Original subtitles

Saw him go through here.

He's headed for the creek.

Let's get him!

Come on, boys! Let's come on!

Samuel Pinckney was accused of killing a white plantation owner.

Now some of what you've been taught about the American South

before the Civil War is true.

Some is not.

Sam was condemned without a trial and killed for crimes

that my research suggests he did not commit.

He had lived peaceably on a plantation in Culpeper, Virginia,

owned by one Sarah McCullough.

Unfortunately we may never know the whole story

regarding Samuel Pinckney,

and this is both a sad fact of history

and, for me, a personal tragedy, because...

Samuel Pinckney was my distant grandfather.

Oh.

I do wish we had a complete picture

so that Samuel Pinckney would finally be free.

Thank you.

Professor Hawkins?

Yes?

Jessica Fletcher.

- Oh, the writer? - Yes.

I've read several of your books.

I enjoy them thoroughly.

Oh, thank you.

You know, I was most intrigued by your lecture.

You know, I believe that we may share a common heritage.

We do?

Well, I believe that Sarah McCullough,

the woman you say owned Samuel Pinckney,

was a very distant aunt of mine.

Really?

Well, I'd always heard about that side of my family

who came over from Ireland and settled in Virginia,

oh, around the turn of the 18th century.

In fact, that is the reason I came down here.

I wanted to come to Culpeper and try to make the connection.

Well, consider yourself connected.

I have to say, though, it's a little disconcerting

to learn that my, uh, distant aunt was a slave owner.

Well, sadly, the skeleton of slavery resides in a lot of family closets down here.

Well, nevertheless, I do have a sense of responsibility.

And, uh, I need to apologize.

The only responsibility you have, we all have,

and that's for the living.

Oh, I couldn't agree more.

How are you so sure

that Samuel was owned by Sarah McCullough?

Well... this.

Read the inscription.

"To Samuel Pinckney...

From S. McCullough"?

My cousin gave this to me several months ago

and it prompted me to look further into things.

Maybe you have some information

that could help me fill in some of the blanks.

Oh, I really don't know anything about my aunt.

But I am curious.

You said in your lecture that you believed

that Samuel was wrongly accused of murder.

Tell me, what facts lead you to that conclusion?

There's a cemetery not too far from here

where I have found Samuel Pinckney's second grave.

His... His second grave?

Ms. Fletcher...

Samuel Pinckney is buried in two places.

"Samuel Pinckney born August 4th, 1832,

died June 25th, 1860."

Yes, those are the dates on thismarker.

But this is from a headstone in a cemetery in Pennsylvania.

"Samuel Pinckney born August 4th, 1832,

Culpeper, Virginia. Died November 6th, 1894?"

This is the same man?

You tell me.

According to the newspaper accounts

from that period, Samuel Pinckney was killed here in Virginia,

and the dates on this marker correspond with that.

But this is from a headstone that I had found

in Pennsylvania in a county where my people settled.

Now, both men have the same name, same date of birth,

same town of origin.

But this death date is 30 years later.

Exactly.

And there are some other facts that I found

at the local Historical Society that don't line up either.

I'd be very interested to see those.

The white plantation owner who was murdered was named Robert Mercer,

and here's a photograph.

You know, judging from these glowing reports,

you wonder why anybody would've wanted to murder him.

Looks like a very decent sort of person.

One of our more noteworthy Virginia sons,

lost before his time to murder on his wedding night.

I'm Stanford Thornton. I'm a longtime student of the South

and war between the states.

I assume you were, uh, discussing the Pinckney case?

Yes. Do you know something about it?

I know it was a tragedy.

Uh, the articles say he was gonna receive a fair trial.

It was just a shame that he chose to run.

Well, given the climate of the day, you wonder if Pinckney felt

that the verdict was already in before the trial started.

I know there were abuses

in the antebellum South, but not in our county.

That is of course, if you don't consider

slavery itself an abuse.

Well, we all agree.

Slavery was wrong.

But I find that people are sometimes, uh,

shall I say, overeager

to paint every Southerner with the brush of racial bigotry.

Our finer Southern institutions are often misrepresented.

I'm touching on that very topic in my lecture across the way in the park.

Mm. Cassandra is lecturing here, too.

I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name. Ms...

Hawkins. Dr. Cassandra Hawkins.

What is your interest in the Pinckney case?

Samuel Pinckney was my distant grandfather.

Oh, I see.

I trust there's no agenda in your pursuit?

Agenda?

I believe that personal pilgrimages can sometimes

lead people to make historical events

what they want them to be,

rather than what they are.

I agree.

If you ladies will excuse me,

uh, oh, dear...

I must get to my lecture.

If anyone ever had an agenda...

That man's agenda's more obvious

than a politician trying to get votes.

You know him?

He's forever trying to influence

how we present history here at the museum,

as if he's the self-appointed protector

of all things Southern.

Would you be so kind as to put on these gloves?

The letters are quite fragile.

Now I have some documents that I think might be of some help

and some personal effects from the McCullough estate.

You have some documents from my Aunt Sarah?

Oh, yes, some were preserved.

Most, unfortunately, were lost.

She didn't have any children so there was nobody left

to maintain her legacy.

- Uh, these are her letters? - Mm-hmm.

Uh-huh. I see.

1846.1852.

I think you're gonna want to read this one.

It should be dated June 20th, 1860.

It's about the murder.

Now, that is just before Samuel died.

Now that was written to a friend, Abigail Pennington

in Charlottesville.

"Dear Abigail,

you probably read in the papers about the accusations

leveled against my friend and faithful servant Samuel Pinckney

regarding that dreadful murder.

But I sensed that something wasn't right at the reception

"the other day after the Mercer wedding."

Good morning, ma'am. What a pleasure to see you!

Why, thank you!

Well, hello, people. Y'all come on in now. Come on in now.

Oh, Mary!

You looked simply regal coming down that aisle.

Tell me who made your dress.

I had it sent from Atlanta.

Oh, I believe you're spoilin'

this daughter of yours, Mr. Hobbs.

Oh, well, nothin's too good for my Mary.

I should say so, sir. My, look at that picture.

Culpeper's most beautiful young lady

has stolen the heart of its most eligible bachelor.

I know they're gonna make a beautiful home up there

on that big old spread of his.

My princess has finally got her kingdom.

Miss Ashland. Gentlemen.

Milady. You look beautiful.

I did not fall in love

with a piece of property, Jeb Bucknell.

I fell in love with a man,

a man who isn't carried off by the first breeze

that comes in fluttering her eyelashes.

