Find The Land

Episode 2: Find The Land

Booker T. Washington arrives in Alabama with his new wife, Fanny, expecting to lead a school. Instead, he discovers there is no school—only a promise and a patch of land waiting to be found. As Booker searches the countryside for a place to build his vision, he sends a letter to the one person he believes can help make it real: Olivia Davidson.

Back in Massachusetts, Olivia finds herself trapped in work far beneath her abilities. Haunted by the loss of her brother and the collapse of a school they once built together, she has little interest in Booker's latest dream. But as opportunities close around her and her talents continue to be overlooked, Olivia must decide whether to settle for the life others have chosen for her—or take a chance on the uncertain future Booker offers.

Special thanks to Stephen Hill, Shayna Small, Antoine Medley, Michael Armstrong, Issa Barrett, Sharon Graves, Lele Jones, Emma Sutphin, Jocelyn Monroe and my agent James Sarnoff. 

Transcript

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SPEAKER_09 0:00

Previously on Booker and Olivia. Ah, Booker.

SPEAKER_08 0:03

I've received a letter from some people in Alabama.

SPEAKER_09 0:07

It is our hope that you can recommend a good white man to come take charge of a school for Nico.

SPEAKER_02 0:13

Booker, they're expecting a white man. Probably had in mind Frizzelle. He's sending you because of Natalie Lord.

SPEAKER_09 0:21

That's not why he's sending me.

SPEAKER_04 0:23

Booker, don't grow too far out. Is Olivia your sweetheart? Or is it the girl you have back home?

SPEAKER_09 0:35

Southbound tickets, please.

SPEAKER_10 0:37

How many tickets?

SPEAKER_09 0:39

Two.

SPEAKER_01 0:57

Build this one on Yahweh Hill. Yes, I will. You tell. Yes, I will, yes, sir. Build that soon from the dirt to the skies. All the wicked hinties on the head top lie. You tell. Yes, I will. Yes, sir. Uh, uh. Mr. Booker D said, Leave I will, build this wound on yonder hill. Got a helmet, got a shovel, got a dream.

SPEAKER_10 1:22

Booker and Olivia, episode two, find the land. The producers would like to thank Michael Armstrong, Isa Barrett, Antoine Medley, Lily Jones Sneed, Sharon Graves, and Stephen Hill for their contribution. Original music provided by Soule Gregg Wilson, founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. All aboard. Tickets, please, tickets, please. How many tickets, sir? Yes, sir. Tickets, please, tickets, please. Sorry to bother you, sir. Your wife's at the back of the train. She's not feeling very well, sir.

SPEAKER_09 2:11

Fanny, are you all right?

SPEAKER_12 2:17

I never been on anything this fast.

SPEAKER_10 2:24

The commissioner will see you now, sir. Stand. Yes, sir. Don't sit.

SPEAKER_08 2:33

I asked someone to come teach niggers around here to be useful. Like I hear they are at Hampton. Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_09 2:41

I'll just need the appropriation, sir. Sir? The lunch you wanted for you and your guests. Sir, thank you for anticipating that I might be hungry. I was anticipating a white man.

SPEAKER_10 2:51

Shall I set a plate for him, sir?

SPEAKER_08 2:53

I'll be lunching over. Fine land. I approve sale, and you get money for the docky school.

SPEAKER_09 3:02

Sir, I read the proposal on the train. It didn't say that I had to find the land. Find land first. Sir, may I at least have a letter of introduction to show. Fine land. Sir, what landowner in Alabama will talk to a colored with no letter? Sir. Seems to me you got a problem, boy.

SPEAKER_12 3:34

And it's too cold to pinch a tin out here.

SPEAKER_09 3:36

There's an inner up ahead.

SPEAKER_10 3:41

You know ain't no way in the world I went no room to no color. I'll pay extra. I'll take the extra. But you ain't getting no room.

SPEAKER_09 3:52

Fanny, let's go. I just got robbed.

SPEAKER_12 3:59

Who you writing, Booker?

