Original subtitles

[Medwin Harris] Previously on Washington Black...

[Mr. Goff] Oh, it's an octopus. That's a real catch!

[George Washington "Wash" Black] What if there was a way

to hold onto the creature's beauty

before it disappeared?

[Mr. Goff] Imagine the RSL's reaction to such a discovery.

-[Wash chuckles] -[John Willard] Mr. Washington,

we have come to the ends of the Earth.

[Miss Angie] Take him upstairs. Not you, Medwin.

You're runnin' away again?

[Tanna Goff] Rest, my love.

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

Father?

I came to the ends of the Earth for you.

-Peter Haas. -The man who speaks with his hands,

is he your father's friend?

[Christopher "Titch" Wilde] I made arrangements.

This letter relinquishes any ownership I have over you.

-[Young Wash] Titch! -[Titch] You're free.

Don't leave me please!

Were you just pretending?

I hate you!

When I die, I wake up at home in Dahomey,

-and I live on. -Heavy words for a little youth.

-How you know of these things? -A friend.

[wind roaring]

Pana! Uki!

Anybody, please! Help!

[animals chittering]

[♪ tense music playing]

[♪ music stops]

[breeze blowing]

[breathing shakily]

[birdsong]

[♪ gentle music playing]

[chuckles softly]

Kit! [laughing]

Wash. No.

[Big Kit sobbing]

[♪ gentle music continues]

[sobbing continues]

[wailing]

[gasping]

I am so sorry, boy, for you to die...

so far from me.

[sighs deeply]

Ogun, Yemoja...

thank you for bringing him home.

[♪ gentle music continues]

It's just like you said, Kit.

Like home.

-Like free. -[laughing]

Can fly forever here.

With me.

[♪ somber music playing]

[snowfall rustling]

[Young Wash] No.

Kit, no. No, No!

[Big Kit shushing]

-Kit, please! -[wind whooshing]

Kit, it's so cold! Please!

[wind roaring]

[wind continues roaring]

[people chattering]

[Wash groaning]

[Tanna shushing]

You're safe, my love.

Where's-- where's Willard?

He's dead.

He's dead.

What? Wha... Does that mean...

You can stop running...

and live your life. [chuckles]

You're finally free to do whatever your heart desires.

[sighs]

The Royal Science League.

Now, don't worry about that right now.

Rest.

-[groaning] -You will make it to the expo

with the octopus and your aquarium.

And what of your father?

I can handle him.

To open my eyes...

and see your face.

You saved my life.

You saved yourself.

[Medwin clearing throat]

[Wash sighs]

I will give you two a moment.

[Tanna kissing]

[clearing throat, sighs]

Never thought I'd see the day I might envy you, island boy.

[chuckles] How do you mean?

[groans]

That young woman would burn down the world to find you.

Kinda love don't often come around for a man.

Kinda love most of us don't deserve.

You mean, you and Angie?

Yeah.

She was married to my best friend.

His name was Winston.

Was?

[Medwin] Yeah.

He asked me to look out for her once he was gone.

I kept my promise.

But me and Angie, we, um... [sighs]

we wanted more.

And it didn't feel right.

So, I ran away.

And maybe I hurt her in the process.

You think she stopped wanting more?

I done messed up enough already.

[Wash sighs]

Who is it you would burn down the world for?

[♪ gentle music playing]

[people chattering]

That last question you asked me...

can we try that again?

I finally know the answer.

[Miss Angie sighs]

[♪ gentle music playing]

You runnin' away again?

[♪ gentle music continues]

[♪ swelling romantic music playing]

[both laughing]

[Mr. Goff] I can't be certain of a name for it.

Well, Jack has already given it a name. Aquarium.

Latin root, "aqua," water,

with the suffix "arium," a place for relating to.

Aquarium.

What a-- what a marvel that young man is.

This could change everything for you in London.

Yes, of course, but I mean,

one could say that we still have unfinished business here.

There are two things that might have kept us in Halifax.

The first no longer applies.

The-- the first, you... you say?

A marriage to McGee.

I've told him. It won't happen.

Even so, he's gracious enough to still pay our debts.

