very fascinating.
And people have been incredibly generous,
and we've just spent the whole time…
Nan, I'm asking about…
I know what you're asking about,
and Theo and I are happy.
We are. He's kind.
He makes me laugh. He looks after me,
and we really enjoy each other's company.
[laughs]
I'm sure.
- But, darling, what about Guy?
- [sighs]
I think of him, of course.
But we're here now,
and the dowager's promised Jinny's safe
and I'm doing all I can to keep her out of
the papers, so I'm going to be all right.
[sighs]
So what was it that was so important?
Just that…
I missed you.
I miss you, and I've been really hoping
that you're happy
and I'm really glad to hear that you are.
[whispering] Love you.
[door closes]
- [guests chattering]
- Good afternoon.
- Afternoon.
- [guest] Good afternoon to you.
[sniffs, clears throat]
- Are you following me, Miss Elmsworth?
- No.
I'm not ruling out following you,
- but on this occasion, I came to see Nan.
- Hmm.
I'd have looked forward a lot more
to today if I had expected you.
Me too. [inhales deeply]
A castle full of lords and noise
was not exactly my dream today.
What was?
- Book.
- Hmm.
Bath.
- Large bowl of food. No cutlery.
- [chuckles]
- Ah, a cutlery-free day. The dream.
- Mm-hmm.
I thought today was meant just for lords.
And the occasional lowly MP.
My lords and ladies.
The warmest of welcomes to Tintagel.
May I present the duke.
[guests cheering, applauding]
Contrary to popular opinion,
our spring gala is not only an excuse
for fresh air and drinking.
[guest] Shame!
[laughter]
Though my mother will ensure
we're fed and watered.
Obscenely so.
[laughter continues]
But before next week's
State Opening of Parliament,
we gladly open up our home.
Tintagel, birthplace of King Arthur,
whose Round Table symbolized the chivalry
and democracy we prize so highly
and which you all represent so…
Lord Seadown…
I hope this year, you'll manage to avoid
twisting any ankles down any rabbit holes.
I always do my best to remain upstanding,
Your Grace.
[guest 2] Brave man, Seadown.
You'll bring her back. We're all with you.
Thank you.
Our quest then.
As always, the Holy Grail has been hidden
so we must search.
Your clues await.
And if your glasses are charged
and your walking boots laced,
Tintagel is at your disposal.
Good luck.
[guests clapping, chattering]
The purpose of today is to thank the lords
for their service,
and for the duke to maintain with them
cordial and uncontroversial relations.
The duchess must do the same.
[rock music playing]
[no audible dialogue]
Hello.
Hello.
[sighs] I'm glad it's you. I, um…
don't honestly know
what I'm even looking for.
So we're searching for a silver chalice
that Jesus drank from?
Supposedly. At the Last Supper.
And in real life?
It's the bowl we keep the nuts in
at Christmas.
[laughs]
King Arthur's quest was to bring it home
to Camelot.
Though I imagine it had a lot to do
with beating Lancelot.
Arthur's great friend and rival.
Guinevere,
Arthur's wife, she and Lancelot were…
even greater friends.
- I see.
- Mm-hmm.
Hard to imagine how that must be,
isn't it?
Married to someone,
but in love with another.
It's regarded as a legendary love story.
Yet I'm never sure.
How did it end?
Not well for Arthur.
Spear through the head.
And for Guinevere?
Lancelot came back for her,
after Arthur died,
and found her in a nunnery.
Well, three meals a day,
a comfortable frock.
What more could a woman want?
[chuckles]
[both speaking indistinctly]
Your Grace.
You don't seem to be doing much searching.
Ah. While they search, I gather.
Signatures, promises of support.
When those with influence meet,
that's when their guards are down
and they're open to business.
And you're unconcerned
who you do business with?
I can't look at him, never mind smile.
Your Grace…
Lord Seadown has no sympathy from me.
Not a shred.
But each promise of support
gets my bill closer to being passed.
Now, I'm petitioning to give a voice
to working men,
and
these are people who deserve to own land.
And if that improves lives for thousands
of working families,
then I will shake
the odd unpalatable hand.
I gather you're not averse
to ruffling establishment feathers.
I wore a red dress
to a black and white ball
just so for a few days the headlines
wouldn't be about my sister.
As women may not be heard,
but we can rely on being looked at.
You ought to go back and talk
to the people with influence.
Your Grace,
I'm talking to someone with more influence
than any lord in the land,
should she choose to use it.
Imagine if one might turn being looked at
into being listened to.
