Original subtitles

[Medwin Harris] Previously on Washington Black...

These are from your father, posted within the last few months.

[George Washington "Wash" Black] If I knew where my parents were,

I would go to the ends of the Earth.

[Christopher "Titch" Wilde] It's magnificent, isn't it?

[Titch panting] This way.

[exhales sharply]

I'm quite sure my father's camp

is just on the other side of that mountain.

[wind blowing]

[ice cracking]

-[Young Wash] Titch, the ice! -[screaming]

Titch!

Wash! [grunting]

[Titch yelps]

[William "Billy" McGee] I met a man yesterday.

A hunter, I presume, and he promised a dark fate for your friend.

[muffled shouting]

I need your help if I'm to warn Mr. Crawford in time.

[grunting]

[John Willard] I will find you, Mr. Washington!

Even if you run to the ends of the Earth!

[bird cawing]

[bird squawking]

[♪ foreboding music playing]

[panting]

[breathing heavily]

[grunting]

[panting]

Oh.

-[♪ tense music playing] -[bird squawking]

[twig snapping]

[gun cocking]

[Wash breathing heavily]

[muttering indistinctly]

[Willard] Mr. Washington.

You're comin' with me.

No.

-[gunshot] -[bird squawking]

I'm not there yet.

[Wash panting]

[sniffling]

Now, be a good lad.

Come to me.

You'll have to take me.

[chuckles softly]

[chuckles]

-[trap crunching] -[Willard grunting]

[Willard shouting]

[screaming]

-[Wash grunting] -[wood snapping]

[Willard screaming]

[horse grunting]

[Tanna Goff] His scarf.

Got blood on cut rope.

And tracks.

I knew it. He got away.

He's still alive.

You don't know your way around out here.

He don't either.

Tracks lead this way, deeper into the woods.

Follow me and stay close.

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

-[fabric ripping] -[grunts]

[Tanna grunting]

[sighs]

[bird calling]

[sighs]

[Willard grunting]

[Wash groaning]

[Willard] [exclaiming] Here, Mr. Washington!

[both grunting]

Hya! Hya!

[punch thuds]

[grunting] No! No!

-No! -[grunting]

-[flesh squelching] -[Willard screaming]

[Wash shouting]

[fists thudding]

Leave! Me! Alone!

[both yelling]

[Wash thudding]

[♪ tense music playing]

[grunts]

[Willard grunting]

[Wash] Hey!

[Willard groaning]

[Wash yelling]

[panting loudly]

No, no, no, no.

[waves crashing]

[Willard] Mr. Washington.

-[Wash sighs] -We've come to the ends of the Earth.

I...

I'm free.

That is the truth.

And you can't take it.

-Even if you kill me. -[Willard sighs]

Well, then.

Let it end here.

[waves crashing]

[Willard grunting]

[♪ suspenseful music playing]

[Wash breathing heavily, breath echoing]

[♪ suspenseful music swelling]

-[♪ music stops abruptly] -[wind blowing softly]

[water splashing]

[birdsong]

[♪ soft music playing]

[Young Wash laughing]

[Older Wash] Hey, wait!

[♪ soft music continues]

[scoffs]

Hello, Wash.

[breathing heavily]

I wish I could still dream like you.

When you get older...

the magic...

it goes away.

If it was ever there at all.

-You cannot give up. -[sighs]

-Not yet. -You don't understand.

Washington swim. Washington run.

Washington fly. All the way to Nova Scotia.

[sighs]

I'm sorry.

I forgot how to fly, I-- I forgot how to swim.

I'm so sorry.

You have to swim one more time.

What if I forget again?

We take our faces with us...

[whispering] ...so we never forget.

You have to swim.

[Young Wash's voice muffled, echoing] Washington, swim.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[muffled yelling]

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[Tanna] Medwin, look.

Wash's beads.

He's never without these.

[waves crashing]

If he went over that...

The current, it could've washed him ashore.

Come on.

Come on!