Well, Mrs. Mercer,

Unlike some people here,

I've been training to fight for our beloved South.

Of course...

I never dreamt I'd have to come back

and fight for my girl, too.

What you consider a battle,

I believe Mary would characterize

as a willing surrender.

Sweet are the spoils of war.

Mary, would you just look at you!

Your mother, God rest her soul, she would've been so proud.

My goodness, me.

This is so exciting!

- Miss Sarah. - Charles.

I brought the extra silverware. Where shall we put it?

We'll just have Sam drive it around back to the kitchen.

Jim and Mary-Belle are there. They'll attend to it.

Charles, I'm sorry I didn't get these to you yesterday,

but we've been quite busy with plans for the wedding and all,

and I guess that Sam just plumb forgot.

They're just like children, aren't they?

Always forgetting everything.

Except what time supper is. Pardon me.

Well, I see he didn't forget to wear his Sunday best, now, did he?

If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were trying

to upstage the lucky groom himself.

I was just trying to honor Miss Mary

on her special day, sir. Spent my own money.

Your money? That a fact?

- Yes, sir. - Miss McCullough!

You're not paying this slave wages, are ya?

He earns it. It's not much,

but it's an incentive to do good work.

You'd do yourself one better, ma'am.

If you get ahold of a good overseer.

His whip'd give Sam plenty of incentive to do a good job.

Ain't that right, Sam?

Won't it, Sam?

Well, that is a mighty fine vest you're wearing there, Sam.

Don't get all touchy with me, boy.

I'm just looking at your fancy button, there.

Now you see what you made me go and do?

Slaves shouldn't be wearing such things anyway, should they?

That was uncalled for.

What's uncalled for, Miss McCullough,

is you paying this slave wages.

Here now!

Well, why don't y'all just make your way

right on into the house.

I know Mary-Belle's got some treats and spice punch for everybody.

I think we could all stand to cool down a little bit here.

Jeb!

Sam, I'll be seeing you, boy.

Yes, sir, Mr. Hobbs.

I will thank you to consider that today is Mary's wedding day.

Just leave it alone!

Well, now I wouldn't want to ruin her special day now, would I, sir?

Ma'am.

Sarah, my profound apologies.

Thank you, Charles.

It's a good thing

that someone still recognizes a violation of human dignity.

I am sorry, Sam.

That's all right, Miss Sarah.

I best be getting this china around to the kitchen.

This here old dog don't like me being here, either.

Go on!

Yes, this is a very happy day. Thank you.

Well, quite a party, Robert.

It's awful generous of Mr. Hobbs to put on such an affair.

Well, he does indulge that girl.

But now you gotta. You better hang on to your purse.

I'll do my best to provide for her.

I'm sure you will, sir, but you know you could improve

your financial position by simply selling me

that 120 acres you got next to my land.

As I said before, when I'm ready to sell it...

And I'll be the first to know.

- Yes, sir. - Yes.

What I don't understand is

why you don't put some crops in there, tobacco.

Keepin' it grassland can't be the most profitable.

Oh, that's quite an undertaking.

- Sure. - I can handle a few cattle and sheep,

and of course, I have my leather goods business.

Now, I know a man in Loudon County.

He's about to sell some real good field hands.

Why, with the work they'd offer, you could recoup

your investment rather quickly.

I don't reckon I'm ready for all that.

Ah, well.

Look, Robert, I know you're not partial to owning slaves.

But you could just get yourself a few.

You don't have to work the poor creatures to death.

I mean, you'd be doing them a favor.

You provide them a home and meals.

It's better than they could do on their own out there.

Will I have to dance all afternoon and never once with my husband?

If you'll excuse me, Mr. Ashland.

Certainly, sir. Ma'am.

I need to know how much livestock and how many hands you want to sell,

so you get back to me.

Powder flask and bullet bowl.

And best of all, gentlemen,

it can fire six shots

before having to reload.

Yes, sir, I get six Yankees within 50 yards...

I show 'em just how hot Ol' Dixie life can be.

Well, let's just hope this whole thing

can be resolved without bloodshed.

With all due respect, Mr. Hobbs,

those Yankees have proven they're not willing

to uphold our rights here in the South.

So I'm afraid, sir,

we are just gonna have to assert ourself

by show of arms.

Well, I've certainly taken that position in my newspaper,

and I've only had a handful of naysayers attack my editorial.

Mr. Ashland, you are preaching to the choir here with that rag, sir!

Why, everybody in this room knows exactly

what our priorities are, don't we, gentlemen?

We start a war with the Yankees,

and for every gun of ours,

they've got factories up North can make a hundred.

Mr. Mercer...

are you saying they're better than us?

No, not better...

bigger.

If there's a war,

they'll just keep coming and coming.

I reckon if you're not vested in the South,

then you have no interest in preserving her.

Your implication, Mr. Bucknell?

My "implication," Mr. Mercer? Well, let's see.

You're always off doing business with the Northerners.

Why, I even hear you're a proponent of free cotton.

Now could you explain that free cotton to me

when you have to pay a slave to pick it?

The idea has merit. That's all.

Better be all, Mr. Mercer.

Better be.

♪ Oh, I wish I was In the land of cotton ♪

♪ Old times there... ♪

- Mr. Hobbs, sir! - Yes, sir?

Do you mind, sir, if I keep this in your gun case for safekeeping?

Not at all.

Sarah!

Everything all right, Charles?

Fine, fine. We just ran out of ice.

So I just want to make sure y'all are comfortable.

Well, I think that "uncomfortable" is the proper word.

We're all overstuffed as house cats around here.

Now look, I could have Sam run over to my icehouse and get some.

Oh, now, Sam doesn't have to be out running around.

Is there a problem?

Excuse me, sir.

Mr. Hobbs, the guests are wondering

when you fixin' to cut the cake.

They're having trouble finding the bride and groom.

Have you seen them?

Yes, I have. Well, I've seen Robert.

Robert's out back with Sam.

Well, how about I go fetch him?

Would you do that?

And have him meet us in the ballroom.

I certainly will.

- Sam! - Miss Sarah.

Robert, everything all right? Sam?

Oh, yes, Ma'am. The wagon was soundin' a little funny.

Probably just a split rim.

Yeah. Robert, they're looking for you.

They're getting ready to cut the cake.

I better be getting back inside.

Charles said they're running out of ice.

Sam, could y'all run over to our place and get some?

- Oh, yes, ma'am. - Sam, why don't you fetch 'em

over at my place? It's closer.

Sure enough, Mr. Mercer.

Uh, here. You'll need these.

Thank you.

