Taboo

Your father was poisoned. Brace, what's the matter? The truth.

Those bastards at the Palace have opened

a Royal Commission into the sinking of the Influence.

You are now one of us.

You'll risk the life of your son?

Zilpha?

What have you done?

I killed him.

James, this powder is not ready to be moved

because it is unstable.

We are leaving because we have been betrayed.

Sir Stuart just wants you to know - it's war.

The gloves are off.

James, what are you doing?

Go away. I'm not fit to be near you now.

Dear Lord, we are gathered in your presence here today

on this most sorrowful occasion to say farewell to Winter.

Cured of her love of the world,

untouched, pure,

commended to God...

..she will not be covered in earth as corrupted flesh,

but instead will be sent to you, O Lord...

..aboard a sunrise...

Helga, I can't read the next word.

..sent to you aboard a sunrise along the road of the river

that she loved, as if it were her father.

..along the road of the river she loved, as if it were her father.

What's this?

A package for Mr Delaney.

I believe this one is a ward of your master,

who asked me specifically to deliver him in person to this house today.

He's not in.

What a surprise.

Mr Cholmondeley?

Miss Bow.

What's going on?

A bastard.

I thought, in all your charity, you might extend some sustenance

and some shelter to this poor, unfortunate boy.

What's your name?

Robert. It's Robert.

You know James Delaney, do you?

Yes.

Come into the house, we'll find you something to eat

and somewhere to sleep.

Thank you.

Take into your loving arms this purest flake of snow,

my daughter,

my light, my love...

..my Winter.

I thought I might find you here.

A gentle soul, taken from us all too soon.

You've a heart, at least.

I'm just looking for a ship.

Watching what comes and goes.

Raise her up to your heavens and set her free by your light.

Amen.

Amen.

I know you didn't do it.

And how would you know that?

Hmm?

I very well may have.

Mm.

You might have done.

But I do know you cared for her.

You were kind to her. She told me.

The boy Robert's arrived.

Oh!

You OK?

Hello.

Did you know Winter? Was she your friend?

No. No, no, no! No, wait!

Do you think that this will be enough to sink her?

I've committed many bodies to the deep in this way.

None have returned to London.

I'm sorry for your loss.

You will find a place where the current will take her

to the wide ocean.

It's where she wanted to be.

The river will only take her body.

I will keep her soul.

There's no certainty it was James that did it.

There's no certainty that he did not.

'I'm getting scared, James.'

'Too many bodies in the river.'

'Can I sleep under your house tonight?'

'No. Go away, I'm not fit to be near you now.'

James!

You're among them now, aren't you?

The ones who used to sing to me.

Hm.

Was it my hand...?

Brace!

God's sake.

I received a message that you wished to speak with me.

After you have eluded me so long.

May I sit?

Mm-hm.

I need to know why you're seeking me?

First, I must tell you that I already know many things about you.

I need to be clear that you're not a spirit, like the others.

No.

I'm a rationalist.

I'm carrying out an investigation as part of a Royal Commission.

I heard that you don't drink,

that you don't fuck whores and, erm...

that you're squeezing Sir Stuart Strange on behalf of the King.

On behalf of justice. Oh, justice.

Hello.

You believe in justice?

I do.

And yet you're a rationalist.

What kind of rational man believes in justice?

I'm investigating the sinking of a sloop called the Cornwallis,

renamed the Influence, off the coast of Cabinda in July 1804.

Mr Delaney...

I have strong reason to believe that you were aboard the ship

the night it sank.

An example of the kind of nail you used to nail down the hold of

the East India Company ship, the Cornwallis,

when she ran aground...

..in July 1804.

Hm.

"Aye, aye, Captain," I said.

I'm aware you were following orders.

No, I happen to like driving in nails.

Takes your mind off the rain

and off of a sinking ship.

Mr Delaney, perhaps I should come back during daytime.

Oh, no, no, there's no use. I am always like this.

Please, carry on.

You travelled to the Volta as a slave

and then began to deal slaves.

You stole diamonds from a fellow slaver

and then returned to London.

I have done much worse things than...

..stealing diamonds.

Yes.

I know this, too.

Ah.

What do you want?

As far as I can ascertain...

..you are the only surviving member of the crew of the Cornwallis.

I want you to write an account, naming Sir Stuart Strange

as the man who organised the loading of the Cornwallis with slaves -

bound for a sugar plantation in Jumby Bay, Antigua -

owned by his own brother.

In return, the Royal Commission will offer you

a full pardon for your crime.

For crime... it is.

I have an alternative suggestion.

In.

Ah-ha.

I have a use for you.

For the safe.

Mm-hm?

Go.

Murderer!

Murderer!

Do you know who blew up your ship?

I've been thinking a lot about what happened, and...

..and I think we were right.

There wasn't the time for such...

And we have plenty of time.

No.

No, we don't.

When you first came back, you told me you loved me.

I would never have thought... But you don't think.

Do you?

I know you.

I know your nature.

I know you. No.

I believed once that we were the same person.

We are.

We are not. We are.

Not any more.

Hm.

Perhaps you should thank your God for that.

No.

No, James.

No.

No, you can't do this.

Not now.

It is done. Please...

For your widowhood.

Now...

I have work to do, so please excuse me.

No fires within these walls. I'm sorry.

We're not moving the powder today, are we?

So what's so urgent I had to dismount from

a porky little Chinese?

This is where they kept my mother.

Hmm.

Something for your book.

The lioness will fiercely protect her cubs,

regardless of the consequences.

Even if that means her certain death.

Helga.

Is that who you mean?

That woman will betray us.