Previously, on Strange Empire...
She's asking about him again.
Jeremiah!
I can't stand it that we're leaving,
that I should never see you again.
[Morgan]: You are my true love.
The child was born astride the grave.
[Crying out]
That one there. That's your newborn son.
You will love this child. You will give us everything.
[♪]
Strange Empire 1x06 Electricity
[Thunder rumbling and crashing]
[♪]
[Crying out]: Ma!
What is it?
Bad. You have to come.
[Baby wailing]
Buck up, boy. Quit your mewling.
[Baby bawling]
He's going to fall.
My baby!
Shh, shh, shh, shh.
Don't much like drinking alone.
[Pouring alcohol]
Nobody does, Captain.
Perhaps it's time to call it a night.
[Slotter grunts]
[Infant crying]
What'll it be, you little bastard?
Your last drink.
Maybe just a taste for the lad, hey, Captain?
[Slotter, slurring]: Well, you know, when I was his age,
they put whiskey right in my suckling bottle.
It's never too early.
[Crying]
[Thunder crashes]
[Baby crying]
John.
It's late.
Boy's a nighthawk.
[Snickers]
Come home. Come to bed.
[Infant bawling]
Robin, you stay with Mary.
[♪]
And what would have happened if he had fallen on his head?
Save me the trouble of throwing him down a well.
[Hushed]: We need that boy to keep your father happy!
[Baby sobbing]
[Footsteps]
[♪]
Is that Ada?
[♪]
Is what Ada?
She's an angel.
She's unbaptized.
She's burning in hellfire.
Never born. Never died.
[Sighing] Her spirit is free.
Don't fool with me.
I would not.
You feel her spirit?
Can't you?
[Breath trembles, sob escapes]
I don't even remember what she looks like.
She misses her mama
is why she's here.
Baby Cornelius was born in the house.
Your Ada slipped inside him,
be close to you.
[♪]
[Fussing]
Ada?
[Sing-songy]: ♪ Ada... ♪
[Fussing]
Girl's a fraud, Isabelle.
Same as you.
[Thunder crashing]
Not a good night.
You notice a significant spike
in the level of strange going on?
Mrs. Fogg said she saw lights in the woods.
It's a full moon.
Moon's been here forever.
But those wires...
And the electrical fluids running through them...
God's hand in that.
And the devil's, too.
And every dead soul yearning for the earth.
Scares the livin' Christ out of me.
[Exploding]
Geez!
Now you tell me that's not strange!
Gee!
[Giggles] Imagine we just got married,
and now we're on our honeymoon.
[Muffled grunting and moaning begin]
What is the average duration of sexual intercourse?
Go to sleep.
Have you never taken a clock to yourself?
To see how long?
Absolutely not.
Good shooting.
Can use the fur and the meat.
Not much sleep last night.
I can't stop thinking what might have been.
We need a peace officer.
A sheriff. Pay a monthly fee.
You're mighty handy with that rifle, Mrs. Loving.
[Cock crows]
[Grunts]
Jesus.
[Groans]
What's he doing here?
I'm protecting him from you.
[Groaning]
[Scoffs darkly]: Toys.
Your father is a very generous man, John.
He sends something every day.
What do you think's gonna happen when the old man finds out
not one drop of his blood runs in that boy's veins?
He won't ever find out.
Look at the boy, John.
Tell me what you see.
I see Ada.
Aw, do not talk like that, Isabelle,
or I shall be afraid for your mind.
If this boy was ours,
we would be a family and close,
our hearts joined as one.
Let's make our own boy.
A family.
[Baby fussing]
If this was a real town,
we'd have a citizen's committee.
All decent folks would have a say.
First order of business... Hiring a sheriff.
Well, whose law would this sheriff fella be upholding?
None here in Canada.
He'd have no power.
Power is as written. Bible's the law.
Right and wrong. Do unto others.
Love thy neighbour as thyself.
This a paying position?
We all pitch in.
[Murmuring]
I'll throw my hat into the ring.
A shooter.
Not a sheriff.
No law.
A woman?
A shooter.
[Women chuckling]
Man or woman... Makes no difference.
[♪]
[Speaks mandarin]
How much for a reading?
A nickel for the right hand,
dime for the left.
How to choose?
Right hand's what's done, and left's what'll be.
Peek into the future is worth a dime.
[Coin clatters]
There's no science to that.
Natural law trumps superstition and magic.
Really, Mrs. Blithely?
You are so irritatingly certain in your opinions.
The future is not in the palm, it's in front of you.
Electricity is the way of the future,
and, one day, instantaneous communication will be the rule.
[Exploding]
[Gasping]
Electricity in the air.