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[sea birds calling]

Look.

[Medwin] It's Willard.

He's dead.

[panting] Where is he?

Come on.

[Tanna] Wash!

Oh, God.

Please, Wash.

-Come on, wake up. -He gone.

No! You will not die today.

Give me your coat!

[Tanna whimpering]

[sighs]

He's alive. He's alive.

He's alive!

Wash, please. Wash!

[sobbing] Wash, please.

[Wash coughing]

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[Wash gasping]

[Tanna crying]

[Medwin] Let's get you home.

[Wash grunting]

[people chattering]

[Medwin] Hey, Angie.

-Oh, God. -Angie?

-[Wash grunting] -Oh, God.

Take him upstairs.

Get him out of those wet clothes and into a warm bed.

-[Medwin] Watch your step. -Not you, Medwin.

-You stay here. -Go on. Go on.

Sorry. I should've told you I was going.

-He could have died out there. -I know. Hey.

-Hey, hey. -You too.

[sobbing] And I can't go through all of that again. I can't.

I know.

[♪ somber music playing]

Yeah.

Tell the boy I'll check on him, okay?

You're runnin' away again?

[♪ somber music playing]

[exhales sharply]

[groaning]

[Tanna] Rest, my love.

[necklace clasping]

[distant wind whistling]

[whispering] I'll be up there with you someday.

[♪ light music playing]

[birdsong]

[horses grunting]

Oh, you survived. [sighs]

I mean, barely, by the looks of things. [chuckles]

-[clearing throat] -Yes.

As did Jack.

[clicking tongue]

Will you stay for tea?

Thank you. Perhaps another time.

And what of Willard?

He's dead.

So, he's free then, your Jack Crawford.

He is.

[sighs]

-Mr. McGee. -Billy.

-Billy McGee. -Billy.

You know, you're more than I first imagined.

And perhaps...

if the situation was different--

Were you not in love with another man, you mean, eh?

Forgive me.

That did taste quite bitter coming out of my mouth.

[chuckles]

It's alright.

But I can't marry you.

I know.

But if you truly believe that you were meant for more...

and if it is within your grasp...

then you must go for it.

-With everything you've got. -Come now.

Is it me you saw in your grasp

or the royal access my father promised?

It started one way...

and then it became another.

I wouldn't have found Jack without your help.

You're a good man.

Perhaps, Miss Goff.

Perhaps.

Now, if you don't mind...

I have a broken heart to tend to.

[Tanna chuckles softly]

[sighs]

[♪ gentle music playing]

[sighs deeply]

-[wind blowing] -[Young Wash] Titch. Stay awake, Titch.

Stay awake, Titch.

If the old man could see me now. [chuckles]

Wash...

I'm sorry.

-Titch. -[shallow breathing]

Titch!

[Young Wash sobbing]

Ogun... Yemoja...

carry him...

peaceful grass...

cool water.

[sobbing]

[whispering] Peaceful grass, cool water.

[footsteps crunching]

[gasps]

[wind blowing loudly]

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[flame whooshing]

Come around here. Come.

[liquid bubbling]

Pass me the funnel.

We need to raise his body temperature. Quickly.

[bag hissing]

Higher.

[♪ dramatic music continues]

[Young Wash winces]

[sighs]

-[sighs] -[Titch coughing weakly]

[shallow breathing]

You got yourself in a bit of a pickle, boy.

[labored breathing]

F-Father.

[gasps]

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[sled dogs panting]

Quite a sight, isn't it?

[♪ dramatic music continues]

Welcome to the northern most outpost of the Royal Science League.

[Mr. Wilde grunting]

-[dogs barking] -Pana!

[patting]

Successful hunt for the lost cub?

Yeah. Get him inside.

[dogs whining, barking]

[Titch shivering]

[chimes tinkling]

[♪ light music playing]

A house...

made of ice. [chuckles]

[Uki speaking Inuktitut]

Hello.

