Dear Miss Dickinson,
Your writing gives the impression of a wholly new and original poetry.
"Wholly new and original."
My poetry's not dead.
It's not dead. It's alive!
Vinnie! Vinnie! You won't believe this.
I just got a letter from Thomas Wentworth Higginson.
Do you know who he is?
Okay. He's amazing, Vinnie.
He's-- He's an abolitionist and a minister,
and he writes essays for The Atlantic.
He's a freethinker, Vinnie, an activist,
a person who really cares about making the world a better place,
and guess what?
He likes my poems.
He asked me to send more.
I may not be able to go to war myself, but maybe, by learning from this man,
I can write poems that actually matter to people.
Poems that can help.
Why aren't you saying anything?
Right. You took a vow of silence in solidarity with the troops.
You know, Lavinia, you're really pushing boundaries
with your durational performance art. You're getting pretty avant-garde.
Please, look with your eyes, not with your hands.
-The stitching is so intricate. -Yeah.
It's how we get all the secret messages in there.
Wait. What?
Wow. America's been a country for less than 100 years,
and it thinks it invented quilting?
Go off, I guess.
-Hi, Emily. Hi, Lavinia. -Hi.
Lavinia is not speaking today.
She's taken a vow of silence as an homage to our fallen men.
Hello, Lavinia.
So, you guys see anything you like?
That's… It's very small. Is it for a baby?
Yeah.
A feminist baby.
Wow. Okay.
Oh, my God. Look at Betty's quilts. They're gorgeous.
Thank you. Happy to raise money for the cause.
These squares don't match.
They're all different shapes and sizes. It's not symmetrical.
What's going on here? This quilt makes no sense.
Art doesn't have to make sense.
She's a genius.
-I'm buying it. -I was here first.
Thanks.
Guess what? I took your advice.
What advice?
I wrote a letter to the world, and the world wrote me back.
Well, there you go.
Edward, does it feel like people are staring at us?
No.
Maybe a bit.
I'm getting a lot of disapproving energy from these townspeople.
It's time for the auction.
I donated Grandmother Norcross's quilt.
I'm sure it'll fetch a pretty penny.
We'll start the bidding for this at five dollars.
I beg your pardon?
My mother won the 1822 Monson quilting bee's blue ribbon
with that piece.
It's only a starting bid.
The buyers will determine the value of your donation, Mrs. Dickinson.
Well, that's not fair.
That's literally how auctions work.
Five dollars for my family heirloom? That's outrageous.
No.
I'm sorry. I-- I've decided I'm not selling it. Give it back.
I-- I thought you wanted to support the troops, Mrs. Dickinson.
Well, of course I do.
But my sister just died,
and this quilt is the only thing I have left to remember her by.
Give it to me.
If you want the quilt back, you'll have to bid for it.
Edward.
Yes?
I need you to buy this quilt back.
I'm not gonna spend my hard-earned money on a quilt
that's been sitting in our attic since we got married, Mrs. Dickinson.
Edward! Family is all that matters.
And this quilt is the only thing I have left to remind me of my dead sister.
Twenty bucks?
The item is yours.
Oh, thank heavens.
You're making quite a to-do, Mrs. Dickinson.
-Okay. -Just--
Dickinson.
Conkey.
I'm surprised to see you here.
Surprised? Why?
This is an important civic event.
Not to mention, I'm treasurer of the college.
Oh, yes. Of course.
But after your recent letter to the editor,
I wouldn't have thought you particularly cared
about supporting our Union soldiers.
I beg your pardon, Ithamar.
Your letter in the paper today, Edward,
in which you offer nothing but praise and sympathy for the vile Confederates.
I certainly did not.
Yeah, you did! Traitor!
Gerald, come on.
Back in 1850, when you voted in support of that disgusting Fugitive Slave Act…
-Here we go. -…I was willing to accept
your justification that you did so as a compromise
in order to preserve our fragile peace.
But now, with war raging,
claiming the lives of our valiant sons,
you pen this-- this tone-deaf, equivocating plea for civility,
asking us to listen to both sides.
My God, Edward.
You are an apologist for villainy. For evil.
How dare you.
I wrote that letter on behalf of my brother.
Just because he happens to live in Georgia doesn't make him our enemy.