Don't be too long, Sam.

I appreciate your trust in Sam.

Well, how's that?

With your keys?

Most people around these parts wouldn't do that.

Who's not gonna trust Sam?

Mm-hmm.

Jeb, this isn't the time or the place.

Mary? There you are.

I believe they're wanting to cut the cake.

Well, yes, of course.

Everybody wants to see the lovely bride,

so pure and altogether innocent.

I guess our little princess just can't handle all the emotions of her...

newfound bliss.

Go on, and say it.

Say what?

Call me by my name.

Mary.

No, silly!

Mrs. Robert Mercer.

Shh. I thought I heard somethin'.

It's just the beatin' of my heart.

What is it?

I don't know. There's something out there.

I better check.

Oh, Robert, come now.

It'll only be a minute.

I think something's down at the harness shop.

Can you see anything?

No, I can't.

I'll be right back.

I'm not going anywhere.

Wh-What are you doing here?

Robert!

Hyup!

Robert!

Mary, I promise you,

this tragedy will not go unpunished.

I can assure you I will use

every resource at my disposal

to bring whoever did this to justice!

Mary, you said you saw a man on horseback.

Yes.

What'd he look like?!

I didn't see his face.

Was it a slave?

I don't know!

I don't know, Jeb. Please stop asking me

all these questions!

Cornelius, Jeb,

Please!

Who'd do such a thing?

I don't know.

I can't even imagine.

Charles.

What do you got there, Mr. Ashland?

- It's a button. - A brass button.

Let me see that.

That's Sarah's slave's button.

- Are you sure?! - Positive.

Saw the same button on that vest of his.

Let's go!

Now remember, boys. We don't wanna scare this slave off

or alert Miss Sarah.

Y'all take it slow and easy

till we get to the barn.

Come on out, Sam! We know you're in there!

There's a light on in the barn, gentlemen. I think he's home.

- Hurry up, Sam! - Come on, boys.

Come on out!

- Sam?! - Where are you, boy? We know you're in here!

Come on, boy! Come on, boy!

Where are you, Sam?!

Where are you?!

Check in the stalls!

Be careful, boys. He might have a weapon.

Hold on, y'all, I got him!

Oh ho! Lookie here!

Son of a bitch!

I'm gonna hurt you, Sam!

Throw that!

- Come on, get up! - Get him up! Get him up!

- Get him up! - Put it around his neck!

- Hold him! Hold him! - I got him.

What did Robert Mercer ever do to you to deserve

what you done to him, boy?

I ain't done nothing!

Don't lie to me!

Hold him up! Pull tight!

What in the world is going on?

Standards, Miss McCullough. It's got nothing to do with you, ma'am.

For no reason? You're about to hang

a man I've known since he was a boy.

It's got everything to do with me.

Sarah, poor Robert Mercer was murdered tonight!

- Murdered? - Yeah.

We found this here button no more than three feet

from where somebody shot him.

Now you tell me that isn't Sam's.

Off ol' Sam's fancy vest he's wearing.

Mr. Bucknell tore that button off.

- Shut up. - Well, he's right.

Anybody coulda picked it up.

I never did find that button.

You're accusing one of us, boy, huh?

Lookie here, what do we got?

Look what he stole.

Not only is he a lyin' murderer,

he is also a thief.

That's his watch.

"To Samuel Pinckney. From Miss McCullough."

He didn't steal it, I gave it to him.

What are you doing, Sarah? Panderin' to your slave?

He does deliveries for me.

I want him to be on time.

It's... It's just good business.

Now, you all listen to me.

I'm as destroyed as everyone else

about what has happened to Robert here,

but to hang a man over a button is sheer lunacy.

Now, despite what you all

may think about my treatment of him,

he is my legal property,

and you are not doing anything to him

until the Sheriff becomes involved and we have a proper investigation.

Now you all get home, and cool your heels.

Well, we gonna get the Sheriff over here. You can't protect him.

Mm-hmm.

You better stay put, nigger.

'Cause if you run,

I swear to God, I will personally hunt you down

and shoot you like a dog.

Let's take care of that poor face.

I didn't kill Mr. Mercer.

I believe you, but what on Earth

were you doing in this barn at this hour of night?

I-I was out.

Where?

Look, Sam, I want to believe you,

but doggone it, I can't if you're not forthcoming.

Please, ma'am,

if you want to turn me over to those men, go ahead.

They already think I'm guilty

so you can just pass your judgment

and join right up with them.

But I ain't tellin' you where I was.

"I don't believe Sam did it..."

and I intend to find out who did

and what I can do to help this poor man,

who I consider my dear friend.

"Affectionately, Sarah McCullough."

And that's all we know about the whole affair,

other than what's in the newspaper.

Her endeavor to prove Pinckney's innocence stopped with that letter.

Well, her efforts didn't necessarily stop, I mean,

- just what we know of them. - True.

Do you know any other facts about Sarah?

Well, by this time, she was a widow.

Her husband had died several years earlier.

The land records indicate that the estate was passed on to her.

She sold most of it off except for the house

and a small parcel to sustain herself.

Another thing I'm curious about is Sarah's journal.

Now, it is alluded to in her letters.

Is there any way that we could get our hands on that?

It's anybody's guess where that might be,

if it still exists at all.

What do you know about Abigail Pennington,

the woman that Sarah was writing to?

One of her relatives passed on a few years ago.

They auctioned off her things.

A woman over in Spotsylvania County bought the items,

but I don't believe they were of any historical value.

I don't suppose you could remember the name

of the woman who bought them?

Miss Laura Lee Custis.

She lives over in Fredericksburg.

Come on, then.

The world in which we live in...

Oh, my. He finally got his audience.

Nearly deafening. Challenges seemingly insurmountable.

I'd like to talk to him.

Why? You didn't get enough of his rhetoric already?

Well, I certainly don't appreciate his positions,

but he claims to have reviewed some of the old documents,

and he might be just the person

to help us to find Sarah's journal

and some other clues.

I'd like to lay down a challenge.

A challe... Jessica!

To meet these challenges head-on

for the sake of future generations,

and that is why, my friends, it is so important.

To preserve the culture, we must preserve the past.

Thank you!

Uh, Mr. Thornton.

Ah, ladies.

I am sorry you missed my speech.

I addressed some of the issues

we discussed earlier in more detail.

I find that when you thoroughly examine the facts,

it helps us all understand history a little better.

Oh, I couldn't agree with you more.

Well, like for instance, don't you find it curious

the mention of a journal

in Sarah McCullough's ledger?

You did read it, of course?

I read the ledger, yes.