How wonderful.
[Speaks mandarin]
[Shouting]
What happened?
Lightning in the night.
Business cannot be conducted.
Mr. Cornelius will not be happy.
He expects to hear from the boy.
Missus Isabelle has been...
What do you see through your slant eyes?
Ghosts in the wires?
Ghosts are here.
I respect them and keep away from them.
Yeah, well, fix the goddamn thing.
Let the ghosts have their say.
Get back up there!
Just climb!
[Zapping]
[Groaning and crying out]
[Thud]
[♪]
[Sputtering and gurgling]
Skull is fractured.
He's beyond help.
Show's done. Go on! Get!
You forced him up that pole.
Makes you the murderer you are.
A man falls. Act of God!
Citizen's committee has hired Mrs. Loving as sheriff.
Citizen's committee? No law here but mine.
Look. There's the sheriff now. Little, introduce yourself.
What do you make of the situation, Sheriff?
40 and 50 and 60...
That's the going rate for the life of a celestial.
See his family gets it.
[♪]
[Little]: Well... case closed.
I saw a picture in the Montreal Gazette.
It's called a "fanchon." All the rage.
Little snip of silk
worth more than all I got in this world.
Doesn't cost anything to try it on.
Pretty.
There's a trade in hats.
Enterprise for the fallen.
And good for them. Be some form of independence.
Whiskey.
Tell that one to clean herself up.
She's next.
[He chuckles]
Be something... Man with a badge.
Her name is Fiona Briggs.
She's my daughter.
She does not sell.
Your say-so, missus?
Nobody forces anybody to nothing around here.
I'm no madame.
All of you straight from the Bible, pure as Mary.
[♪]
But his body convulsed,
and there were deep contractions in his muscles.
Cause of death?
Bruising of the brain.
I-I believe it was
the electricity that stopped his heart.
Insert a wire just so, and...
Perhaps it would start again.
The body is electric.
Just looking for a whore.
Get out!
You a little virgin, too, miss?
Despite your man?
[Chuckles]
I will talk to Mrs. Slotter
about getting a room at the mansion
until the money arrives.
The mansion is a whorehouse, too.
[Man]: Fong, get back to work!
- Thomas? - Never mind.
I would like for you to touch me.
The way you did in the bathhouse.
- Mrs. Blithely... - There were your fingers,
here and here and here.
There were explosions in my body.
Contractions and shudders.
Mrs. Blithely, please stop...
I have a theory of electricity.
- Electricity? - Yes.
I-I wish to determine
whether my... my symptoms
are electrical in character.
- Touch me. - Sir!
Miss.
Mrs. Blithely.
Small. For a horse.
It's a gift for the boy.
Cornelius Jr.
Here. I'll walk with you,
else you'll find yourself in trouble.
My wife and I need accommodation.
I'm anticipating the receipt of funds,
at which point I'll arrange for transportation back east.
No banks out here.
A road agent holds up a stage, all hell breaks loose.
That has happened. Twice.
Mm. Not a good way to start a marriage.
[♪]
Your wife seems delighted with her new lover.
Mrs. Slotter, please.
Girl must have what is due to her.
I'm speaking of the bedroom.
If accommodation is possible...
You'll have your accommodation, Doctor.
And I will have a word with your wife.
Rebecca!
[♪]
Please.
Come inside.
[♪]
It will be a pleasure
having you and your husband here, Mrs. Blithely.
Company for me.
You have your instrument?
Shall I have a look, then?
Yes.
[Exhaling]
Ready?
Mm-hmm.
You've had a child.
Yes. Stillborn.
Midwife said I was ruined.
[Exhaling]: Whew...
[Instruments clatter]
All organs intact.
You should not give up hope.
I don't want a child.
If I catch, I will need your help.
He's told you all women want children,
is that right?
That it is their very use in life,
even if by it they must lay down their own?
My husband has told me something of the sort, yes.
Hmph.
My husband birthed me a corpse last.
I'm afraid this time I'll make a monster.
[Gasps]
An electrical impulse, that?
Yes.
You've experienced something like that,
- with your Morgan? - I believe so.
And instances of longer intensity.
[Chuckles]
You are an innocent, Mrs. Blithely.
You watch I don't catch
and I'll school you in pleasure.
Your husband...
[♪]
I'll hold him.
What if you fall off?
I won't.
See?
Cornelius loves this boy like he's supposed to.
Makes life easier when the payroll arrives on time,
- and the loan comes due... - Get it out of my sight.
[Roars]: Get it out of my sight!
Do as he says.
[♪]
The ribbon matches your eyes.
You could take tea with the queen in that.
I'll have one of those.
