Jamestown

Subtitle by peritta

Look what they send us...

a paltry few measly, weak men.

No more than boys, most of them.

What we need is strong hands to toil.

Plantation's nothing but dirt till it's worked.

Labour is where riches are made.

_

- Captain, welcome to Jamestown. - Thank you.

We're eager for news from England.

A General Assembly of representatives from all of Virginia,

for the purpose of passing laws.

Planters will be selected.

Each man will be named a Burgess

of his parish to speak on behalf of the commonage.

Burgesses?

Elected? Why give power away so cheaply?

It's a Company wish, and a firm instruction.

Rankling does not suit you, sir.

Perhaps you might explain the benefits to us, Governor,

of inviting men of the soil to put their grub hands on the governance.

Sir, Edwin Sands has convinced the Company

the surest way to attract new investors

is to assure them their stake will not be embezzled.

Accountability seems to be the word on everyone's lips.

An understandable and admirable sentiment,

but what is to become of us

if we are to answer to hedge-born planters?

Well, that, gentlemen, we shall discover.

Don't you go thinking you can leave on that ship, woman.

Hmm?

You're married now.

And that means you're wed.

We ain't married, you jolthead!

Eh?

You're so drunk from waking to sleep,

and you don't know spit of what might happen or not.

So I only told you we were wed.

But we're married!

Verity!

Verity!

We're married!

Come on.

Perhaps if you were to lay yourself at the mercy of Lady Yeardley...

Explain the nature of your predicament at the time.

She detests my every living step. Who can blame her?

I've mocked her piety.

I am expert at making enemies,

and now she has the means to destroy me.

Mistress Castell.

You seemed to be in considerable distress at the wharf.

So much so that here you are,

seeking solace from the good doctor.

How kind of you to notice, Secretary Farlow.

I do not doubt that you appreciate the gratification

to be gained from the comfort of a man.

I am moments away from ruin.

It is all I can do to breathe.

Reverend Sir. Your Worshipness.

Suppose...

a woman were intent on getting on that ship.

And suppose that woman's husband said they were married,

but the wife said... she weren't a wife.

Can they take their vows in haste if they ain't already wed?

England!

Yeah, that's me point, sir.

To prevent her from returning.

I'm going home!

I am leaving this place.

I can breathe again.

Did you wed meself and me wife?

You are no more married than I am, Rutter.

Are you married, Reverend?

Silas?

Is he to stay in our home?

He's my brother.

Come on.

Henry, you have your own land now.

Why is that not enough?

Eh?

Once you've started,

once your land is growing, it'll give you your life back.

Henry.

We've a harvest to bring in. We need your strength.

Ain't that so, Pepper?

Will you help us, Henry?

He's turned that savage will of his against his own life.

For the sake of silver.

Ain't the silver that broke him, Silas.

It's the crushing humiliation before every soul in Jamestown.

It is right that you should take a care for your brother.

How can I sleep with him there, so close at hand?

Do you believe that he might try to harm you again?

It ain't that.

It's the memory of it.

Some... harvest you should have, Sharrow.

There's work to do yet, Master Massinger.

Considered what you're looking to profit?

I daresay you'd know that better than I would.

Well, whatever you foresee, forget it.

Why is that so, sir?

Well, I'll harvest 40 times what you bring in.

Best quality tobacco, and I intend to sell it at a price so low

that no dealer will pay any price above what I ask,

and make sure that you don't profit

from one leaf.

I can afford to do that year after year

till you're ruined.

I gave you a chance to deal.

But you decided to challenge me instead.

And now you're going to see what that truly costs.

I mean, if life here ain't to your liking,

what'll happen when you go home?

Prison!

That's what!

So what were they for?

The tears.

All my life, I never really felt like I belonged.

But here...

in this mad,

knee-deep shitpile...

I do.

I saw those women coming off of that ship

and I knew I'll never leave this place.

Because it's my home.

Hmm.

That changes everything.

I have thoughts and desires now that I ain't never had before.

So you ain't going back?

No.

Fetch us an ale, then.

Mercy, did you ever witness anyone die on the gallows?

I have, ma'am.

It is a most fearful, frightful sight.

Do the condemned seem ready to meet their maker?

Or do they plead for their lives to be spared?

They scream for forgiveness, ma'am.

Screeches that sound like they escaped from hell itself.

Yes, well, that's description enough.

Some of them curse their own souls with such a loathing,

it's like looking into Satan's eyes.

I stand before you

to call together a General Assembly.

The main part of which will be made up of burgesses,

men elected to make laws

that we will live our lives by.

Two men from each particular plantation

will form a house to pass laws.

Make no mistake about our purpose here.

It is to create a new world,

one abundant with opportunity and harmony.

God has given us the means to seek heroic profit.

Let us do so as one...

...and invite good men to take up governance.

Since the men from the boroughs are in Jamestown for the arrival of the ship,

I will call the first General Assembly this very week.

We are the creators

of the greatest political endeavour...

a land

where free men...

...together

respect the rights

and the conscience of all who can speak.

- - Thank you.

I trust with all my heart

that the burgesses will serve our colony well.

But I will appoint a Council of State

to oversee our business.

And I will of course reserve the power of veto for any...

let us say...

unseemly proposals.

Good news.

Mistress Sharrow...

...Er,

I wish to show you something.

Thank you, James.

What made you decide?

I seen more women arriving.

I'm going to...

buy myself a wife.

To come over on the next ship.

Is Henry staying with you now out at the plantation?

He is.

If you ever want him to leave...

I mean, if you and your husband need any assistance...

James...

What a man you are.

Might I take a drink with you, Master Rutter?

Might I have another?

Mercy, let us live brightly.

For we do not know how much life we have left.

Is there a better companion in this world

than a true drinking cousin?

Pour inside me several ales

and I have the fleetest of feet.

Oh, yes?

Shall I show you, your ma'amship?

Mmm.

I killed a man.

I took the life of a man because I loved him.