I don't recall mention of a journal.

Yes, but if there was one, and it turned up,

you'd want to know about it.

Well, most assuredly.

Attention! Colonel Thornton!

Private Weber reporting for duty, sir.

Private Weber and I are involved in a Civil War reenactment.

Oh.

These ladies here are reviewing

their own little piece of history.

They're researching the Pinckney case.

They're not part of the Northern aggression, are they?

I hope they don't want to change history.

But don't tell Billy. He doesn't know the war's over.

It's just that I find that Colonel Thornton's desire

to uphold the unique character and beauty

of our people always seems to come under attack.

Preserve the past, right, sir?

Well, no one is denying the unique beauty of the South.

It's just that some people want to paint a picture

that is inaccurate of its history.

See, this country still has a lot of disunion.

I think that men like Colonel Thornton

serve us well by trying to solidify our cultural heritage.

Cultural heritage?

Or do you mean racial division?

Well, you can call it what you will.

But when a nation affirms its unifying traditions,

there's always a lot less disagreement.

And a lot more unity.

Well, we certainly don't want to fight any wars again.

Good afternoon, ladies.

My husband put most of the Pennington antiques

up here in the attic

You all are welcome to go through this,

although I don't know where anything is.

Oh, I'm kind of a pack rat. I like the antiques,

but, well, I like the modern junk as well.

Well, thank you. We'll just start digging.

All right.

Well, I-I'm just so sorry.

I woulda sworn I kept that stuff up here somewhere.

You did check those three boxes?

It says "Pennington" on this one here.

Yes, I've already looked there.

There's just old china and crystal mostly.

Wait a minute. What's this?

Jessica?

Just as I suspected.

1872.

This box must've been packed right after the end of the war.

You know, when I pack china and glass,

I always put a wadge of paper between the pieces

so they don't get broken.

Just like these.

There's dozens of them in here.

1868.1866.

Wait, look. Look, here's one.

June 22nd, 1860.

Well, that's just two days after the last letter.

It's from Sarah.

"Dear Abigail..."

Much has happened since I wrote to you last.

In Sam's defense,

I took it upon myself to look into this dreadful matter

regarding Robert Mercer's murder.

I went to the scene of this heinous crime,

not having the slightest notion of what I might find.

I noticed several peculiar things

"about the harness shop where Robert was killed."

"Packages arrived

and were sent on safely.

Levi Stillman."

We figure Sam was laying for him.

Robert come through that door, and bang!

I found this in the wall.

Hmm.

Well, Mary said she heard two shots.

This one must've missed.

Well, not many people have guns

that can fire more than one shot.

I know there are none at my place.

Well. Sam might've found one somewhere else.

Why, Jeb Bucknell was showing us

his Colt-Walker pistol at the reception.

It can fire six shots.

And does it take bullets that are conical like this?

Is that why you come up here,

just to stir up some implausible scenario?

No, just trying to find the truth.

There you are. There's a good boy.

Morning, Miss Sarah.

Oh. Sheriff Underwood.

I figured you'd be out here sooner or later.

You seen Sam today?

Oh, I'm sure he's around.

I'm not gonna arrest him,

at least not till I get all the evidence in.

But you're gonna have to promise me

you'll keep a close eye on him for me.

So they can make it legal to hang me?

Sam, it's not going to do you any good

to get antagonistic.

I have to gather all these facts

so that when the circuit magistrate

comes through here, he can render a decision.

You might want to consider this

in your investigation.

I found it in Robert Mercer's harness shop.

Well, that looks like lead from a Colt revolver.

I understand that Jeb Bucknell has one of those.

Is that a fact?

Yeah, he was showin' it off at the reception.

Huh.

Well, I'll be going out there this afternoon.

I think I'll just have a little talk with him about it.

Well, I'd be very interested to hear what he has to say.

May I join you later?

Suit yourself.

He didn't come out here to reassure me

that I'd be treated fairly.

He came out here to check up on me.

No, he might be an advocate, Sam.

Miss Sarah, the day the law stands up for a slave,

be the day that them Blue Ridge Mountains fall flat.

Yeah, but we gotta keep believing

that we can convince them of the truth.

Belief?

I'll tell you what I believe.

I believe that we's all called on to bear something.

No matter where you find yourself.

If you stand up for the truth,

you gonna ruffle some feathers,

you gonna experience some pain

from those who don't want the truth.

I resent you even suggesting that my pistol killed Robert Mercer, Sheriff.

Now don't get yourself all in an uproar, Jeb.

We just want to take a look at it.

Well, it couldn't be Jeb's gun, Sheriff.

I got that right here in my gun cabinet.

And every man who attended the reception knew it.

Uh-huh. You see?

Here it is.

Right there,

where I left it.

Charles?

Now we all saw Mr. Hobbs put that pistol

in that case at the reception.

Well, it looks to be the same caliber.

And if you'll notice, the markings on this mold

match perfectly with the bullet Miss Sarah found.

That slave of yours.

That's what happened. He come in here,

and he stole my pistol out of that box.

The last time anyone saw that pistol

was right here when Charles put it away that evening.

Now Sam wasn't in the house after that.

In fact, shortly afterwards, I sent him out to get ice.

Are you saying that somebody at my daughter's reception

stole that weapon and used it to murder Robert?

Sam got another slave to help him.

That's what happened.

There's more than one slave involved in this, Sheriff.

Yeah, but what was the motive?

Gentlemen, please.

I mean, the fact that we're all overlooking is

what reason would Sam have for killing Robert?

And somebody here did?

Well, you tell me.

Daddy, what's going on?

Eh, it's nothing, sweetheart. You go on.

Jeb, where's your pistol?

It's been misplaced, darling, but it'll turn up.

It's your gun! It's your gun that killed Robert!

Now you just settle yourself down.

I had nothing to do with this.

Well, you sure enough wanted him dead.

Now, Mary, you hush that kind of talk.

Mary, I was asleep in this house

when Robert Mercer was killed.

He's right, Mary, tight here under our own roof.

Now, you gotta believe me.

I-I am telling you the truth on this.

Could you hate him that much?

Well, the fact that Bucknell's pistol was used

still doesn't eliminate Sam as a suspect.

You tell me, how'd he get the gun out of the house?

I don't know. But the circuit magistrate

will be through here in a few days.

And if we don't have something substantial by then,

I'm afraid I'm gonna have to arrest him.

Good day, Miss Sarah.

Good day, Sheriff.

Oh, for God's sakes, Mary, would you please listen to me?

I will not discuss this further, Jeb.

I will hear no more of your feeble explanations.

