Barkskins (2020) s01e04 Episode Script

The Law of Two

Previously onBarkskins
YVON: The Iroquois
always collect their dead.
What will you do
when they come back
to make their own dead?
It was a business dispute.
I'm done with both you
and that English bastard Cooke.
[screaming]
[grunts]
HAMISH:
Gus Lafarge is dead.
I saw his end myself.
COOKE:
The Company
did not send you here.
If they had, you would know
that what happened
[yelling]
Cross' idea.
Cross is married to my sister.
MELISSANDE:
The one on the end
is quite taken with you.
He has a kind face
and not so old, I guess.
MELISSANDE:
You need a good wife
befitting a man
with your vision.
COOKE:
I have another job for you.
Take the boy into the woods.
He must
not return.


COOKE: My eyes shall then♪
Behold Thee♪
Upon Thy cross♪
Thy dwell♪
My heart in faith♪
Enfold Thee♪
Who dieth♪
Thus dies well.♪
God is watching.
He, uh, even watches us here
in this speck of a town.
Then he can see
what you have done.
What is it that I have done
apart from putting food
-on your family's table?
-God knows.
Just as you know what happened
to my husband.
God knows that Gus was
a good and loyal man.
Where is my son?
He ran into the woods,
from what I was told.
No. He would have been home
by now.
I will find him.
Now
we must see him into the earth
so that he may pass over.
How will you find Thom?
Charles,
my new man,
will find him for you.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Did you know my husband?
No, uh, but he was a good man,
I'm told.
A steadfast man.
My husband left me with nothing.
Murdered.
And now my son is lost
in the woods.
I am widowed,
and all of my days
will now be doomed.
[coins clinking]
I will see that
you're taken care of.
I will find your son.
That is a promise.
Now cover him
so that he may pass
into the kingdom of heaven
and be forgiven
in the eyes of our maker.

[quiet whistle]
Forgive me, Father.
It calls to me,
even in contemplation
of Your words.
The smell of Your crust.
The way it sits in my belly.
Look away.
[clattering]
Please.
Have mercy.
[splash]
-[bell tolling]
-To know the Creator,
one must first know
the whole of the world.
And to know the whole of
the world, one must first know
the Law of Two,
which governs everything.
Nothing is single here,
everything is double.
Every element
contains its opposite.
Each sunrise starts at sunset
the night before.
Every man emerges from a woman.
Wars are plotted at peace.
Sides of the same coin.
Good. Now
-come and choose your sweets.
-[kids whooping]
Gather in the chapel, children.
Quickly.
What are you doing?
I was illuminating them, Mother.
Illuminating?
I will have them
double their prayers.
Ah, yes.
I'm sure they will find all
the great answers to the world
while on their knees, praying.
It is your solution
to everything.
You would do well to take them
out beyond the walls
and show them
the claws of beasts.
State your business.
I have come for my bride.
Ah, you disagree with the union.
Speak your mind.
Let the poison out.
You don't share a God,
yet you hope to share a bed,
and put children into the world.
We share the same God,
just different sides.
But I think those differences
will make the marriage bed
more interesting,
don't you think?
You chose well, Delphine.
Pierre is a fine trapper.
You chose correctly as well,
Isabelle.
It all happened so fast.
He was the first to look at me.
That means he was drawn to you.
But then he
he barely spoke to me.
It will come, in time.
MELISSANDE:
Or it won't.
There is no way to know
for certain.
The men put on a show,
as did we.
We all played our part.
Some more than others.
I am sure all of our men
will be kind.
I just pray that he is patient.
[scoffs]
Patient?
No man is patient, Delphine.
Not even the priests.
The least he could do
is provide you with a real ring.
That is what a kind man
would do.
-He promised me a proper one.
-Hold him to that.
He must value you more than
a strip of leather,
or that is all you will ever be.
SABRINE:
Mes chéries,hasten.
You have an hour
before the signing.
Use it to pray for guidance
and protection.
May you find utility and grace
-and
-Happiness?
Yes, of course.
Happiness.
Melissande.
Come with me.
Yes, Mother.
I wish to talk to you
about Monsieur Trepagny.
Mm.
He is not like the other men.
Yes.
He is rich
and well-dressed.
The other men smelled
of dead animals and shit.
Do not be taken in
by his boasts.
It is one thing
to say that you have land
as far as the eye can see.
It is quite another thing
to be able to hold on to it.
I will see it for myself.
I am sure he is the man for me.
I have made my choice.
I wish you luck.
And our secret?
A man of Monsieur Trepagny's
standing must never know
I am not as God made me.
It is yours to tell, child.
Do you have what I gave you?
JEROME:
Father Gabriel often came here
to contemplate after his chores.
He didn't return
for morning prayer.
Perhaps he shucked his robes
and ran off.
No.
He has been taken by Iroquois.
And how is it you know this?
The bodies are gone.
Well, perhaps Father Gabriel
ate them and then
-sank into the river.
-It was a sin
to display the dead like that.
And it is a sin
to let these savages
think they can move on us.
The Iroquois will return.
I have been among them.
I know how their minds work.
-BOUCHARD: I'll post a lookout.
-JEROME: And I'll need men
to lead a search party
for Father Gabriel.
I have no spare men.
Intendant De Fer is coming.
GUY:
Father.