[♪ light music continues]

[Titch shivering]

[dish clanging]

[sighs]

-You're alive, Father. -Mm.

And you are fortunate Pana over there

stopped to inquire about the strange underdressed white man

who'd arrived in town.

-[chuckles] -Naturally, a pair such as yourselves

would attract attention.

Why did you come here?

For you, Father. I came to the ends of the Earth for you.

Hm.

[wind whistling]

[door closes]

Peter Haas?

[scoffing]

Don't be a fool, boy. The proudest perish first out here.

[sighs]

[whispering] He speaks with his hands.

Like his mother.

-[door opens] -[wind whistling]

[door closes]

-[Young Wash] Hm. -[Uki] Hm.

[Uki speaking Inuktitut]

[Young Wash] What's that? Is it for-- for me?

Thank you.

[wind whistling]

[chewing]

[Titch] What exactly is it you're doing here, Father?

We're doing a study, an astronomical study

into what the locals call Selamiut,

the Northern Lights.

The ballet of purple and green shimmering in the night sky.

And because of my rather bold hypothesis, the Royal Science League have tasked me

with investigating the origin of that phenomena.

Mm, and that hypothesis is...?

They're caused by solar irregularities.

[laughing] You've come all the way to the Arctic

to study the sun.

[Mr. James Wilde] There's a certain irony there, I admit.

But in all scientific fields, there are dualities,

opposing forces and rhyming couplets, hm?

Mm.

-I'm sorry, are you discussing me? -Now, why would we?

[scoffs]

[Mr. Wilde] Hm, your assistant is well-trained.

Where did you find him?

You know, I'm suddenly feeling quite exhausted.

[clearing throat]

That's what happens when you dice with death.

Pana has prepared your accommodations in his igloo.

Goodnight, Father.

Just a minute, Christopher.

Very soon, we're going to have an issue with food.

We didn't calculate for two extra mouths.

So, first thing in the morning, we're going to go on a seal hunt.

-[scoffs] -If you don't care to join us,

I quite understand.

How exciting. [scoffs]

I better get my rest then.

[fabric flapping]

[Titch shivering]

Titch.

Why didn't you tell your father about Philip?

Or that we are being followed?

Um, we're at the ends of the Earth.

Why complicate things?

You're safe here, Wash.

[Young Wash] The man who speaks with his hands...

is he your father's friend?

[Titch scoffs]

Titch, are you alright?

Big day tomorrow.

Go, get some sleep.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

So, the seal comes out of the hole?

[chuckles softly]

[chuckles softly]

[Titch] That's, uh, quite the weapon for a tiny seal.

[Mr. Wilde] Yeah, so do us all a favor and don't touch it.

[Titch clearing throat]

I have wonderful news, Father.

Idle chatter is not the path to Agloolik's favor.

What is this Agloolik?

He's the guardian spirit of this place.

[scoffs] And you believe that?

If you can't be silent,

try to be interesting at least, mm?

Right.

[sighs]

Well, you recall your Cloud Cutter design?

I built it, and it worked.

Airborne?

Were you able to study the effect of pressure shifts

on the human body during aerostat ascent?

Only practically.

But we found there to be none.

Ah.

Uh, "we"?

As in you and young Wash, yeah?

Yes, well, a scientist needs an assistant.

-That's what you always told me. -Uh-huh.

Then where is she now, the Cutter?

Uh, well, she's at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea, I'm afraid.

Hm.

Tempting death has become a habit of yours.

You almost died trying to find me, too.

And dragging this boy along with you.

You made a bit of a mess of things, didn't you?

I did?

You let your family believe you were dead.

Look where we are. Alive or dead,

it makes no difference to anybody but myself.

It makes a difference to me, Father.

Oh, Titch.

You-- you corresponded with Farrow?

Tell me, would you have told Mother,

or did you intentionally wait until she was gone?

Your mother...

understood.

-[scoffs] -Someday, you will look in the mirror

and you will realize that you have more days behind you than ahead...

and that it is a disgrace to live falsely.