As you wish, Mary.

I'm sorry you had to find out about the pistol.

That's all so disturbing,

so very disturbing.

Tell me, that day at the reception

when I found you two?

I did love Jeb,

but I don't love him anymore.

And you told him that at the reception?

Yes. I mean, I told him that months ago.

Months.

I told him it was over.

And there wasn't any reason for him

to believe it wasn't true?

Absolutely none.

Miss Sarah,

I loved Robert.

Will you excuse me?

Sam?

So you didn't go into the house

during the reception at all?

I didn't go in that house that whole day.

Miss Sarah, I was just out back listening

to the good time that y'all was having.

Well, now, is there anyone that could vouch for you?

Mary-Belle. Jim.

You.

You saw me with Mr. Mercer,

but he ain't here to tell, now is he?

In fact, they probably gonna use that against me,

and we wasn't doing nothing, but lookin' at a split rim.

And that's all you were doing?

Yes, ma'am, that's all we was doing.

Miss Sarah, I appreciate all your effort,

but it ain't gonna make a bit of difference.

A slave is always guilty.

Well, we always have hope, Sam.

I mean, they can't take that away from us.

"Hope."

You tell me what that word mean?

Well, I don't pretend to fully understand it,

but I certainly do know that we can't live without it.

Sometimes it's awful hard living with it.

I ain't so sure I believe in believin' no more.

The poor soul.

This letter only raises more questions than it answers.

But they're good questions.

Who stole the pistol?

Who was to get the food that Sarah found?

And the letter tells us where to look next.

Like that... that Levi Stillman.

The fella that Mercer was sending the packages to?

Cassandra?

As a scholar, you take a rather cold look at history,

but this isn't like looking at someone else's life.

This is part of my own.

It's as if Samuel is crying out to you,

but there's nothing you can do about it.

Exactly. And this is what this whole process has been like.

The more I learn about him,

what he... what he went through, the injustice,

it consumes me, and there's no release.

Because those people have gone on.

And here we are, left with this...

this sense that a wrong has been committed, and...

and there's nothing we can do about it.

Well, I've done some searching into my own past,

and what I've learned is...

these discoveries,

even what I'm finding out now about Sarah,

they show us more about those people than what they endured,

but more importantly,

they do reaffirm who weare.

Perhaps.

But it doesn't hurt any less.

I don't think I should continue.

Oh, but, Cassandra, you can't quit now.

You might have a chance to finally clear his name.

I mean, wouldn't you just love to give him that gift,

to right that wrong?

Let's see.

Maybe this...

family registry could help.

Here's a Levi Stillman.

Lived in Warrenton. Family were Quakers, pacifists.

Oh, yeah. There's lots and lots of folks

around these parts got Quaker roots.

Well, do you recognize any of his descendants, Laura Lee?

Well, I'm no historian, but I'd be happy to look and see

if I know any of the names.

Oh, well, I'll be.

I didn't know she had Stillman blood in her.

Who?

Well, Liza Hoops!

Oh, she's quite a character!

I guess she'd be Levi Stillman's great-granddaughter.

Is she still alive?

Well, there's no date of death in the registry.

I know she lives up around Warrenton.

Her family's had a home up there for 200 years.

My goodness, she has to be over 100 by now.

Oh, hello.

Hi!

You say you're from England?

Uh, no, ma'am. New England.

Oh! Did you bring lobster?

Uh, not this trip.

Just as well. I don't like eating anything

that can pinch harder than I can.

Uh, you wanted to know about my grandfather?

Uh, actually it would be your great-grandfather.

Levi.

You knew him?

Is he here?

Uh, no, ma'am, he's not.

But do you remember when he was?

Do you remember anything about a friend of his

named Robert Mercer?

I had a cat named Mercer once.

I don't think she's gonna know anything

about telegrams and packages sent north.

Great-grandpa sent packages all the time.

Great-grandpa Levi sent packages?

Yes, on the train.

- The train? - Yes.

Came right through here, it did.

No, it must've been a depot nearby.

Not nearby. Right through here.

We rode it all the time.

And it had a magic compartment.

- "Magic compartments." - Yes!

My cousins and I

rode it all the time.

Came right through this room.

Shh!

Don't disturb the passengers.

All aboard! Train's leaving!

Hurry up. You'll miss the train!

I think you should sit down. You could hurt yourself.

No, no, no. All aboard!

Ride in the magic compartment!

All aboard!

You want a ride?

Grandpa said lots of folks did.

Lots of black folks.

I-It's not a real train.

I-It's the Underground Railroad.

Yep! All the way to Philadelphia.

The packages Robert were sending to the North

were runaway slaves.

Ladies, ladies, I appreciate

all these theories y'all are coming up with.

No, but these are more than just theories.

I mean, there is considerable evidence

to suggest that Robert Mercer

was working on the Underground Railroad.

Samuel Pinckney and other slaves in the county

probably knew about it.

Well, don't you see?

He wouldn't have murdered Robert Mercer.

This man was helping his people to freedom.

Ma'am, just because a merchant sent a package

doesn't mean that package was a slave.

You women are coming up with these meaningless things

and using them to spin fairy tales

about how you wish things happened,

rather than the way they really were.

And you're not?

I write books that spell out facts,

and I use these words to inform, not to influence.

Now if you'll excuse me,

I have a real piece of history to recreate.

Excuse me.

Look what they've done to my car!

Those are your words, Mr. Thornton!

You still think you have no influence?

I don't know what to say.

It's not what you say now.

It's what you have said in the past!

I had nothing to do with this.

You may not carry a rifle,

but your words are certainly weapons.

It's those very sentiments

that can fuel this kind of behavior.

Surely as an historian, you have seen

that there are those in this world

who hate people who aren't like them.

Now, do you really want to give them more reasons

to justify that hatred?

I've always felt very strongly

about the traditions of the South

but it was an intellectual debate.

I was simply trying to preserve...

Preserve what, Mr. Thornton?

Your noble past?

And just what about that past are you wanting to keep alive?

Because in spite of this town's accomplishments,

this was a place where one man could own another,

where children could be ripped from their parents' arms

and never see them again...

a place where a human being with passions and desires

had to deny the very spark that makes him human,

his own will.

Meanwhile, the good townspeople

just went on about their business.

They saw no shame in it.

Is that what you're trying to preserve?

Not just prejudice,

but the right not to notice

when something is happening right in front of you?

I have always sought the truth.

That was my sole motivation.

Oh, the truth.

That is the most elusive of all mysteries.

You know the insidious thing about a lie

is that the best ones are closest to the truth.