SPEAKER_09 4:01

My brother John. Dear Olivia, the Commissioner of Education in Alabama gave me the warmest reception. We will work well together. I hope the people at Framingham will be just as welcoming to you. Also, I was wrong. You may be right about why I was sent here.

unknown 4:21

Booker.

SPEAKER_04 4:25

Olivia, dear. So good to have you back at Framingham. To what do we owe this visit? Miss Prescott, it is my hope that there will be some position open, teaching the girls music or grammar, even. Dear, of course. There will always be a place for Framingham's most prized pupil. Come, let me show you your station. I'd like you to take charge of women's laundry. Miss Prescott, I asked you about a position.

SPEAKER_09 5:02

Fanny, make coffee, and then we'll load up the wagon and move on. I see the store, Fanny. Whoa. Penny, wait by the wagon. Is there something you want?

SPEAKER_04 5:35

Yeah, I want to go in the store.

SPEAKER_02 5:40

Some flour, a yard of cloth, and some rock candy for my youngs.

SPEAKER_11 5:44

That'll be two dollars, Mr. Two dollars? Inflation. You'll have to talk to the president next.

SPEAKER_06 5:49

I like working for Mr. Preston because Mr. Preston knows how to treat his color. Yes, sir. Ain't nobody gonna treat their colors like Mr.

SPEAKER_10 5:54

Preston. He's right. Don't always treat you good. Mm-hmm. You right, you're right.

SPEAKER_07 5:59

Mr. Preston knows how to treat his nigga. No, nobody treat no color.

SPEAKER_11 6:01

Just take the pencil and make your mark right here.

SPEAKER_10 6:07

But where do I sign? Cause I got some swine on my mind. What's going on? Work contract. But we get back to the spring plan, that's all. Can you read that? Don't make a difference what it said. Matter what get in line, son.

SPEAKER_11 6:21

That's a boy. Just take the pencil and make your mark right there. Then step on up there and get that back. Get in line, son. Where's your work contract, son?

SPEAKER_09 6:29

Contract. I work for myself.

SPEAKER_11 6:31

Well, what do you want? Step on up, boys, clothes. So he can be on his way.

SPEAKER_10 6:39

Step on up, boys. Don't worry about what it is. Mega said he wrote this here letter himself. He don't have to. You write this letter himself.

SPEAKER_09 6:47

Olivia Davidson.

SPEAKER_10 6:49

Say it again.

SPEAKER_09 6:49

Olivia Davidson.

SPEAKER_11 6:51

Step on up, boys. Five cents for your stamp to Booker.

SPEAKER_12 6:55

Manson, we gotta move the wagons. Olivia Davidson.

SPEAKER_10 6:57

Don't worry about what it is.

SPEAKER_12 6:58

So that's who you're writing to?

SPEAKER_10 7:00

Oh, he gotta worry about it.

SPEAKER_12 7:01

Don't worry, Booker. I'll move it myself.

SPEAKER_10 7:03

Step on up there and get you a bad flower. Oh boy. Oh boy. Step on up, boy.

SPEAKER_06 7:10

That's a boy. I don't want to run out of no flower.

SPEAKER_02 7:26

Girls. Take a break.

SPEAKER_04 7:30

What are you mill girls doing this week? God, this day is.

SPEAKER_03 7:36

I said Sally's gonna go see that boat of hers.

SPEAKER_04 7:38

Sally's got a boat. Sally's got a boat.

SPEAKER_02 7:42

And what difference does it make to you? You all right, Miss Olivia? Sounds like you gotta cough something terrible. Sally, thank you. But let Miss Olivia have a moment, please. Sally girl, come along and tell me about that new boat. Sally ain't much to tell because I ain't got one.

SPEAKER_03 8:13

Booker's letter. I almost forgot.

SPEAKER_09 8:17

Dear Olivia, the Commissioner of Education in Alabama gave me the warmest reception. We will work well together. I hope the people at Framingham will be just as welcoming to you. Also, I was wrong. You may be right about why I was sent here.

unknown 8:35

Booker.