-It most certainly does! -That's literally how civil wars work.
-Thank you. -Your tone was condescending,
and your message was deeply out of step with the moment.
At worst, you looked like a bigot. And at best…
Yes?
A fossil.
Well, I turned a year older today, so I suppose you're right.
Oh, my God. It's your birthday? Happy birthday!
Happy birthday.
-I didn't know. -I don't like to make a big deal of it.
He never likes to make a big deal out of his birthday.
Edward, the time has come for you to choose a side.
I can't choose sides against my own family.
Well, then you risk losing your title as treasurer of this college
and God only knows what else.
You could have had this.
-Dad, are you okay? -Yeah.
I can't believe Mr. Conkey just attacked you like that.
-That man has always been drama. -And on your birthday. God, Dad.
Well, what's the difference?
I'll be dead soon enough.
Everything has been just so hard lately.
We can't let him be sad on his birthday.
Well, what can we do? I already got him a shoehorn.
-I know. I know. -What?
We should have a classic Dickinson sing-along.
Emily, that's a wonderful idea. We haven't done that for so long.
Yes, we'll light a fire in the parlor. We'll gather around the piano.
We'll sing all his old favorites.
Yes. That's perfect.
It'll be just like old times,
singing around the fire with you children, just like when you were young.
You know your dad loves a good sing-along.
Girls, family truly is all we have.
I agree.
This will make Dad so happy on his birthday, for all of us to sing!
Vinnie.
You can lip-synch?
It's probably for the best, Lavinia.
-Now we only have one more problem. -What?
Well, we can't have a family sing-along without the whole family.
What about Austin and Sue?
You mean, you want them to come?
Even if Sue is still not ready to let you hold the baby?
Family is the only thing that matters. It's as simple as that.
Mom, you're right.
I will get them to join us tonight. Leave it to me.
Sue!
Sue. What's wrong?
The baby didn't sleep last night and he won't stop crying,
and I just am so tired.
I honestly didn't know it was possible to be this tired. I'm just--
Emily, I don't think I can do this.
But you're doing it, Sue. You're already doing it.
You're taking great care of your baby.
Sue, where is your baby?
He's with Clara and Anna.
I know, they're twisted little pyromaniacs,
but I just couldn't listen to him scream anymore.
Just-- I needed a break. Is that wrong?
No. No, no. Of course not.
Okay.
Sue, listen to me.
I love you.
Well, I wasn't expecting that.
And I love you more than anything or anyone on Earth,
and you need to know that so deeply that you never doubt it.
You need to know it in your bones.
And if it takes me telling you every single day
for it to sink in that deep, then I'm gonna do that.
Because you are my everything, Sue.
Emily.
I can't live without you,
I can't breathe without you,
and I can't write without you.
Where is this coming from?
It's coming from my dirty little heart.
I feel a lot better.
Well, good. Nurse Emily at your service.
Thank you, nurse. I think you just saved my life.
We're having a family sing-along tonight for Dad's birthday.
Will you come and join?
That actually sounds really nice.
I'd love to.
Thank you, Sue.
This family is not complete without you.
Now we just need to convince Austin.
-Don't worry. I'll take care of that. -You will?
At the end of the day, I'm still his wife. He has to do what I say.
You might be his wife, but I'm yours.
Oh, God. I think he needs me.
-Go. -Sorry.
It's okay. I'll see you tonight.
See you.
Safe in their Alabaster Chambers -
Untouched by Morning -
And untouched by noon -
Sleep the meek members of the Resurrection,
Rafter of Satin and Roof of Stone -
Now, before we dive in, I'd like to take attendance.
Could you each state your name for me, please?
And while we're at it, why don't you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I'll start.
My name is Everett.
I have perfect taste in interior design.
And I don't want to talk about my history, okay?
I want to talk about my future.
Future where I can get the hell out of this place.
Yeah.
-Say that. Say that. -Yeah, dude. Amen.
Have you always lived here?
All of us were born here, except Erasmus. No-- Nobody know where he come from.
Time is a fiction.
Like any story, I weave myself in and out of histories.
Occasionally, I do take the shape of a spider.
Man, you something else, man.
Okay.
And you?
I'm The Wall.