And this arrangement, he accepts.

The question is, Father, will you?

-And the second thing? -Well, Jack, of course.

But if he comes with us to London--

Wait, comes with us to London? How ridiculous!

Well, you need him, Father. You have the product of his genius,

but you do not know the making of it.

And if you were to take things further to the World Science Expo, for instance...

Are we negotiating then, Daughter?

So it would seem.

[♪ soft, dramatic music playing]

What are your, uh, requirements?

For us to return to London with Jack,

and for you to make sure he's given the credit for his work.

Well, that is-- that is quite a steep hill you propose.

There's never been a Black applicant for the RSL in its history.

Why, it would... [scoffs] it'd cause apoplexy in certain quarters.

I'm sure you could find a way.

Well, my-- my name would have to be on the application.

I would speak to the people who matter and-- and tell them

that the aquarium was-- was Jack's invention.

And with the appropriate discretion, of course,

perhaps he could be the-- the first Black member of the RSL

after we win the gold medal.

Does that satisfy your requirements?

Yes, Father.

To London then?

Yes, London, it is.

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[people chattering]

[Mr. Goff] Please be careful, my good man.

Caution is the word of the day, yes?

This is a live animal, let's just make sure

that the crate is secure.

[bell dinging]

[people chattering]

Thank you.

No. [chuckles]

Thank you.

The way you touched Medwin.

The way you touched us all.

-Don't be whisperin' 'bout me. -Ah, you wish!

-Yeah! -[Wash and Miss Angie laughing]

-Don't forget us. -Mm, never.

And maybe you'll fly back here with that flyin' machine of yours one day.

[Medwin] We're gonna have him missin' the boat. Come on.

You take care of each other, okay?

[clearing throat]

There's lots of water out there, Medwin.

Can't be as bad as when I taught you to swim.

[people chattering]

-[Miss Angie sighs] -[Tanna] Okay.

Goodbye.

-Goodbye. -Goodbye.

[sea birds cawing]

Mr. George Washington Black?

Yes. That's me.

Welcome aboard.

Thank you.

[♪ epic music playing]

Ready?

[bell clanging]

[captain] All aboard! All aboard!

[♪ epic music continues]

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[people chattering]

-[wagons rattling] -[horse whinnying]

What if the judges visit every other exhibit in London except ours?

The multitude of letters I wrote to my RSL colleagues

to dispel any lingering biases

that might overshadow the merit of our invention.

[sighs] Were they all in vain?

[Tanna] Father, look how far she's already brought us.

Look how many of your benefactors have returned already.

I'm sure the RSL will be just as astounded.

-Well, yes. -Perhaps it is only your energy

that is spent in vain.

The exposition doesn't officially start for three, two, one.

[door opens]

-[Mr. Goff] You've come. -But of course.

-How lovely to see you. -[RSL judge] Good Lord!

The ocean, come to life before our very eyes.

And your invention has kept it alive this whole time?

[Mr. Goff] Yeah, seven weeks and thriving.

This device is an aquarium.

"Aqua," Latin for water, and "arium," a place...

[Tanna] Better go and save my father from rambling.

[Mr. Goff] ...in its natural habitat without being moved.

How did you handle oxygenation?

-I balanced plants with marine life. -[Tanna] It's quite something, isn't it?

-My goodness. -[Mr. Goff] Coupled with clear glass.

[RSL judge] For sunlight?

[Mr. Goff] Good color as well, so having it enables us

to move it where we will for the pleasure of-- of the public...

"Excuse me.

"Are you by chance George Washington Black?

I believe I met you when you were a boy."

Peter?

[Wash chuckles]

[♪ gentle music playing]

[sighs deeply]

Accident?

Maybe.

-[door opens] -[wind whistling]

[Uki speaking Inuktitut]

[♪ ominous music playing]

[wind whooshing]

[grunting]

-[wind whooshing] -[♪ tense music playing]

[Young Wash shivering]

[panting heavily]

Christopher!

Christopher!