[rooster crows]
I like them in a pot
with wine and herbs.
Oh. You do, now?
I come in a friendly
and helpful manner.
A man of many talents
who could be of use to you
in your current state.
I know what you are after,
Monsieur Gasquet.
I could tell you the all of it
if you invited me for a meal.
You are welcome
to pay for a meal
like everybody else.
As I am learning,
my late husband extended credit
to the entire town.
I didn't mean that sort of meal.
Go away.
Perhaps tomorrow, then.
[grunting]
You can come out now.
Rabbits.
Monsieur Gasquet brought them.
Can you say "rabbit"?
Hmm?
He has designs on the inn
and some other things as well.
Monsieur Gasquet
does not take no for an answer.
The more I push him away,
the more he sees the challenge.
He has grabbed me
more than a few times,
and with Francis right there.
Ah, but did Francis protect me?
[clicks tongue]
No.
And when I demanded that he put
Monsieur Gasquet out,
what did he do?
Hmm?
He did nothing, Renardette.
Nothing.
He was as useless
as a spring flower.
And now I have found he has let
half the town dine on credit,
and it is up to me
to collect the debt
so that I may carry forth.
But we will make do.
Hmm?
Us girls will make do,
and then
we will prosper, Renardette.
Oh, careful.
You will hurt yourself.
-[door opens]
-[bell rings]
[whispers]:
Go.
[door closes]
Bonjour, Mathilde.
[chuckles]
Captain.
I have said all I will say
on my husband's death.
Oh, no,
I have not come about that.
I was hoping to have a word with
the Hudson Bay man, Mr. Goames.
Departed this morning.
Ah.
Did he say where he was off to?
There was some discussion
of a trip to Quebec City.
I believe they intend to return.
They asked me
to keep a room for them.
Better they do not return.
Oh, they will be back.
I'm sure of it.
They are keen on finding
their missing man, Mr. Cross.
That one is dead,
more than likely.
Is there something else?
Mm.
Um
Keep a sharp eye out
and don't go beyond the walls.
[chuckles softly]
Especially after dark.
The Iroquois paid a visit
to the docks last night.
The bodies are gone.
A priest missing.
Have you talked to Mr. Cooke
about the troubles?
What would Mr. Cooke know
of the massacre?
Scheming with Gus Lafarge
about the land by the creek,
they were.
Henri Marth, too.
-Marth?
-Oh, yeah. I heard them
discuss it more than
a few times.
Was this before or after
you fell into dispute
with Lafarge
on the matter of tables?
-Eh? A fierce wobble?
-I believe
he was too busy
scheming with Mr. Cooke
instead of building a proper
table to sit without a wobble.
Cooke and Lafarge
are responsible
for the creek massacre--
is that what you are saying?
I am saying I heard them
discussing it, and then,
not a week later, those
poor settlers met their end.
I suppose one could
see it that way.
Aye.
All of my head spins with rumor.
What I need are facts.
Of course you do.
I am just an innkeep.
What do I know of facts?
-You are more than that,
Mathilde.
-Mm.
And you are the captain
sent to watch over Wobik,
not me.
Yes.
Yes, I am.
And I will come up
with a plan, rest assured.
A wise man
would run Mr. Cooke
out of Wobik.
Put things to order
before it is hung on your head.
Mm.
[splashing]
[grunting]
Help help me.
[groans]
Mercy.
I'm burned.
You must leave the water.
[groaning]
Something for the pain, please.
Wait for me.
I will be back.