They call me The Wall 'cause I'm big,
but ironically, I'm known for my strength of character above all else.
You can lean on him.
I'm The Wall.
-Got it. -Yeah.
Yeah. And what's your name?
Michael Jordan.
Michael River Jordan.
You carry a greatness within you, Michael Jordan.
One day, stadiums will gather to watch you dominate.
Erasmus can see the future.
The future and the past coexist, if you have the eyes to see it.
And that's Black excellence.
Wow. Okay.
You. Do you got a story you want to share?
My name is Soloman.
Used to work in the kitchen here, and I know a whole bunch of herbs and spices.
So you're a good cook?
I'm an assassin.
I will poison you. You won't even see it coming.
I will watch out for that.
You can try!
Well, now that we're done with attendance…
Once you know the alphabet,
you'll be able to spell any word in the English language.
Can I spell, "Where's my gun?"
My man!
Can I spell, "If I'm in your army now, then give me my weapon"?
Boom.
I thought you was gonna get us our guns, buckra.
Yeah, didn't you say you was gonna talk to Higginson?
He said that. How that go?
-Well, I did bring it up with him. -And what did he say?
He said, "It's in process."
"It's in process." What does that mean?
Well, according to Higginson,
the First South Carolina Volunteers is still a bit of an experiment.
Experiment.
You're not an officially authorized regiment yet, it seems.
Not until Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation.
Okay. And when is that gonna happen?
January 1st, 1863.
Higginson believes it will be soon,
but he can't arm you himself.
He needs permission from General Saxton,
who has to wait for the go-ahead from Lincoln himself.
It's an infinity of white men lined up, getting in our way.
I wish I could help you, but I'm just here to teach you how to read.
-We don't wanna read. We wanna fight. -We want to get to the future.
Well, I can tell you this.
In order to get to the future, you need to understand the past.
And that means reading history,
studying all the darkness,
the pain,
the paradox.
America itself is a paradox, and we have to study that.
'Cause if you can't really confront that darkness,
how can you move forward into the light?
This buckra might have a point, y'all.
Yeah.
Let's learn to read.
Austin, here you are.
Go get dressed. We're expected at your father's house tonight.
Excuse me? I'm not speaking to my father.
Yes, yes, I know, but it's his birthday, and they're having a sing-along and--
You don't listen to a single word I say, do you?
I have cut myself off from my father.
I will not be attending his birthday. But I surely won't stop you from going.
As a matter of fact, I'd love for you to go.
Leave me here alone with the baby.
I haven't gotten to spend time with him. I'd love to have a night, just him and me.
Why would a father ever want a night alone with his child?
If you're not coming, the baby will stay with Clara and Anna.
They can look after him.
You're not listening to me again.
I said, I want to look after him.
You're not even capable of looking after yourself.
What have you been doing all afternoon?
Drinking again, I assume.
No. I cannot leave you alone with the baby.
You would likely drop him out of a window or some equally horrible accident.
Fathers are just not good nurturers, Austin.
That's just the way it is.
Men have other roles to play.
Really? Like what?
Like fighting in the war.
Why don't you go put a uniform on and do what you're supposed to do?
It's what men do.
Then maybe your father might actually be proud of you.
Do you have my song?
Good song. Do you have "Plenty of Fish in the Sea"?
-Yes. -Are they all in the right order?
-Yes, yes and-- -Great.
For he's a jolly good fellow For he's a jolly good fellow
Edward!
Edward, can you hear me?
I can hear you just fine, woman.
That's what almost did me in right now.
Thank God. I thought we lost you for good that time.
What is all the hubbub?
-Well, it was my idea. -Yeah?
I just wanted to have an old-fashioned family sing-along
for your birthday.
Well…
I think I would love a bit of music.
Yes. I think I'd like that very much indeed.