-[♪ tense music continues] -[wind whooshing]

[exclaiming]

[shivering]

-[shouting] -[body thuds]

[Mr. Wilde groaning]

-[bones cracking] -[groaning continues]

[♪ gentle music playing]

[Young Wash panting]

[grunting]

[wind intensifying]

[sighing]

[weakly] I'm sorry, Christopher.

[♪ tense music playing]

-[chains rattling] -[dogs barking]

Help me!

[Pana] I'm coming!

[dogs barking]

I see you, Wash!

[Young Wash whimpering]

-[fire crackling] -[Young Wash shivering]

Long time in the cold, little cub.

You should have died.

[Uki and Pana speaking Inuktitut]

[♪ melancholy music playing]

Mr. Wilde?

[Pana] He's out looking for his son.

Not back yet.

[Pana speaking Inuktitut]

[wind whooshing]

[♪ dramatic music playing]

[dogs barking]

[breathing weakly]

[dogs barking]

[♪ melancholy music playing]

[Mr. James Wilde] What's the matter, boy?

You never seen an old white man die?

[coughing]

[muttering indistinctly]

Christopher, did he say anything...

when he left, hm?

He said I was lucky.

Lucky?

To not have a father.

A father to break me.

Are you broken?

I have no father.

[chuckles] I dare say Chrstopher fancied the role...

not understanding the weight.

We came here for you.

[Mr. Wilde] I know.

Huh.

He was so happy to know that you were not dead.

He's a damn foolish boy.

How can those be the words you have for him now?

[♪ melancholy music continues]

[Mr. Wilde softly chuckles]

[Mr. Wilde coughing]

All my sons were terrible to you.

I was terrible to them.

Home, it was like a box.

But out here, freedom.

Perhaps I hated them for confining me to the box.

[wheezing] Perhaps I hated myself.

But even if it took too long and even if it broke them...

I claimed my freedom.

My truth.

But at what cost?

Now, I do have words for my son...

that I wished I'd shared.

I wish to share them with you in his stead.

[♪ melancholy music continues]

[muttering]

[Mr. Wilde speaking muffled, indistinct]

[inaudible]

Do you understand?

[Mr. Wilde coughs]

[Mr. Wilde groaning]

Oh, Peter.

[sighs]

I...

I love you.

[Mr. Wilde exhales slowly]

[sobbing]

Love.

[♪ melancholy music playing]

[chimes tinkling]

[Peter's crutch thudding]

For me?

[♪ melancholy music continues]

Nova Scotia?

Freedom?

This place has freedom?

For me?

Thank you.

How would I get to this Nova Scotia?

O-Okay.

[Uki speaking Inuktitut]

Stay with us.

I can stay?

Maybe Kit's up there...

lighting my path.

But maybe she's out there...

alive somewhere.

[sniffling]

And until I know...

I can't.

I'm sorry.

I'm-- I'm really sorry, but I-- I can't.

I take.

Boat.

I take you.

[Uki crying]

[wind whooshing]

[chimes tinkling]

[dogs barking]

[dogs whining]

[Pana] Wash.

[camera clicks]

-[wagons clattering] -[people chattering]

[chuckles]

Are you a judge for the World Science Expo?

I am. We both are.

I'm Martin. Peter has spoken fondly of you.

Oh, nice to meet you.

[indistinct chatter]

[Martin] Do you work for Mr. Goff?

Uh... [chuckles]

Well, actually, uh, I'm one of the creators of the aquarium.

[Martin] "It's a revelation.

That's why we came to your exhibit first."

-[sighs] -"I'm very proud.

You have overcome so much to get here."

[people chattering indistinctly]

You should meet my-- my partner.

Miss Tanna Goff, I present Mr. Peter Haas.

From the Arctic?

-Oh, well, pardon my interruption. -[Wash] Uh... [chuckles]

"Wonderful to meet a friend of Wash."

I'm Martin.

Lovely to meet you.

I hope I'm not being rude,

but the movement of your hands,

it's the language you spoke of?

Yes. A language of signs. [chuckles]

I even learned some when I was a boy.

[Martin] "May I have a moment with you alone?"

Yes. Um...

Of course. Of course.

[♪ gentle music playing]

Am I well?

[sighs]

I don't know.