[whooping]

[both grunting]
[indistinct chatter]
[Hamish clears throat]
Sit.
Randall Cross.
Yes?
Who ordered this?
There was no order.
I took it upon myself.
-My sister Alice
-I still don't understand
the impetus to use
company resources
for a personal mission.
A Mr. Elisha Cooke in Wobik
says that he and Randall Cross
had a plan
to stir the Iroquois
against some French settlers.
Aye, that is correct.
Along with the delivery
we're supposed to make.
Mr. Cooke is well acquainted
with English interests
in the region.
Interests that include moving
forward against Wobik.
Were the settlers cleared?
YVON:
They were.
Massacre.
I want to know
if that was Cross' orders.
To work with Mr. Cooke.
We find allies where needed.
Trade.
That is our business.
-Or have you forgotten that?
-I know Randall,
and such an action--
a massacre of innocent people--
that is not his blood.
I need to know
if he was acting on orders.
The orders were to make way
inland, weaken the French hold.
The particulars
are not important.
We have larger plans.
That is no secret.
I'll ask again.
Have you made a report?
Yes.
I will see it, then.
Furthermore, I'm granting you
and Mr. Kirkpatrick
the oversee of the Wobik post
and all the land
west of the creek.
If Mr. Cross is to be found,
the posting can be
restored to him.
And if he is lost?
Then you will contact
the Iroquois and let them know
that should they choose
to avail themselves of muskets
to rise up against the French,
that they will be supplied
in abundance
by their stalwart friends
at the Hudson Bay Company.
-And you expect us to work
with this Mr. Cooke?
-If possible.
But Mr. Cooke is not our only
asset in the region.
Bill Selby is about.
Now you have your assignment.
Now be gone.
[bell tolling]
SABRINE:
Mademoiselle Isabelle Caron
and Monsieur Vincent Belonger.
BOUCHARD:
Hand over the notarized
property list.
Félicitations.
Mademoiselle Delphine Langois
and Monsieur Pierre Gasquet.
BOUCHARD:
Your property list, Gasquet.
SABRINE:
Mademoiselle Melissande
de Saint Rémy
and Monsieur Claude Trepagny.
Now I have
the whole of the moon.
Please accept
my humble tithe, Mother.
[indistinct chatter]
I wish you happiness
and fortune.
[scoffs]
We are the mothers
of New France.
Will we see each other again?
Of course.
There will be market days.
There will be time to visit.
-Delphine! [laughs]
-Oh! Put me down!
[Delphine gasps]
My apologies.
TREPAGNY:
Melissande?
Step away from
this noble voyageur
before he carries you off
into the woods.
One pelt per man, Pierre.
One pelt.
Should move on.
My bags.
Oh, do not concern yourself.
We will send for it later.
My man, Rene Sel,
will fetch it.
Bonjour, Mathilde.
Monsieur Trepagny.
Are you coming to pay your bill?
-[speaks French]
-Your bill.
Are you coming
to settle your bill?
I believe I am current.
I have a balanced account
in all things.
Oh, no, no. I am going
through my late husband's books,
and it seems there are
a few outstanding charges.
It would be a shame
if your new bride
could not come to the inn
should the need arise.
The need may not arise.
We are going to my Doma,
and she is not yet my bride.
In the eyes of the king,
yes, but
there are higher bindings yet
to be done-- a proper wedding.
A celebration and one to which