For he's a jolly good fellow For he's a jolly good fellow
Which nobody can deny
We live in hard and stirring times
Too sad for mirth Too rough for rhymes
For songs of peace Have lost their chimes
And that's what's the matter
The men we held as brothers true
Have turned into a rebel crew
And now we have to put them through
For that's what's the matter
That's what's the matter
The rebels have to scatter
We will make them flee By land and sea
And that's what's the matter
Oh, the sun shines bright
On my old Kentucky home
'Tis summer, the people are gay
The corn tops rise
And the meadow is in bloom
While the birds make music all day
A lady tossed her curls
At all who came to woo
She laughed to scorn the vows
At hearts though false or true
While merrily she sang
And cared all day for naught
There are plenty of fish in the sea
As good as ever were caught
There are plenty of fish in the sea
As good as ever were caught
Listen to the mockingbird
The mockingbird still singing O'er her grave
Listen to the mockingbird
Still singing Where the weeping willows wave
-Yay, Vinnie! -Vinnie! Yay! More. More. More.
Keep playing.
I needed this.
Thank you.
Oh, God. Now that my brain fog is clearing, I--
I had a thought I wanted to share with you about your poem.
My poem? Which one?
The last one you sent me, right before the baby was born.
"Safe in their Alabaster Chambers."
That's one of the ones I sent to--
One of the ones you sent to who?
To you. To-- That's-- Yeah. Go on.
Yeah, well, I mean, it's-- It is an extraordinary poem.
Just the imagery of death and snow.
It's just beautiful, Emily.
But?
-Is there a but? -No, no.
Not a but. Just a maybe. I--
I thought maybe it could be better without the second stanza.
Without it?
Well, it's just my opinion.
But I know that my opinion means more to you than anyone else's.
It's time to reminisce.
Edward, let's share some of our fondest memories.
Do we have those?
Of course we do.
Why don't you tell us the story of how you first met?
All right.
-It was in the 15th century… -Edward!
-…and I-- -Tell the story.
All right. All right. All right.
All right. Well…
Well, I was a strapping young man, member of the Massachusetts State Militia.
And I was posted in Monson.
Where I grew up.
And one night, I happened to attend a chemistry lecture at Monson Academy,
and wouldn't you know it,
young Miss Emily Norcross sat just beside me.
What? Mom, you went to a chemistry lecture?
I assure you, I was only there to hold the seat for my brother.
I intended to hurry on home the minute any science got started.
Yes, but she stayed for the chemistry, if you permit me.
He was a major, with a sash and a sword and everything.
It was love at first sight.
Is that why you left my proposal letter unanswered for three months?
It wasn't that long.
Three months. She left me high and dry three months.
-Unbelievable. -What was the wedding like?
The wedding. Let's see.
Well, I remember I was so excited the night before that I couldn't sleep.
So I just stared at the candle as it burned ever lower,
until its light was extinguished forever.
My sister, Lavinia, God bless her soul, she didn't want me to get married.
She thought I was too young.
She didn't know how she'd survive on the farm without me.
She was in a true panic about it.
I remember she spent our entire wedding day in tears.
That's…
Well, look, it all worked out.
A great life with Edward, three beautiful children.
And who cares if I never got to see my mother again
because, by the time I was able to get back to Monson
after the three of you were born,
she already wasted away from yellow fever.
Sweet memories.
Yes. Great.
You know, I saw my wedding dress just this morning.
It was packed away along with Grandmother Norcross's quilt,
gathering dust.
I remember that dress.
You do, do you?
-Yes. You should go put it on. -Edward.
Edward, stop.
-It would never fit. -Mom, go try.
Please, I am not the child bride
your father ripped from the bosom of her family anymore.
You'll always be that child bride to me.
Okay, that--
I miss my sister.
Life is hard for us all, isn't it?
Hey, I think I know a song about that.
Go on then.
Let us pause in life's journeys
And count its many tears
While we all sup sorrow with the poor
There's a song that will linger
Forever in our ears
Oh, hard times come again no more
'Tis the song
The sigh of the weary
Hard times, hard times
Come again no more
Many days you have lingered
Around my cabin door
Oh, hard times
Come again no more
While we seek mirth and beauty
And music light and gay
There are frail forms
Fainting at the door
Though their voices are silent
Their pleading looks will say
Oh, hard times
Come again no more
Oh, hard times
Come again no more
You came.
Happy birthday, old man.
Thanks. I'm glad you could make it for that one.
It's just such a beautiful song.
Yeah. I love that one.
Perhaps you two should teach it to your young boy one day.
You mean, me and Emily?
No. I meant you and Austin.