[♪ gentle music continues]

[sniffling]

Yes. [sighs]

"We must now look at your wonderful work."

[Tanna] Oh.

"Lovely meeting you, Miss Goff."

"Wonderful to see you, Wash.

Truly, it was a gift."

"You might want to know...

"I heard Faith Plantation was sold

soon after the Abolition of Slavery Act was passed."

Uh...

D-Do you know, uh...

do you know what happened to the people?

[Martin] "I don't have details.

"I did hear some of them came to London looking for work.

You may find answers at the Wilde Estate in Hampshire."

Thank you.

Do you think...

[exhales sharply]

Could Kit have actually survived?

-[audience clapping] -[RSL judge] And now, it is time

to announce the gold medal winner

of the 1837 World Science Expo.

For embodying the motto of the Royal Science League,

Quaerite et Invenietis,

seek and ye shall find,

the winner of a gold medal...

is G.M. Goff for the aquarium.

[chatter and applause]

We won!

You did it.

-Welcome back. -Thank you.

[Mr. Goff clearing throat]

[Tanna] [sighs] This is it. He's going to call you up now.

I will build aquariums all over the world...

[attendees murmuring]

...to export the advancements to the masses

who would otherwise not have their minds expanded.

This is the empire's gift to the world.

-[cheering and applause] -This is my gift to the world!

My deepest and most humble thanks.

[applause]

[attendees chattering]

He promised.

You expected a different outcome?

You didn't?

He's your father.

How could you see him as others do?

[chattering continues]

Excuse me.

[sighs]

[Wash sighs]

I'm so sorry for my father's actions.

But I assure you, the RSL will know the truth.

I will write a letter including your designs.

You will receive your rightful credit.

[Wash sighs]

This was a terrible mistake.

What's the matter?

This is a time for celebration.

You made a promise.

Yeah, but it became very obvious that bringing Washington

into the picture at this time is not a clever strategy.

We're much more modern than these gentlemen.

This belongs to you, my boy.

Are you refusing my generosity?

You think you're soaring the heavens.

But you're stuck in the mud.

[♪ melancholy music playing]

[Wash grunts]

And I don't need you to fly.

You, Titch, Mr. Wilde.

None of you.

You have the aquarium.

Now, I'm going to build my flying machine,

on my own, on my terms.

I'm doing this for you, for our family.

Not my family.

I thought I might find it in you, Father.

But I see now it is as dead and gone as my mother.

What are you talking about?

Courage. Courage to do what's right.

Courage even when the world screams no.

There you are. Pardon the intrusion.

-[Mr. Goff chuckles] -It's customary for the winner of the gold

to celebrate at the Rotting Ash.

[background laughter and chatter]

Just go.

[♪ melancholy music playing]

Goodbye, Father.

[♪ melancholy music continues]

[birdsong]

[hoofbeats]

[♪ solemn music playing]

Hup.

[Wash] [sighs] This is so strange. This is where Titch grew up.

[♪ solemn music continues]

[knocking]

Gaius?

Wash?

Yes.

Good Lord!

[laughing]

Oh!

The children. I never got to, uh...

You're the first one I've ever seen grow.

Uh, this is Tanna.

Tanna, this is Gaius.

He and I...

um...

Mm. What are you doing in England?

I'm here for the World Science Exposition to present our entry.

-A scientist? -Yes. [chuckles]

I ran into an old friend of Mr. Wilde's there.

Mr. Wilde long passed.

Yes, I-- I know.

The friend mentioned the plantation had been sold.

He thought some of the people might have come to London.

Kit?

Please, you must come in for tea, huh?

[door opens]

This is the ledger from Faith.

They named her Katherine.

[♪ somber music playing]

[Tanna] Wash, look.

-Hm? -It says Kit died

the third of March, 1830.

[Gaius] Kit went home.

-[Wash sighs] -[Tanna] There's something else.

She gave birth shortly after her arrival date.

[Wash] Um...

"George Washington.

April 19, 1818."

She was your mother, Wash.

[♪ gentle music playing]

[♪ dramatic music playing]

♪♪

[♪ music fades out]

[♪ fanfare playing]