SPEAKER_09 8:37

P.S. I think we'll need your help here. It's like I'm alone. And like I said, I can't do this alone. We need you.

SPEAKER_03 8:50

You don't need me. No one needs me. Besides. I could never go back to the deep self. Never.

SPEAKER_02 9:08

Very good. Very good. Very good. Now tired of it.

SPEAKER_12 9:15

What is it, bro? Wow, lots of them too. Children. Get out of my way, Ali. Charles, don't go out there.

SPEAKER_10 9:23

Charles, no-day the school of love. Would you go?

SPEAKER_00 9:53

Charles. Have you seen Charles?

SPEAKER_04 10:02

Miss Ollie, wake up! Miss Ollie! You had a night terror. You were screaming. You had the night terrors again.

SPEAKER_02 10:10

And that's the third time this week. Sally, shut up. I'm just saying it's messing with my sleep. Sally, shut up.

SPEAKER_10 10:27

But today, boy, what's gonna do you and this gal for? We were told you would sell land to color. I've been known to cut a fair deal. Boy, this is a lot of land for just you and that gal over there. You must be planning on getting busy. The soil is just like a woman. You fertilize her right and she'll yield. What you plan on yielding on this soil, boy? Negro mind. Negro mind. Yes, sir. Colored gentlemen and ladies. Well, good luck with that. Now, this is a good old-fashioned black belt. You gotta put your face down in it so you can really know how good it. Oh, that's black. Oh put your face down in it, boy. You gotta stick your head in it, then you gotta come up saying black down. Oh, black belt. Black belt you said you was gonna plan on this here farm again, boy.

SPEAKER_09 11:37

Negro minds. Negro minds.

SPEAKER_10 11:40

Negro mind.

SPEAKER_09 11:42

Negro minds.

SPEAKER_10 11:43

Good luck. One more thing. You got the money.

SPEAKER_08 11:49

Stand, don't sit. Yes, sir. I read by this paper that the land has three structures on it. Leave it that way. Yes, sir. Don't get grand ideas of a little Hampton down here. Your school would be firewood for an Alabama pit barbecue. Wouldn't want to do that, sir. No little Hampton. Don't even add an outhouse. But, sir. Your future students can crap into woods like the monkeys they are. For all I care. You may leave.

SPEAKER_04 12:22

Olivia? Miss Prescott. The girls say you are bothered in your sleep by nightmares. Is this true? Miss Prescott. Well, I am sympathetic to your troubles. Your nightmares are causing a loss of sleep for the girls. And then they make mistakes when they work. Miss Prescott. You can see how this is disruptive to everyone.

SPEAKER_02 12:44

I'll take care of it, Miss Prescott.

SPEAKER_04 12:46

Please see of it.

SPEAKER_09 13:09

Dear Olivia, I think we'll need your help here. It's like I'm alone. I can't do this alone. We need you.

SPEAKER_03 13:19

You do need me, Mr. Booker T. Washington. And I'm coming.

SPEAKER_09 13:26

Next time on Booker and Olivia. So this is the farm. I've got my brother John here with us.

SPEAKER_03 13:31

Hello, sir. Howdy.

SPEAKER_09 13:33

And of course, my new wife, Fanny. Fanny, this is Olivia. She's going to help us.

SPEAKER_03 13:39

Hello, Fanny.

SPEAKER_09 13:41

It's not polite to leave someone's hand unshaking, Fanny.

SPEAKER_03 13:44

Booker, it's okay. Let's just tour the rest of the farm.

SPEAKER_08 13:50

Brother, brother, brother. Shut up, China.

SPEAKER_10 13:54

Booker and Olivia stars Stephen Hill as Booker and Shayna Small as Olivia. Your support is always welcome, and you can support us by going to patreon.com forward slash audio autour. That's Patreon.com forward slash AUD IO A U T E U R. Patreon.com forward slash audio autour. Thank you. Booker and Olivia was produced by William Sutfin, the audio autore.