We were just having some fond memories tonight.
Speaking of memories, I'll be right back.
-Where are you going? -Upstairs.
What?
I'll just be a moment.
Austin, don't you think you've had enough?
Listen to your wife. She's right.
Actually, I'd like to say a few words, if that's all right.
A birthday toast. Yes, go right ahead.
Not exactly a toast.
Oh, for God's sake.
All right. Here it is.
I've been doing some thinking.
That's a bit unusual for you.
Now, it won't come as any surprise to any of you that I've been unhappy.
Of course, our whole country is unhappy. Unhappy and in pain.
And sometimes it's hard to tell your pain apart from the general sorrow of society,
you know?
But the fact is, I don't like the way my life has turned out.
For more reasons than I can count.
"Turned out"? But you're still young, my boy.
Yes, that's right.
My life isn't over yet,
and that means I still have the power to make some changes.
What do you mean, "changes"?
-I'm not sure now is the best time to-- -Let me talk, Emily.
I've made some important decisions tonight,
and I'm here to share them with you.
First off, I'm leaving the law office of Edward Dickinson and Son.
I'll be starting my own firm.
Your own firm?
You're not ready for that.
And where will you be finding your clients?
Or do you plan on helping yourself to mine?
I've already got a few clients, as a matter of fact,
because I'll be specializing in a whole new area of law.
Excuse me? What area?
Divorce.
I've been reading up on the subject.
It seems there's a growing demand for divorce lawyers these days.
More and more marriages, when you look under the surface,
turn out to conceal irreconcilable differences,
just like the Yankees and the Confederates.
There just comes a point when you can't live together anymore.
And I'll have an edge in the area,
since I've experienced just such a marriage myself.
I'm divorcing you, Susan.
And I'll be taking full custody of the child.
I put on my wedding dress. Look, it still fits.
-Wait. What's happening? -Just…
I mean it. We're done.
This, whatever this is or was, is over.
You won't even remember this in the morning.
I'll just go back upstairs.
Austin, how could you?
I think you know how I could, Emily.
I think you know better than anyone, I'd say.
Your drinking is out of control.
Austin, I won't let you do this to yourself.
I won't let you ruin your own life!
Don't worry about that. You've already ruined it for me.
You will stop this. You will stop this right now!
Why don't you just go ahead and hit me? Come on.
Hit me like you used to hit her.
Austin.
What?
We all knew. We just pretended not to.
But I'm not going to protect this loser's feelings anymore.
-Em. -I can't make a new future for myself
if I continue to lie about the past.
I can't change the past.
But I will never give up on this family,
and I will never give up on you.
Austin, just get out. You need to leave.
You couldn't keep me here if you tried.
Hey, listen to me.
What?
You told me I had to choose.
You said it was either you or him.
Well, guess what?
I choose him.
I choose our father.
Well, it's your funeral.
Vinnie. My sweet sister.
-Mom? -Vinnie, forgive me--
Dear God!
Edward, I'm sorry. I do. I do.
Jesus Christ.
I have no regrets.
I just wanted to make everyone happy.
Emily, my love.
Okay, I am breaking my vow of silence to say
this family is absolutely insane.
Sue, I--
Emily, don't touch me right now.
I know how upset you must be.
He didn't mean it.
-He won't leave you, Sue. -Emily, I don't care about Austin.
I care about you.
You need to explain this to me.
-His name is Higginson, and-- -I know who he is.
I've read his work.
-I have a brain too. Remember? -Yes. Of course.
What I don't understand is why you gave this man
the same poem that you gave to me.
He invited young writers to reach out to him, so I reached out.
And sent him "Safe in their Alabaster Chambers."
Yes.
"Would-- Would you have time to be the friend you should think I need?
I have a little shape.
It would not crowd your desk nor make much racket as the mouse."
"Will you be my preceptor, Mr. Higginson? I am in danger, sir…"
Oh, my God, Emily.
This letter makes it sound like you're helpless.
Like you're completely alone. It doesn't even mention me.
-Look, I wanted to. I just-- -It's like ever since I've had a baby,
I have ceased to exist!
Sue, please!
You know what?
You're just like Austin.
Well, what does that mean?
You think you're fighting for something, but really,
you're just running away.