- [Freddie fussing]
- [sighs]
Jinny?
Jinny?
Jinny!
[landlord] I know you have a husband,
but laughing with women?
Nights of laughing, it… it's the best.
No, apart from nights of under the sheets.
[chuckles]
Oh, I never really enjoy any of that.
- What?
- [chuckles] I… I've-I've wanted to.
I want to.
Don't you just lie there
and wait for it to be over?
- No, Jinny. [chuckles]
- [chuckling]
- Oh, no, but, you know, sometimes yes.
- [laughing]
But in that case, I'll give you a tip.
Encouraging noises,
it speeds it up a little bit.
[both laughing]
Jinny, did you run? Hmm?
- Did you and Guy elope?
- [sighs]
Was it that kind of running?
And, Jinny,
was the running not all you hoped?
[clicks tongue]
I think running might have been
the biggest mistake I ever made.
Ah, here he comes. Mr. Under the Sheets.
[chuckling] No. No.
- When I said that, I didn't mean…
- Time to come home.
I'm taking you home, to bed.
Hey, Jinny. Remember, encouraging noises.
[chuckles]
Are you trying to make me panic?
I was trying to get out of that house,
of that room.
I'm just always there.
- You know Freddie needs you?
- Yes, every second.
What, you know it every second
or he needs you every second?
Both. You wouldn't understand.
You know I've given up a life for this
and I've given up…
Yes, I shouldn't be here. Nan should.
You and Nan should be
wherever you want in the world.
Do you resent me?
Sometimes.
So do I.
I think Freddie does too.
My own baby resents me.
[sighs]
I'm going home.
- Yes. Good. And then we can…
- No. England home.
Thought I could do this but I can't.
And I should have never
dragged you into it.
We'd both be better off at home.
I need to show you something.
Come on.
- [Guy] I didn't wanna have to tell you.
- [Jinny] They're making me out to be mad.
They think I'm a kidnapper.
Well, you've taken Seadown's property.
No, I-I-I carried that baby.
H-He came out of my body. I still feel it.
I'm not good at this. I'm not.
But I feel… I feel desperate every second
that I'm failing him,
and he needs me all the time.
I'm scared to even pick him up
and you're so good with him.
Jinny, I know I'm not Nan.
I know I'm not one of the other girls.
I'm not your mother. But I love this boy.
Look at him.
[cooing]
He is doing so well.
[sniffles]
- And with his noises. [chuckles]
- [chuckles]
I promise you, both of you,
I will do my very best to be enough.
[sighs, chuckles]
When you imagined traveling the world,
did you picture this? [chuckles]
Stuck here with some mad woman
that you hardly know and her loud baby.
Yeah, it wasn't the dream.
Maybe it should've been.
[chuckles]
[sniffles]
[Conchita] And once she's asleep,
you have to go in every 15 minutes.
Maybe every ten. And just go up close
to her and check she's…
Mother?
Well, don't just stand there gawping,
Richard.
Let joy be unconfined.
Your mother is moving in.
[crying]
Your late father was many things, Richard.
Thrifty, it turns out, he was not.
Bailiffs came for the lot.
The house?
Both houses and all the furniture.
Every stick gone.
We may need to establish some rules
with regard to florals.
With all of us here together,
it might feel like Christmas.
That's exactly what we're afraid of.
Mother, you can't just
barge into our lives like this.
- This is our house.
- Now we all live in it.
Oh, stop feeling sorry for yourself,
Richard.
If you think things are bad for you,
pity your poor sister.
Honoria will have to share a room
with Mabel.
["I Like Me Better" playing]
Yeah, one year they hid the grail
in the water.
- Sneaky.
- Not today though, I hope.
I don't fancy getting wet.
Isn't that it there?
[gasps, chuckles]
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
- [chuckles]
- So that's the game, is it?
- [laughs]
What are you doing?
Theo.
Don't.
Don't! Stop. [gasps]
What is it?
My bracelet.
- Your bracelet?
- It's gone.
I see it. I see it, I see it, I see it.
Thank you.
That'll teach me to splash dukes.
Here.
Well, it's a beautiful spot.
You're a good friend.
To Nan.
That's me.
I'm a good friend to everybody.
Well, if I was hiding a grail…
The main event's downstairs.
Burial chambers.
I hear her.
I hear Nan crying.
When she's alone, she cries.
It's not as though
I didn't suspect how she felt…
about Guy.
I think my wife has a broken heart.
Found! No need to panic.
The grail is found! [laughs]
You found it?
Here you are.
What is this place?