But if you find one more bit of evidence,

it all becomes clear.

We're looking in the wrong place.

- What? - Aunt Sarah's journal,

it's not here in Culpeper. How'd I miss that?

What do you mean it's not here?

This is where she lived.

Yes, but it's not where she died.

Look, she died in a field hospital in Manassas.

The men in uniform triggered it.

So?

Well, she would've taken the journal with her, right?

Having no living relatives here,

her possessions would be with her in the place where she died,

so chances are, if the journal does exist,

it's in Manassas.

I believe you're correct.

What you ladies need is someone

to guide you through the battle of Manassas.

Someone who has studied it in detail perhaps?

Yes, but more importantly,

someone who wants to help find the truth in all this.

Hmm. A truth.

A truth. Wait a minute.

If she didn't die from wounds, how would she...

Perhaps she succumbed to some disease or other?

Disease? Where?

Well, there were places other than field hospitals.

There were infirmaries where people were quarantined

if they fell ill after the battle.

In Manassas?

In Manassas, I believe...

there was a church.

Here's a uniform.

That's a good sign.

There might be some papers.

No, that's it. No papers.

You're not gonna believe this.

Look what I found.

"The Journal of Sarah McCullough

1858 through..."

Well, she never finished.

But of course she never finished. She died.

Go ahead. Read it.

"June 1860..."

Today I decided to press on with my inquiry.

There was a peculiar sense of duplicity in the air.

Everyone acquainted with the murder

seemed strangely guarded.

"I wondered what they were hiding."

Charles, the one question that no one seems to be asking is, "Why?"

I mean, what on Earth would be the motive for Sam?

He and Robert were the best of friends.

"Friends"? Oh, come, come, Sarah.

A slave could never truly be a friend to a white.

Oh, they'll pretend to be your friend,

but no, no. They'll turn on you.

Is that what you heard

the day of the reception, out back at your barn?

Well, Pinckney had worked himself into a dither.

Are you saying that Robert had words with Samuel?

Well, I certainly wasn't privy to their dispute,

but, yes, that slave of yours

and Robert had an altercation.

Well, if Robert was upset with Sam,

how come he turned right around

and then trusted him to get ice from his house?

Oh, honey, how in the world would I know?

Look, Robert never did know how to handle the slaves,

and you can see how it finally caught up with him.

I'm telling you, Sarah,

you cannot trust the negroes.

He trusted Sam enough to give him the keys to his place.

He gave him his keys?

Well, there you have it. Don't you see?

It's those very keys that gave Sam access to the harness shop.

Well, it's interesting that a man with a key

would find it necessary to break open the lock.

What?

I was over at the harness shop.

Whoever killed Robert didn't have any key.

They forced their way in that night.

Now, you look here, Sarah.

You're upset. But you be careful,

or you may get more than you bargained for.

Daddy, we're going out.

Oh, you and Jeb?

Yes. I need to get my mind off all these ill feelings.

Well, honey, I know

Jeb's been a great comfort to you.

My efforts in regards to Mary are most certainly

quite contrary to what Miss McCullough's been insinuating.

I'm just trying to find out

who killed your husband!

Ah, you're interested in freeing your slave who did it.

So you're now convinced that it was Sam?

I saw Sam that night.

I saw him fleeing Robert's workshop,

and I am quite tired of all the talk to the contrary.

Now if you'll excuse us, Jeb and I are going riding.

Well, I think that's a splendid idea.

I think the fresh air would do you good.

Oh, Daddy, I seem to have misplaced

my riding crop. May I borrow yours?

Of course, darling. It's in the tack room.

Y'all run along now, and enjoy yourselves.

Thank you, Mr. Hobbs. Miss McCullough.

There, there, now.

What on Earth?

Ouch.

Who are you?

Name's Bess.

Please don't hurt me, ma'am.

You ain't gonna hurt me, is you?

I don't mean no harm.

Well, what is this all about?

- Bess, wait! - Sam!

Uh, Miss Sarah, this is all my doing.

Don't let her scare you. I brung her here.

In... In this... this...

That's a-a false bottom, ma'am.

I made it.

It's... It's for hidin' slaves, ma'am,

runaway slaves.

You, Sam?

Yes, ma'am.

When I'm out deliverin' eggs, I pick 'em up.

And where do you take 'em?

Now you come out with this, Sam,

or so help me, I...

I-I took 'em to Mr. Mercer's house.

That is, until he got killed.

You weren't supposed to know none of this, ma'am.

I didn't want this to be your trouble.

Well, it's my trouble now.

Well, Mr. Mercer, he... he sent them all north on the railroad.

He sent them to freedom.

And this woman here?

This here Bess.

She my wife.

Your wife?

Yes, ma'am.

She from Mr. Latrope's place.

We got married in secret last fall.

Well, y'all coulda told me.

We was afraid to tell anybody, ma'am.

Mr. Latrope, he a hard man.

He might've sold Bess, sent her way on down South.

I never would've seen her again.

I'm sorry, ma'am.

I ain't... I ain't never meant to lie to you. I...

I was with Bess the night Mr. Mercer got killed,

had gone over to see her.

Well, there's your alibi.

Bess here can vouch for your whereabouts that evening.

No, no, ma'am. Ain't nobody gonna believe that.

They don't know we's married.

They just gonna think we made all that up.

Then they gonna send Bess away for sure.

That's why I... I brought her here.

I-I need to get her on up north.

You ain't gonna tell it, is you, ma'am?

Please.

Look out there! Look out!

Whoa, whoa. Mary, Jeb, get over here!

Daddy, what's wrong?

Mr. Hobbs, what is it?

You know that creek between here and Robert's house?

- Yes, sir. - Well, I'm checking out the west pasture,

and I see something gleaming in the mud,

right down in that creek bottom.

You recognize this?

That's my revolver.

So it is your pistol.

How did it get there?

Well, that road is the most direct route

between here and Sarah McCullough's house.

You tell me.

Pinckney.

I shall kill him, Mr. Hobbs.

I will shoot that murderer where he stands.

Now you hold on, Jeb.

Don't you go runnin' off by yourself.

He might be too dangerous for one man to handle.

You let me go get Ashland and the others.

Yes, sir. Mary, you get in the house. Lock up.

Jim, saddle my horse!

Stand aside, Jim!

Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!

Miss Sarah, I didn't tell you,

because I wanted to protect you.

I wanted it to be me that took the risk, not you.

But whether you told me or not,

it doesn't change what you did.

Yes, ma'am, I know, but you gotta see all...

You're not hearing me, Sam.