you will surely be invited.
Now have we settled our debt?
Madam.
Good fortune to you.
You will put a show of it on
and tell Lafarge's widow her boy
took a boat to Quebec City,
distraught
at his father's demise.
Is it not better
if she hears it from you?
No, it is not better.
You will find the truth in it,
she will gladly accept it.
That is your task.
I understand,
but when will I be paid?
The job is not finished.
Until it is, you should view me
as a blunt blade
that will smash you
if you cross me.
You asked I take care
of Lafarge's boy.
It was taken care of.
That's worth something.
It is.
Well, this won't cover passage.
A smart man
forgoes small reward now
for great reward later.
Compounded with work,
dedication and loyalty.
Loyalty?
I will teach you
the barrel game.
What do you think that is--
-the barrel game?
-You take timber,
cut staves, make barrels,
sell them.
But you think
too small, Charles.
It is not
the barrels themselves.
It pays to have a hand in what
goes in and out of them as well.
Spice, cloth.
That brick, there.
I brought that
across the Atlantic,
bought the barrels
back at a discount,
and here are the barrels
filled with salt fish.
Up the river, I take a piece.
Down the river, I take a piece.
Everything for a price.
Was that Gus' role
in your company?
Oh, Gus' role is no more.
You see, it's not
about the timber
or the staves
or the hewing or joining.
It's not about the making.
Look at these Frenchmen.
Look at them slaving away.
Making their tannin,
their tar, their rope.
While they are busy making,
I am busy trading.
With the English?
It is unlawful
to trade with the English.
Few staves, some wax,
it would be good as new.
TREPAGNY:
If it isn't the rat.
-Sir.
-I see you have found
a proper Paraclete
to serve your foul designs.
I told your friend Sel
the rat will find a hole.
You may take him, if you like,
though I do have use for him.
He is yours.
I forfeit my claim.
Gladly and with all my heart,
I release you.
Good luck to you both.
I am off with my new bride,
full of bright thoughts.
BOUCHARD:
Step aside, Trepagny.
I have matters to put right
with Mr. Cooke.
-What is this?
-Tell me where Henri Marth is.
-I do not know.
-You are a liar.
This is not a proper hearing.
You have no right.
Your rights in New France
died with your wife.
I hereby exercise
the power of the crown,
and I offer you a choice.
I relieve you of your house,
your cooperage,
and cast you out of New France.
Or you submit now to the fiddle.
I will not be scapegoated.
Then confess your hand
in the murder of the innkeep.
COOKE:
That was Gus' business,
not mine.
Then there is the business
of the bloody massacre.
I hear there were more
than Iroquois at play.
Eh? A fine and poisonous
English mind, in fact.
Where is your evidence,
you drunk?
Mr. Cooke, this will
go better for you
if you do not
play me for a fool.
The fiddle will help us
find the truth.
-Eh
-All right!
All right!
I submit.
There is a lock of hair
in my pocket.
Take it out, give it to me.
It belonged to my wife.
Give it to me, Bouchard.
[laughs]
WOMAN:
Dirty English!
You will stand bared
before the people of Wobik
for the murder
of Francis Geffard!
[shouting, jeering]
Let Mr. Cooke's punishment
be an example to every man
in Wobik!
MAN:
Throw away the key!