[Hector] Is King Arthur buried here?
So they say.
And Guinevere.
My uncle.
My father.
Mother will be next to him.
Then one day…
You.
And also…
[Nan] Me?
Oh. Oh!
There'll be a ring on that finger
in no time.
I assume you must be
Rich and Conchita's project?
All set to meet the love of my life.
Oh, I… I-I must have misunderstood.
I thought the goal was marriage.
That's right. [chuckles]
Well, then for God's sake, don't be under
any illusion love comes into it.
[inhales deeply]
Leave sentimentality to the weak,
or the French.
These transatlantic unions
are hardly love matches.
Their purpose is to pay the bills.
[stammers]
But what about Conchita and Richard?
When Richard needed
to find a wealthy bride,
he had to sail all the way
to New York to pick one up.
This new season of hard-up lords
don't even have to get on a boat.
And the good news for you is that
none of them will care how bad you are
at balancing books on your head.
You'll be balancing the books
in a different way.
I hear your father's
a veritable gold mine. [chuckles]
This little piggy went to market.
[Conchita] Cora?
Richard's bringing the carriage around.
You ready?
Yes, ready. Quite ready.
You look perfect.
I'll meet you outside.
[guests chattering, laughing]
Thank you.
He hears you.
Theo hears you crying when you're alone,
and it's killing him.
I think he knows about Guy.
He knows he was here
the night before the wedding?
No.
Not that.
He's just… He's trying to understand
and he's worried about you.
- W-We both are.
- Well, no one asked you to worry. [sighs]
Why can't everyone
just mind their own business?
Nan, I came here to see you
and I've been trying to figure out
if you're happy or not.
Why?
I was happy before you started asking me.
And what does happy mean?
Oh, I would love to know, but I just…
I don't think it means crying in secret
whenever you get the chance.
And what do you know about marriage?
You saw that place earlier.
We'll be buried together.
This marriage is forever.
And I'm trying every day
to be a good wife.
And we were all in on the plan, all of us.
But I am the one
who has to live it every single day,
so excuse me if every once in a while
I think about Guy and I can't bear it.
- Well, then just listen.
- You listen to me.
This is my marriage
and I'm trying to make it work.
I'm just trying to understand it.
Why? No one asked you to.
[door closes]
Nan! [gasps]
Oh, it's so good to see you.
You too. How are you?
- I'm good. How are you?
- Yeah?
This is Cora.
Hello, Cora. How are you?
[chattering]
[metal clinks]
I was just coming in to join the party.
Ah, let's not. I mean, not quite yet.
- [gasps]
- Ta-da!
No cutlery.
Let's not go down and face everyone yet.
Go on.
[chuckles]
Miss Merrigan, have you been able to do
much sightseeing in England?
- I've walked a lot. [chuckles]
- Ah.
I like to walk calmly but with purpose.
There are some beautiful parks and museums
you must see while you're here.
Oh, I don't like museums.
I don't like parks much either,
or England.
Oh. [chuckles]
Lord Harris, Miss Merrigan's father
is a distinguished businessman.
- Hmm.
- He owns a shop.
[chuckles] It is a very big shop.
Very big, and, uh,
Miss Merrigan has a substantial dowry.
A generous allowance.
And an iguana.
- I see. [chuckles]
- [Cora chuckles]
And would your iguana come with you
to England?
- [scoffs] No.
- Oh, I plan to have six iguanas.
But you're not too attached to him though,
are you?
No. Not attached at all.
What's your iguana's name?
Darling.
Right. [sighs]
Alone.
The two of us in a bedroom.
What might possibly happen next?
[chuckling] I can't believe it.
I've missed you.
Me too.
So, do we live together now? [chuckles]
[chuckles]
I think we might be living in sin.
Oh, that's absolutely
my favorite way to live.
[chuckles]
[chuckling]
[knock on door]
- No!
- [Lady Brightlingsea] Honoria?
Sorry. Sorry, M… Sorry, Mother.
I'm just… I'm just getting dressed.
They don't seem to have backgammon!
What do they do here?
I d… I don't know.
Just go downstairs, Mother.
I'll… I'll…
I'll be there in just a second.
- Don't be long.
- I won't.
[sighs] I think she's gone.
[Honoria sighs]
Come.
I can't. I'm all she has.
Sorry.
[sighs]
One minute she won't speak,
the next, she's telling the Earl of Derby
to trim his bloody mustache.
The girl's a menace.
Cora, what are you playing at?
He's not here.
[scoffs]
There are some stuffed shirts in here.