Pay me and you're welcome to it.
[Little]: I do as I like.
I'm the law here.
Ain't that a fact?
Whisky!
Did your ma tell you?
You're the one I want.
Fiona is not for sale.
You all are, price is right.
[Thumps glass down]
What do you say, darling?
I'll pay double.
Cash on the barrel head.
[Taps barrel]
[♪]
Fiona!
I am a mother.
A widow, used to be a wife,
and now I'm entertaining offers from a man like that.
- You aren't! - What do I do?
Sell bonnets to irishmen?
Fi...
You don't have to do this.
I believe I do.
[Baby crying]
Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh.
Things are on a turn. We'll make a life here.
This place is a graveyard.
I do not intend to die here.
I will not.
No matter what the cost.
[She shushes her crying baby]
I have money.
A gold nugget.
All you got to fall back on. I won't take that from you.
[Baby bawling]
Tell him I'll do it.
Get the money first.
Has it changed?
Not in years.
See? Sometimes you can even feel it when you touch things.
Sometimes, there's even a spark.
Rebecca.
You are my wife now. Put that away.
You are not to see that young man
or speak to him.
I forbid it.
I want my money first.
Come inside. I'll give it to you.
- Good night, ladies! - Where's my money?
- After! - No! Now. I want it now!
- Let her go. - Get!
[He cries out]
[Yelps and cries]
[Fiona gasping and crying]
Stupid cow!
[Yelps]
[Roars]: You think you're too good for me?
I'll take it for nothing!
You pig!
[Gasping in pain]
[Whimpering]
[Cries out]
Get away from her!
[Sobbing]
Drop the knife!
To hell with you!
[Click]
Get on your goddamn knees.
[Weeping]
Mrs. Loving, put down the gun.
I don't take orders from you.
This man's the sheriff.
You hurt him, I will see you hanged,
once and for all.
He's the one should be hanged.
Look what he did.
[Little]: Goddamn whore deserved it.
Shut up!
Or I'll break your jaw.
On your feet!
I suggest you cool out.
You, get out of here.
He pays for what he did.
Put on trial!
Punished, fair and proper.
I'll see you punished!
And you! And you!
Sheriff pays compensation for damages.
[♪]
He'll be back.
Yeah.
[Gasps]
[Sobbing, baby starts crying]
You have to hold still, Fiona!
Don't you touch me!
I don't want no man touching me!
[Spit lands]
I am trying to help.
Pigs and whores...
You're not one, you're the other.
[♪]
You should've killed Little
when you had a chance.
What's this?
Enough to buy your stock.
Get your ranch going.
Enough so you won't have to shoot rabbits
to put food on the table.
You're paying me to kill a man.
Who deserves to be killed.
[Thunder rumbles]
Hold it in your hand.
Think on it.
[Gunshot rings out in distance]
Everybody stays here.
[♪]
The bastard.
He killed him.
Killed who?
The goddamn pony.
No one in his right mind would do something like that.
[♪]
[Both sobbing]
[Door slams]
I told you to get it out of my sight!
I told them!
John, they're just children. They don't always listen.
You listen now when I say,
this baby...
I will not have it in my house.
John!
- He'll kill him, missus. - No, he won't.
Yes, he will, ma'am.
Cooled off yet, little lady?
Get out of my way.
I'll take that as a no.
Watch your back.
My back?
One thing to shoot an armed man when he's looking at you,
but a back-shooter, that's the lowest kind!
That's what you are!
[Little chuckling darkly]
There's nothing you can do.
Nothing to be done.
I want to look at him.
Nothing you need see either.
It hurts the heart.
Mr. Finn.
Do you know tonight is our wedding night?
Will you offer your congratulations to my wife?
Stay the hell away from her.
[♪]
[Door bangs]
What are you doing here?
No.
You gotta be sure, missus.
Sure as I can be.
[♪]
Sun dance.
Hurt, didn't it?
Surely did.
But you go through it...
Because you have to.
[♪]
The house in Toronto,
if there's anything you'd like to change...
[Rebecca]: No.
Why would I?
To make it yours.
I grew up there.
Will you manage tonight?
I understand there's a gland.
Mrs. Slotter told me that it brings pleasure.
[Sighs] Mrs. Slotter.
She spoke to me.
My mother did not.
I don't know what to do.
The only men I've handled have been dead.
Come to me.
Rebecca...
I love you.
You and Emily are the great loves of my life.
[♪]
[Cries out]
Thomas...
[He gasps]
[Inhales sharply]
The wound is infected.
The flesh is gangrenous.
We have to see to it. We cannot wait.
You know what will happen if we do.