[inhaling sharply]
[groans]
[grunts]
You're Wyandot?
Have you told anyone of me?
No.
Do I have your word
that if you heal,
you will leave this land
and not come back?
I c
Yeah.
Good.
Now sleep.
I will return with food.
If the pain is too much,
take all of this in one swallow.
Spotted hemlock.
You will go to sleep
and not wake up.
My mother was a wit,
and I-I know that I said
my favorite of her sayings was
the one about the bloated monk
who feared his vow of silence
covered farts,
but I don't have
her way with the phrase.
I'm afraid I'll word it wrong.
Tell it another time, chéri.
The woods reward silence.
It is in the silence we hear
things not of this world.
Come.
I will show you.
You must step very carefully.
Here and here.
Are you nervous
of what you will find
when you reach my Doma?
Perhaps.
[grunts]
Which means
you know surprises loom.
[gasps]
TREPAGNY:
Ah. [chuckles]
It's fine.
They are everywhere on my Doma
this time of year.
And there are the mice,
of course.
And many hawks,
which also eat the mice,
but prefer to eat the snakes
and sometimes get both.
There is also another creature
that menaces them all.
The child
of my housekeeper Mari.
This is one of the surprises
I will warn you of now.
You have a housekeeper?
I depend on her.
She is a Wyandot woman.
She may test you,
she may throw curses at you.
Then you must put her
in her place.
She has long since
forgotten her place, I'm afraid.
Come. I will tell you
the story of the wasp
that followed me for two days.
Yes.
I looked and saw
[exhales]

Come out of there.
[coins clicking]
Stayed where I put you.
Are you going to kill me?
Not if you leave.
Do you understand?
Follow the river to Quebec.
Please.
I want to go home.
And I should do
as I was paid to do.
Smash your brains out.
Now go.
I'm giving you a chance.
-Tell my mother I love her.
-I shall tell her you're dead.
Now go.
Do you like it here?
It's perfect.
We shall have more.
More land.
More family.
Of course, a proper house.
Come.
Put it on.
Please.
Everything is good?
Ah, come on.
[laughs]
It's good? Perfect.
Good, you liked it?
Uh, bouger, bouger, bouger.
Bouger, bouger.
Okay, I'll be right back.
What are you doing?
I've been waiting
for a meal, Mathilde.
You have been in the drink.
[chuckles]
True.
Monsieur Gasquet,
if you will leave
my kitchen at once,
-I shall prepare your food.
-And I shall be direct
with you, Mathilde.
I am not asking for that.
I am asking you
to let me get back to my work.
[chuckles]
I would partner with you.
There is no more need
for you to put up resistance.
You will need a man.
-Better you see that now.
-No!
[grunts]
No!
Monsieur Gasquet,
I am telling you
I do not need a man.
Now, if you will please
leave my kitchen.
At once.
I am sorry, Mathilde.
Shh. It's okay.
Don't.
Shh.
[crickets chirping outside]
I'm cold.
Come over here.
I will warm you up.
Take off the dress.
You are my wife now.
Take it off.
Come to me.
[quietly]:
Pierre, I'm sorry.
It's been a tiring day.
I'm going to sleep.
You should do the same.
[door closes]
Is something wrong?
Is this it?
TREPAGNY:
It is veiled
in the dark.
The daylight will open your eyes
to its beauty.
I wish to see it all.
You will see everything
in the morning.
That is my contemplation room.
I will show it to you
another time.
I wish to see so that I might
better know my new husband.
One must have secrets.
Don't you agree?
For now, I will allow you
just this one.
Shall we go?
Yes.
The true binding
of a man and woman
must have a ceremony
befitting the sanctity.
A celebration.
Exactement.
A party to celebrate our union,
so it may be bound
in the vault of heaven.
But tonight
we must bind and consummate
as God intended all creatures.
Even the snake.


[Rene panting]
[grunts]
[groans]
[grunts]
[twig snaps]
Good.
I see now
what kind of man you are.
The lock of my wife's hair.
Fetch it for me.
[sighs]
Would you sit with me?
[crickets chirping]

[grunts softly]
[urinating]
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