What I'm saying is, you don't need to apologize.

What you're doing is a good thing,

and I don't hold it against you.

I reckon I should,

being a right, proper Southerner that I am.

I should be enraged. Stealin' other men's property?

Ma'am, from what Sam tells me,

uh, you're the kind of right, proper Southerner

that would be outraged

about makin' a man be somebody's property.

Sam...

I always knew you'd marry someone

who'd speak her mind.

Yes, ma'am.

Then I reckon you won't get offended

when we tell you about our other surprise.

Sam?

C-Come on, Jeremiah.

Ain't no use hidin' nothing now.

Good heavens!

What else have you got stashed in my barn?

That's it, I-I swear.

This here is Jeremiah Jessup.

Oh, I know. He's from the Holstead estate.

I recognize him. How'd he get here?

I got him the day of the wedding.

He was actually hiding down at the bottom of the buckboard

when we was driving over to Mr. Hobbs' reception.

Well, no wonder that dog was having such a fit!

That old dog about gave me and Mr. Mercer away.

My goodness.

Do you suppose anyone saw Jeremiah at the reception?

I-I don't think so. I mean, I don't rightly know.

If they did, that would explain...

Explain what?!

Sam! Sam, they comin'!

Slow down, Jim, what are you talkin' about?

Mr. Hobbs and Jeb, they're gonna get all the white folks.

They found Jeb's pistol in the creek.

Says you threw it there after killing Mr. Mercer.

They gonna lynch you, Sam.

No!

Thank you.

Hey, look, you best be gettin' on back.

They ain't gonna take too kindly to you being here.

Cut across the meadow, 'cause they gonna be coming down the road.

We gots to get you and Jeremiah outta here.

And you as well, Sam.

It's time you took that trip...

on the railroad.

I ain't do what they said.

I didn't ditch no gun.

I know you didn't.

And I think I have a good idea who did,

but there's no time now.

Now you've all got to get going.

Now I will pick up some supplies

and meet you all down at Caney's Bridge later.

Go on, Sam.

Now I won't take no...

Go on!

Thank you.

Hyah!

Come on, boys!

Where's that murderin' slave of yours?

What is this all about?

We found Jeb's pistol.

Just where your Sam threw it.

Now where is he?

Or has he already run off?

Well, I can assure you that Sam has not run off.

But in your present state of mind,

I'm loath to tell you his whereabouts.

Now I'm gonna go and find Sheriff Underwood.

You hold on there. You ain't goin' nowhere, Sarah.

Time for protectin' that man is done gone.

- You gonna tell us where he is. - That's right.

So you can lynch him?

Now listen here, Sarah.

- You have to understand... - Gentlemen!

He's down south at Morgan's place.

- You give me that! - Ah-ah-ah!

It says right here, "Monday. Milk and cheese run."

No, you have no right.

That's where he is, isn't it?

Come on, Sarah. Out with it!

She's not gonna tell you, Mr. Ashland!

But it's all over her face.

That's where her slave is.

Let's get him!

Hyah!

Hyah!

Get on there, Ned.

Hyah!

Hey, Morgan, what you doing out here?

I just been huntin'.

Sarah McCullough's slave been to see you today?

No, sir. I haven't seen him for a couple of weeks.

She tricked us, gentlemen.

Well, I'm sure he's on the run now.

It's getting dark soon. He's gonna be hard to track.

Now let's go get the dogs. Then we'll go back to her place and pick up the scent.

Hyah! Hyah!

- What you hear, Sa... - Shh.

Keep goin'! Keep goin'!

Now who, Sam...

We gotta get to that bridge, meet Miss Sarah.

No, they might've followed her there.

We gonna split up. You take Bess.

Travel east, work your way down the embankment

to the ravine. Hide out in the woods down there.

If everything checks out all right over here,

I'll get the provisions from Miss Sarah,

and I'll meet you over there. Go on!

Come on. Come on.

Right over here!

Jeb, think up there?

Oh, sure. Get the dogs movin'.

Check down there in them bushes.

Sam! Sam, are you there?

Oh!

Oh, Sam!

Sam! Oh, Samuel!

We gotta make it to the woods.

Oh, my God!

Come on! Get on up here! I got 'em!

Hold up. Hold up. Come over there.

Easy. Easy.

- Is it clean through? - Yeah.

- Yeah. It went clean through. - Jesus. Sweet Jesus!

Where is he?

- There's three of 'em. - Three?!

Three, that's what I said, Mr. Ashland. Three.

Another buck and a female.

They were in that thicket right down yonder.

But I wing-picked him pretty good.

- All right. - That boy ain't gonna movin' too fast at all.

Y'all get them dogs out on that foot trail.

Now hold on. Hold on. We can't go down this embankment with the dogs.

Caney Bridge is just yonder.

We're gonna cross over there. We'll pick up their trail,

and then we'll circle on back.

Let's go!

Y'all get out! Get out!

- Go around the other side! - Come on!

Fast!

Oh, God in heaven.

What have they done?

Once he rests a spell, I'll carry him.

Yeah, come on, Sam. We got to get going.

I ain't goin' anywhere.

- Come on, Sam. You got to. - Bess, no.

You go.

You and Jeremiah go.

I'll just slow you up,

and it'd be for no good anyhow.

No, I'm stayin' with you.

Listen to me, woman. Freedom...

Freedom is still there for you,

you and the little one.

Sam. Sam.

There's another Pinckney comin', Miss Sarah.

It was gonna be my joy.

Oh.

But you got to go, Bess.

That's my only chance at freedom,

you and that child.

Jeremiah, promise me you gonna take care of her.

I'll protect her with my own life, I will.

All right. Here's what you gonna do.

They're gonna be comin' over that bridge up there.

Y'all gonna goin' down this way a little bit.

There's a river.

Float downstream as long as you can.

Make your way to Warrenton.

You gonna find that little house that we talked about.

Mr. Levi Stillman,

that's the man's name.

He's a friend of Mr. Mercer's on the Underground Railroad.

He's gonna help you go on from there.

You understand?

Yeah.

Bess, no.

This here is for you, Bess.

That's the only thing in this world that I own,

that I hold dear.

Now, you give that to the little one. You understand?

And you tell him...

You tell him

who's the man's name on that watch.

Now...

- go on. - No.

Go on, woman.

No!

Go!

Jeremiah, get her.

Sorry, ma'am. I didn't mean to bring you into all of this.

Oh, no. Don't, Sam.

I didn't mean to tarnish your name.

And you know that's what they're gonna do.

You're very decent, ma'am.

