The Legend of Gilbert Flay

Ghost stories in the south

go together like heat and hell.

Well, I never believed in ghosts, but

I always believed in hell.

And I remember the day I found out

that hell is a place on earth.

I was just a boy and I was playing in these woods

and I stayed out too late.

It was dark and I couldn't see my house yet,

but I could hear my aunt screaming my name.

I'd never heard a scream like that

when I stepped into the clearing.

She came running at me so fast.

I thought she was coming to kill me.

I froze.

She picked me up and started squeezing me

so tight I couldn't breathe.

And all she kept saying over and over was, thank you.

Thank you Gilbert Flay

for not taking him away.

After dinner, I asked her, who's Gilbert Flay?

She said that Gilbert was one of the few children

that survived the Massacre of Ebenezer Creek.

And by the grace of God, he made his way here

with a few others and built Shermantown.

I asked why she was so afraid of a dead man.

She said he wasn't dead.

She said, Gilbert Flay is a part of our history

and sometimes history gets buried alive.

- Baby, if you keep running from life,

you're just gonna end up alone and tired.

I'm gonna right here.

Alright.

Alright. You got it?

Mind if I join you?

long day?

mmmm, long night.

You'd be surprised what that train'll do to a possum.

Turn 'em into one of those flat hot sandwiches with the tracks.

You mean a panini?

Yeah, that's it. Possum Panini.

I'm Reese.

Reese Vansant.

Sentry.

Like a hundred years

Somewhat.

You know this park officially opened on April 14th, 1965.

Exactly. 100 years to the day after Lincoln was shot.

Lincoln!

it's a big deal for black folks. Am I right?

He did—free the slaves.

Speaking of free black folks, where are you from?

If it's all the same to you, I'd rather just sit, quietly.

Well, excuse me.

Sorry for staring at you like that... but, uh!

You remind me of this fella I used to work with.

Y'all might even be kinfolk.

Do you know

Jeremiah?

No.

Well!

actually we called him Jerry.

Oh wait, Jerry? Yeah, I know Jerry, he's my cousin.

- Really? - No,

That's funny.

Jerry was funny too.

He used to say that black folks don't like the woods

because all the trees make their necks itch.

Is is that true?

Only around your kinfolk.

Well, there sure are a lot

of yo people in the park today too.

Oh my God.

Movie people. I mean.

You're here for the festival, right?

- Right. - Yep.

Well, they're all running crazy through the park

like shit through a goose. What's it called?

Four Forties and a film. Right?

That's the 44 hour film competition.

Yeah. You got your foe foe, wit yo peeps, huh?

Well don't that start over at Pavilion three

by the West Gate.

I thought it was here at the East Gate.

Well, we can't both be right now, can we?

Hell, maybe I'm wrong.

- Shit. - Need some help.

It would be my absolute honor to aid and assist you, ma'am.

- Yes, please. Thank you. - My pleasure.

Colquit, Come in.

Go ahead for Colquit.

Yeah that uh... film competition they're having today.

Where are they meeting at? Over

Pavilion three by the West Gate

Over.

Thanks. Hey, look, if you want

I can give you a ride over there.

Oh no. That won't be necessary.

You got a map?

No.

Well, the way I hear it times money

and you're already on CP time and running behind.

Don't seem smart to get lost on top of that,

You are too kind.

but no thank you. Where can I get a map?

Look, it is really no trouble

for me to drive you over there.

Yeah, but you just sat down for your break.

You wanna know a secret?

I take breaks-all day long.

Come on! I'd be a perfect gentleman.

Is he coming too?

Oh yeah, he's fine.

Besides... we'll be back in two shakes.

You just sit right up here.

Let's see if this key's still working okay

Hey! What the hell you doing?

I think she likes you

Can we, Can we go please?

-A lot of people don't like me because I'm honest,

but I just don't know any other way to be.

I'm like that big rock, you know?

Everything can change around me,

but I'll be the same old Reese until I die.

Hmm? When will that be?

Say what?

There are a lot of trees.

Yeah, A lot of history in these woods. "On this rock.

I will build my church

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

I bet you didn't know that the White Citizens Council used

to have sermons up in the mountain once a

month after the war.

- The White Citizens Council. - That is right.

- You mean the Klu Klux Klan? - The what?

Cross burning cowards behind white sheets.

Are those the citizens you're referring to?

Those were God-fearing men.

Oh, they were fearful. All right. But not of God.

I suppose you're one of those,

"all black lies matter" people.

Am I right?