Of course there are, this is England.
But there are some excellent options.
You think the lords aren't interested
in my iguana?
Nor your snoring, nor your itchy head,
nor your fear of children.
Cora, why the sabotage?
There were no thunderbolts. Not one.
And I won't just marry any hard-up lord
who needs my father's cash, unlike some.
- You little entitled…
- Lady Brightlingsea,
I hope I don't have to tell my mother,
who's paying you good money,
that you just took that tone with me.
[chuckles]
[sighs] That girl's complicated.
I fell in love
with the queen of complicated.
[both chuckle]
Do you know what?
Did I fall in love
with the first man who looked at me?
Mmm, hardly.
Cora's going to be trouble,
but I like trouble.
[speaks indistinctly]
Yes, thank you. Will you excuse me?
I must make the most of tonight,
Your Grace.
I won't be in the country long.
News arrives every day.
And I'm afraid your poor sister's
not in her right mind.
But when I've brought her and our baby
safely back to where she belongs,
you can be sure she'll get
the medical attention she needs.
[Theo] My Lords, Ladies, and gentlemen,
dinner is served.
- [exhales heavily]
- [speaks indistinctly]
[chuckles]
- Wine?
- Yes, please.
Thank you. Thanks.
Ready?
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the…
[chuckles]
May I actually speak?
Because believe it or not…
[inhales shakily]
I have, um… I have plenty to say.
Mr. Hector Robinson is fighting
to give a voice to all working men,
yet what a novelty,
how staggering, for even one woman
to be allowed to have a voice.
A working man should be allowed
to own his own land, true…
but no man should be allowed
to own his wife.
To choose her like an ornament,
or to gradually erase her,
like she's some mistake.
In a world where a woman's safety
is far from guaranteed,
even in her own home,
it is my fight to make sure
that she is at least believed and heard,
and that any man who threatens that safety
will feel the full force
of what he deserves.
I seem to have an audience.
I seem to have a voice. And I will use it.
Theodore?
[sighs]
I believe my wife has spoken for us both.
Thank you.
Excuse me.
Theo?
Theo!
Theo?
Humiliation, is that your game?
I'm not playing any games.
Nor am I.
You'll regret that little performance.
[grunts]
[groans]
Stay away from my wife.
Are you all right?
Yes, I'm fine. I'm fine, thank you.
[breathing heavily]
I'm so sorry.
I've been finding this marriage way harder
than I've been able to admit.
And none of it's your fault,
and I'm so sorry.
I really want to make this work.
I do.
[Lady Brightlingsea]
Honoria, is there a sudden drought?
Where's the sherry?
Why must these things always happen to me?
Mother, I believe we all miss Father.
[Lady Brightlingsea] Who does?
Both your brothers are wasting their lives
running around after Americans.
I'm entirely on my own.
[clears throat]
You know, I'm virtually
New York's backgammon champion.
Honoria, why don't you go to bed?
Your mother and I will be all right.
[Lady Brightlingsea]
You're not leaving me?
Mother.
You're sticking
with that dressing gown, are you?
If you're sticking with that face.
I have to let Guy go.
[crying, sniffling]
I'm really sorry.
I kept telling myself that
I could live a whole life thinking
that Guy would eventually come back,
because Guy was everything.
But he's gone. I told him to go.
So I have to let go of the grief, of Guy.
I have to.
And also,
I think Theo and I have a chance.
And I really wanna make this version
of my life work.
For Theo, for me, for Jinny.
And also, this life is…
It might be important.
Nan, you've always been important.
[chuckles]
Now that you have influence,
imagine what you might do.
[both sigh deeply]
I feel like I can breathe again.
[Lizzy sighs]
Same.
[no audible dialogue]
[chuckles]
[chuckles]
Yesterday, I was uncontrolled.
Self-restraint is a difficult skill
to master.
I've lost my father.
And I may already be a father.
I must ask your help…
I can't help you, Seadown.
Nan has no idea where Jinny is.
I know, I've established that.
But… [sighs] …I don't believe
you haven't heard from Guy.
What's Guy got to do with it?
Surely he told you about his plans?
He and Jinny left together,
so he must have some information…
Guy left weeks before Jinny.
He wasn't at the castle
on our wedding day.
Uh… [chuckles]
No, actually.
Guy was seen by several of your servants
on the morning of your wedding,
leaving in a carriage with my wife.
Witnesses also saw him the night before…
running around the castle grounds
with Nan.
So if he was there the night before,
and at first light,
well, he must have stayed the night.
["Reckless" playing]