No, Sam. You are the decent one in all of this.

I mean, you could've gone up North on that train anytime,

and you chose to stay behind and help the others to freedom.

Any association they want to make between you and me,

I would consider it an honor.

You know, I looked up at that star many times,

sent others on guided by it,

told 'em that was gonna be their promise to a better life.

Some of them, they've seen that life,

when all I got was the promise.

You know, when I said I don't believe in believin' no more...

that ain't true.

Havin' that promise

and believin' even when you can't see...

that do keep you.

That...

Sam.

Get back!

Here now! Told you I winged him.

Is he dead?

What you was hellbent on from the beginning,

you've accomplished.

There's still two more out there, gentlemen!

- Get on them! - Go on, boys! Get 'em

while the dogs still have a scent!

It's a shame he brought it to this.

"He"? You are the ones with innocent blood on your hands.

Now, Sarah, we gonna try and find a way to look past

the fact that you helped this man escape from the law.

Sent us on that wild-goose chase

down at Morgan Spencer's place.

Now that was your deduction,

and it proved as wrong as your assumption

about this man's guilt, didn't it?

Don't you be pointin' an accusatory finger at us!

Robert Mercer's blood is cryin' from the grave!

Don't even presume to know the conscience of Robert Mercer.

Because I can assure you that his motives

are far removed from your own!

Now this whole thing's been a terrible tragedy, Sarah,

but it's over now.

Now we need to be gettin' on back.

It's not over.

There's still a few things missing,

and I think you know what I'm talking about, Charles.

Now, Sarah, we're not all gonna stand here

and listen to you while you rant.

Have you found your riding crop?

Jeb, did it ever turn up when you and Mary went out for your ride?

No, ma'am, but what's that got to do with all this?

Of course you never located it,

because it wasn't in your tack room like you said, was it, Charles?

Sarah, we've all been through a lot here tonight.

It wasn't there, because I went back, and I found it.

Right there in Robert Mercer's harness shop

where you left it the night you murdered him.

Why, that's outrageous!

Is it? No one saw it the next day.

Blended right in, it being a leather shop and all.

And suddenly I remembered noticing it

when I was over there.

Probably triggered your memory as well.

But when you went back to find it,

I had already been there to get it myself.

Now, was it at that point you concocted the story

about Pinckney throwing the pistol in this creek?

You knew exactly where in the creek it was,

because you threw it there

the night of your daughter's wedding,

the night that your suspicions were confirmed

that your new son-in-law, Robert Mercer,

was running slaves on the Underground Railroad.

You saw Sam here helping him, too,

and you didn't know what to do with yourself.

You couldn't fathom your own daughter

being married to Robert,

a man who "never knew how to handle a slave."

So you came up with a plan.

You'd murder Robert.

Wh-What are you doing here?

You'd take the button that popped off Sam's vest

and plant it right there at the scene of the crime.

Then you could get Sam as well.

Oh, it was a good plan.

Get rid of both of the men in one stroke.

The only crime being

setting the slaves and the county free.

You couldn't bear having this be your grandchildren's legacy.

That's... That's quite a story, Sarah.

It's true, isn't it?

Yes. Yes, it is.

And you're right about one thing, Sarah.

It needed to be done.

The Hobbs' name will never be sullied.

Gentlemen...

I don't think any of this needs to be revealed.

Y'all know what I'm talking about.

If the slaves ever get wind of this,

you think they're gonna sit still?

With a war brewin'?

They're gonna be like thirsty cattle that smell water and stampede.

There'll be no stopping 'em.

That what you want?

How about you, Cornelius? That what you want?

No. I see.

But I know exactly what you do want.

That land of Mercer's,

that's legally Mary's property now.

I'm sure she can be induced to sell it to you.

And you, Jeb,

I know what you want as well, Mary herself.

You and I both know she never has really gotten over you.

I'm sure those affections can be rekindled

with her Daddy's blessing.

She will know the truth.

From you?

Oh, you can conjure up your version of it,

but Mary's already convinced it was Sam that did it,

and I don't think she's gonna cotton

to the idea that her husband was helping runaway slaves.

You can't hide this from everyone.

People are gonna hear what they gonna hear,

and I'm sure Cornelius here will print

the proper interpretation of the facts in his newspaper.

Am I right, Cornelius?

I think we all agree what happened.

So...

You can squawk all you want, Miss Sarah.

But it'll only confirm what everybody in this county

already suspects about you,

that you're partial to the slaves...

and your attitudes only serve to undermine our way of life.

You're right.

People can think what they want about me,

but the blood of Robert Mercer and now Samuel Pinckney

cries for justice,

and that voice will be heard.

Gentlemen...

follow me.

"Therefore, I shall exert all means at my disposal

to exonerate Samuel and Robert

despite the insidious machinations of the people

I have called neighbor."

She said nothing more?

Uh, no, she...

she mentions the beginning of the war and...

Well, now, she does say that she was confronted by a neighbor

to stop rumors about Mercer's murder.

She obviously tried to make it right.

Yeah.

And then she went off to... to help on the front lines.

Her last entry was August 6th, 1861.

She mentions her illness there.

That's about three weeks after the First Battle of Manassas.

But this still doesn't tell us anything about Jeremiah and Bess.

Oh, on the contrary, I think it tells us everything.

They got the watch,

and the watch wound up in Pennsylvania,

and I think we can assume that they made it to freedom.

And once they got there,

Jeremiah Jessup probably wanted to change his identity.

But certainly Bess didn't want to change hername.

She wanted that little baby to have her daddy's name.

Jeremiah Jessup assumed Samuel Pinckney's name,

his date of birth, his complete identity.

And that's why there are two graves

with the same name on them.

And historical record confirms that

Mary Hobbs sold the land to Cornelius Ashland and then married Jeb Bucknell.

Well, Mary and Bucknell weren't involved in the murder,

but it sounds like they deserved each other.

Ashland wasn't involved either, but he got what he wanted.

Hobbs' plan worked.

History was altered.

Not if I have anything to do with it.

- Quite a legacy Samuel left, didn't he? - Oh, yes.

Without his ordeal,

I never would have come to know so much about my own roots.

I'll say. All that spunk and determination

has to be passed down through the genes.

Samuel...

Bess made it on to Pennsylvania.

Yes, she did.

And that child of yours was born,

a little girl.

And she grew up and had a son,

who had a son,

who had a daughter,

who had a son...

who had me.

I know why Sam sent that watch on.

He wanted it to keep time

until he got his own justice.

It doesn't have to mark time anymore.

Samuel Pinckney...

you're finally free.