An affront to the miracle of existence.

[Mr. Wilde speaking Latin]

[Titch speaking Latin]

You're not a duty, Titch.

Your mind just needed independence to flourish.

This feat with the Cutter is irrefutable proof.

[chuckles softly]

-[ice cracking] -[water splashing]

[seal grunting]

[seal grunting]

[Young Wash gasps]

Wow.

[seal continues grunting]

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[seal bellowing]

It's getting away.

-[Mr. Wilde] Christopher, wait. -It's getting away!

[Mr. Wilde] Wait! You can't make the shot.

-No! -[spear gun firing]

[Peter groaning]

[seal grunting]

-Oh, no. -[Peter exclaiming]

[Peter continues exclaiming]

[yells]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.

-Get away. -I didn't mean to.

Get away!

Are you alright? My God, what has he done to you?

[wind blowing]

[speaking Inuktitut]

[liquid bubbling]

[♪ somber music playing]

[Titch sighs]

No, you stay here.

[Peter wincing]

[Titch] How is he?

He may walk again, with agony.

Um...

-I am truly, truly sorry. -Mm-hmm.

-I didn't think-- -When did you ever?

Father, it was one misstep.

No, no, no, you sorely miscount.

Here you are, dragging that boy around,

courting death for him, you, and the rest of us,

adding to your tally.

You should have done something useful at Oxford and read poetry.

You go too far.

No, Christopher. I've never gone far enough.

My application to the Royal Science League.

The League was ready to admit me, and you've had it all this time.

Why have you had it all this time?

My colleagues had honorable intentions. They sent it to me for endorsement.

But I will not sign it. Ever.

This is all I've ever wanted my whole life.

Christopher.

You are no scientist.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[wind whistling]

[Pana speaking Inuktitut]

[dogs whimpering]

[Pana] Where's your family?

[Young Wash] I never knew them.

There was a woman who took care of me.

-Her name was Kit. -[Pana] Kit.

Is she alive?

I hope so.

[Pana speaking Inuktitut]

Do you have any children?

[Pana speaking Inuktitut]

-Did I say something wrong? -No.

Clothes you're wearing were our daughter's.

What was her name?

Siku.

[Uki sniffles]

[Uki speaking Inuktitut]

You honor the spirit of our daughter.

[Uki speaking Inuktitut]

[Pana] We will honor the spirit of your Kit.

[Uki speaking Inuktitut]

You will always see her in the sky.

[Uki speaking Inuktitut]

[Pana] Her spirit will always carry the torch to light it.

[dogs barking]

[whispering] Are we leaving?

No. [shushing]

I, um...

I've made arrangements.

That purse contains some money.

It's not a considerable sum, it was the best I could do.

-I don't understand. -This letter

relinquishes any ownership I have over you.

I'm unsure what Erasmus would have to say about it,

but I can no longer burden myself with that.

-Titch. -You're free, Wash.

You can stay, you can go. But it's your choice.

It cannot be mine anymore.

[wind blowing]

[exhales sharply]

-What did I do wrong? -Go back inside!

You're gonna get lost out here.

Don't leave me, please!

-This has nothing to do with you. -I don't have anyone else.

Well, that makes you lucky then, Wash, doesn't it?

To not have a-- a family or a father to break you.

Someday you'll realize.

But you are my family, Titch.

You are ballast, Wash.

You understand me?

And that's all you've ever been.

Ballast.

[wind blowing]

[sobbing]

Titch!

Come back, please!

Were you just pretending?

You should've left me there to die!

They were right about you. All of them!

Phillip, Barrington, Farrow, Nat Turner.

I hate you, Titch!

Can you hear me?! I hate you!

[sobbing]

The igloo. Where did it go?

[♪ tense music playing]

[wind blowing loudly]

[shivering]

Help!

Pana! Uki!

Help me!

Anybody, please. Help!

[♪ dramatic music playing]

♪♪

[♪ music fades out]

[♪ fanfare playing]