[♪]
This is one of those long nights
you want over and done with.
Girl you love's with another man.
Her husband.
Ain't passing judgment one way or another...
But those two just don't seem like a natural fit.
And you think you and her are?
Natural, I mean.
[♪]
It's murder,
what she's asking you to do.
Not murder if it's justified.
You can't do it on your own.
You have to be accountable.
Law makes you that.
Law's for those afraid to face up on their own.
You talk like the law's set against you.
White man's law.
And I'll say it's ill-used and for gain,
and never once served an Indian,
a chinaman, or a woman.
I aim on changing that.
In the meantime, that man Little,
he's going to kill me
if I don't kill him first.
Out in the bush, a man like that, you kill him.
Peace and safety, that's what most want.
Be a small thing to establish a little jail,
which being there, will influence those inclined
to disturb and distress their fellows.
I have to get back.
[Door opens, then shuts]
[Roars] Do you remember me? I'm back!
I'm your sheriff!
Where is she?
Oh, I heard the doctor fixed her.
I thought I'd have a look.
Get out!
[Cries out]
I'll visit both of ya, if I so choose!
I have a gun.
Get to your girl!
Fiona!
[Baby crying]
Just shoot me, goddamn it!
[Chuckling]
Where did he go?
[Both panicking]
[Gasping]
[Crash]
Time to come out. [Pounds door]
Or time to come in!
Just let him in.
He wants me.
Leastwise he'll kill us both!
- Then that's what he'll have to do. - [Crash]
[Women screaming]
[♪]
Abe Little!
Turn around!
I'm no back-shooter, Mr. Little.
[Thud]
[♪]
Raps and bumps and knocking.
[Distant rhythmic rapping on wood]
Open your heart, John.
[Rapping continues]
Come upstairs.
[♪]
[Light rapping]
[♪]
[Exhaling]
Divine messengers...
I reach out to you and ask if a child's spirit is present?
[Rap... rap...]
[Rap]
Three raps means "yes."
Are...
Are you Ada?
[Rap... rap... rap]
I am.
I dwell in the body of baby Cornelius.
I am your daughter.
[Breathing heavily]
I feel the throbbing of the deep invisibles.
[Gasps]
Ada's here.
She's in the house.
[Deep gasping]
Do as I do.
[Deep breathing]
[Rumbling]
[Zapping]
[Gasps]
[Loud snapping]
[♪]
[Bang]
[♪]
[Zapping]
[Shattering]
[Shakily]: John...
[Door opens, then slams]
You...
You did this!
Get out!
[Door opens]
[Gasping]
Please!
Ahh!
[Baby crying]
[♪]
[Crying]
[Knocking at door]
Please! Don't hurt him.
[Slotter]: What are you doing here?
What is that?
A spirit trumpet.
Listen.
You can hear the spirits talking.
[Rageful growling]
It's just another goddamn trick.
"Poppy."
T-t-that was the name of your pony.
How do you know that?
You were seven years old.
It was your mother gave it to you.
You rode it and you fell off, remember?
Yeah, I remember.
Y-y-you twisted your leg, you called for help.
It was your father came.
He told you to get up,
stand on your feet like a man.
But your leg was broke, you couldn't stand.
[Shakily]: No, I couldn't...
Your father shot the horse.
And then he said...
[Deep voice]: "It's a man rides a horse..."
[Snickers meanly] "You're not a man."
And you never will be!"
[Breath shaking]
Who are you?
[Gasps]
[Child-like]: Papa! Don't hurt me.
Papa!
[Hyperventilating]
[Glass clinking]
[Gasping]
[Door opens]
[♪]
That child is not your child.
Ada is dead.
John.
We're gonna make our own child.
[John heaving deeply, Isabelle shushing him]
John...
No. We need to talk.
John.
John. Stop. Stop, John.
[Grunting intensely]
[Grunts, then groans]
[Panting]
[♪]
You're a married woman.
[♪]
Mrs. Blithely, this will lead to no good.
It's an experiment, Mr. Finn.
To do with electricity.
I have to go.
I have to.
[♪]
[Thud]
[♪]
[Begins whistling]
Bastard's dead!
[Laughing]
God's body, it's a special occasion.
The swearing-in of the new sheriff.
What do you say?
Well, I've been thinking on it...
Keep in mind that you can't say no.
[All chuckling]
I accept your kind offer of employment.
Raise your hand, then.
Justice is a woman, which is only fitting.
Sheriff Loving!
Whoo!
Amen!
[Fiddle playing]
[♪]
This belongs to you.
I won't be paid for murder.
That's the right thing done, then, Sheriff.
Whoo!
[All stomping with the fiddle]
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