Taboo

What is it you're looking for?

The Nootka Sound treaty.

I may need to prove to a tribunal that the land was

acquired by treaty and not by conquest.

Pettifer said if Delaney wanted to trade

with the Indians at Nootka,

the only merchandise you could possibly use would be gunpowder.

Where the fuck are we? My new factory.

Well, I have a theory that the introduction

of several barrels of saltpeter

can cut the leaching stage down to four weeks.

There is only one place where once can find refined saltpeter.

The warehouse of the East India Company at Wapping Wall.

And I'm planning a robbery.

You tell Carlsbad my name.

And who is Carlsbad?

Carlsbad is the head of the American Society

of Secret Correspondence in London.

At all times your life is in our hands.

As is your name in mine. Carlsbad.

And if they invited us both, then they probably know.

Who knows?

I challenge James Delaney to a duel.

To the death.

Do you accept?

Good morning.

The gypsy woman owns this island between two parishes.

It is tradition that she offers duelists a token of good luck.

Three shillings each for heather and goose feathers.

This is not a fairground.

Gentlemen,

a slight has been perceived, and one of you seeks satisfaction.

Which?

Here is my pistol for inspection.

This is my second, Mr. Hope of Trinity Lane.

May I see your pistol?

Can we please get on with it?

This fog is pestilential.

Where is your second? I don't have one.

The code requires you have a second. Don't have one.

Let's just say this woman is yours and she is late.

Could you not find a boat like a normal person?

I was bored and I've never seen a man shot before.

Why don't you go and stand over there by the fire and keep warm?

Duelists stand apart with the attorney between.

No lack of faith in either party but...

I need payment in advance.

On my instruction,

the duelists will take up position at the points.

Anyone firing a outrance

will be fair game to be shot.

You will duel to first blood...

To the death!

To first blood...

According to the Irish code of 1777.

Any man wounded will be tended by the doctor.

And no second shot will be fired by either gun.

Gentlemen, take up your positions.

The aggrieved party at the nearest point.

When I drop this handkerchief,

you will walk towards each other.

And at a time of your choosing,

there will be a polite exchange of bullets.

Dear God, have mercy on my soul.

Satisfied?

My apologies.

That was an excellent shot.

I can only assume that your second is a Company man.

Since he failed to load a ball in your pistol.

(GRUNTS)

Dear God.

It would appear that my life is more precious than yours.

Good day.

You have ash on your hands.

Where is the maid?

I sent her out...

For champagne or potatoes?

Or both?

So how did it resolve itself? Did you both see sense?

No.

I shot him.

Between the eyes.

And a host of devils flew out of the hole in his head and down the river.

In that event, it would be potatoes, wouldn't it?

Simple sustenance.

Life goes on.

Before you drink any more, could you tell me what happened?

But in the event

of a messenger having to tell you

that he had killed me?

Well...

Champagne.

All the wild possibilities.

In truth, neither is the case.

It was void.

How?

Go and wash your hands.

No need for any more questions.

Not when half of London will be retelling the story anyway.

So I shall hear through gossip.

As I hear about you.

So, how was the party?

Well, he was entertaining.

And how did you end up in the duck pond?

She was legless. She tried to catch a salmon with her feet.

If he stayed to eat the eggs I boiled for him,

he would hear my story of last night.

Soldiers in red.

Soldiers in blue.

Running by the window.

Out there on the foreshore.

Stopping river traffic and searching

every barge going east.

You see, Miss Bow, last night there was a robbery.

From the East India Arsenal.

Ingredients for making gun powder stolen from under the Company's noses.

Insurrectionists, they say. Frenchmen.

Though not one of them spoke French.

Hmm.

The Company have already stated those involved will hang.

The lady and I will take our breakfast on the foreshore this morning. Thank you.

And when they come,

let them in.

You can open every door.

We have nothing here to hide.

You will hang.

They will catch you and hang you.

I need you to bring me the trunk with my father's belongings today.

Explain how you will not hang.

Explain to me why you crossed the river to watch me get shot.

It was shallow, and I needed a better view.

Your turn.

The saltpeter we stole

had already been sold to the Royal Navy.

So it belonged to the Crown.

So therefore, the Prince Regent has an excuse

to prosecute the Company for negligence,

as the powder was in their charge at the time.

Well, the Company can cause me a lot of difficulties.

But only the King can have me hanged.

The Crown will choose to make a deal.

So I will not hang.

Look, I am very happy to admit that I don't want James Delaney to die.

But can you also admit that you don't want James Delaney to die?

You'll get me my trunk, today. That's your business. All right?

I don't want James Delaney to die either.

Who are you? I'm Winter.

They say he's a devil,

but not to me.

He promised to take me to America.

Yeah. If he lives beyond sunset.

Check the barrels, all of them!

There's got to be something here.

Search everywhere.

Come on. Get them off!

Get below! You! Check the bilges.

Nothing? They can't have just vanished.

What's this?

Sir, they're empty. Apart from rats and river water, sir.

Carry on.

You've had a fall.

You probably don't remember who you are.

So let me remind you.

You've been following me, haven't you?

Now, are you King or are you Company?

Hmm?

It doesn't matter. (SLICES)

Hmm. Now there's nothing up that road for you apart from death.

And anybody like you.

So you run along and tell your friends

how you almost lost your heart.

Love thy husband, look to thy servants,

cherish thy guests...

Now, Hal, to the news at court for the robbery lad.

How is that answered?

How is it answered, Mr. Delaney?

The company is looking.

I think the Prince may be amused.

All these chemicals I ingest

chase lines of Shakespeare out of me sometimes unbidden.

Which brings me to that rather delightful woman you were at the party with.

An actress, she told me.

Is she yours or...

Could a chemist call upon her?

For tea or something?

Show me the cargo.

Brace!

Brace, can you come and help me?

What the hell happened here?

Bloody soldiers raided the house.

Did you hear me shouting?

Can't you see I'm busy?

Where's James?