Something Bigger!

Episode 3: Something Bigger

Booker T. Washington has found the land, but turning it into a school is another matter. The arrival of his brother John gives the struggling operation a much-needed boost, but it is Olivia Davidson who changes everything.

While Booker sees a small school, Olivia sees an institution that could transform the South. She pushes Booker to demand more from the money men, recruit more students, and dream bigger than he ever has before. Her ambition inspires John, but worries Fanny, who fears Olivia's relentless determination may lead Booker down a dangerous path.

Haunted by the violent loss of her brother and the destruction of her last school, Olivia refuses to let fear dictate her future. As opposition mounts and old wounds resurface, she rides into the countryside with a simple message: a better life is possible for those willing to reach for it.

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_08 0:00

Previously on Booker and Olivia. Dear General, it is our hope that you can recommend a good white man to come take charge of a school for Negroes.

SPEAKER_09 0:09

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

SPEAKER_08 0:17

That's not why he's sending me. The commissioner will see you now, sir. Stand, don't sit. Yes, sir. Fine land. I approve sale, and you get money for the docky school. Sir, I read the proposal on the train. It didn't say that I had to find the land.

SPEAKER_01 0:38

Olivia, dear, so good to have you back at Framingham. To what do we owe this visit?

SPEAKER_09 0:44

Miss Prescott, it is my hope that there will be some position open, teaching the girls music or grammar, even.

SPEAKER_01 0:52

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_00 1:23

Yes, I will. You tell. Yes, I will, yes, sir. Built that soon from the dirt to the skies. All the Piccadinis on the head up by do tell. Yes, I will. Yes, sir. Uh, uh. Mr. Booger T said, Leave I will, build this room on Yahna Hill. Got a hammer, got a shovel, got a dream.

SPEAKER_04 1:45

Booker and Olivia, episode three, something bigger. The producers would like to thank Michael Armstrong, Isa Barrett, Antoine Mantley, Lily Jones Sneed, Sharon Graves, and Stephen Hill for their contribution. Original music provided by Sulay Greg Wilson, founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops.

SPEAKER_07 2:24

To the left.

SPEAKER_08 2:25

No, no, to the to the right. No, come on, come. All right. Back, back, back. Two more. Don't you think you ought to look at smaller? Let's be right. What do you see? I see you in a fancy bow tie. Overdressed for real work. Brother, more work. Less talk.

SPEAKER_00 2:49

Shit.

SPEAKER_08 2:51

Oh, I'm late. Finish without me. Look at you in a fancy bow tie.

SPEAKER_07 3:00

Fanny know that you expecting somebody special.

SPEAKER_08 3:17

Miss Davidson.

SPEAKER_09 3:19

Mr. Washington.

SPEAKER_08 3:20

These all your bags.

SPEAKER_09 3:23

Yes. I suppose Miss Lord was too busy.

SPEAKER_08 3:29

So this is the farm. I've got my brother John here with us.

SPEAKER_09 3:33

Hello, sir.

SPEAKER_08 3:34

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

SPEAKER_09 3:41

Hello, Fanny.

SPEAKER_08 3:43

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

SPEAKER_09 3:46

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

SPEAKER_00 3:51

Brother, brother, brother.

SPEAKER_08 3:52

Shut up, John. What's that?

SPEAKER_09 4:00

It's a picture postcard of our Hampton. Hold the postcard against the horizon for me, will you?

SPEAKER_08 4:06

Like this.

SPEAKER_09 4:07

Just like that.

SPEAKER_08 4:12

We're just here to build a simple school.

SPEAKER_09 4:14

I see something bigger, Mr. Washington. I do. Another Hampton. Right here. This picture postcard will be a little bit more.

SPEAKER_08 4:25

I put up two buildings. Maybe three at the most. All built by my brother John.

SPEAKER_09 4:31

Mr. John? Not three, but dozens of buildings built by you all around this place. Do you see it, Mr. John?

SPEAKER_07 4:41

I certainly do, Ms. Davidson.

SPEAKER_09 4:43

Do you see it, Fanny? Fanny. You do have your own thoughts. Those that have vision see it, Booker. Do you?

SPEAKER_07 4:57

Oh, you a better man than me. And why is that? I don't know how you managed to get two hunnies to come down here, but I sure want to be like you when I grow up. I want to be like Booker T. Washington when I grow up.

SPEAKER_08 5:09

Brother, brother, brother. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Gonna hurt somebody. Can we work? Can we just work without all the commentary? Alright.

SPEAKER_07 5:23

Uh brother. Miss Olivia's talking about putting buildings up all around this place. What are we gonna do? We gonna go big or go home? Speak of the devil. How do Mr. Olivia? This boy's scared.

SPEAKER_08 5:35

Tell him what you see, Miss Olivia.

SPEAKER_09 5:37

Dozens of buildings all over there.

SPEAKER_08 5:39

There won't be any dozens of buildings around this place. Alabama's not going to let this place be much more than a tent.

SPEAKER_09 5:46

And how are they going to do that?

SPEAKER_08 5:48

Usual work. Fires, night riders.

SPEAKER_09 5:51

You're going to let fire stop you?

SPEAKER_08 5:54

Yeah. I am.

SPEAKER_09 5:57

I've seen fire at my schoolhouse door, Mr. Washington. It will not be a hitch in my plans again. Besides, I've a plan to take care of the state of Alabama. Look.

SPEAKER_02 6:12

What'd she mean by I seen fires at my schoolhouse door?

SPEAKER_08 6:17

Ollie.

SPEAKER_02 6:18

Oh, she's Ollie now.

SPEAKER_08 6:19

Olivia taught in Mississippi beforehand. They killed her brother.

SPEAKER_02 6:24

Now she's gonna get you killed.

SPEAKER_08 6:26

I'll be fine. She'll be fine. You'll be fine.

SPEAKER_02 6:28

She touched Bucca.

SPEAKER_08 6:30

Olivia gave up a great opportunity to be here, fam.

SPEAKER_02 6:32

Booker, you ever think I gave up something to be here too? You wasn't the only man that ever looked at me.

SPEAKER_09 6:53

Charles, no! Get out of my way, God. God Almighty, guide us in all our doings. Protect us from every danger. Help us in every need. Amen. Why do we have to go in through the back? We have money in there.

SPEAKER_08 7:26

That's the way banks do things around here, Ollie. Look, when we go in, let me do the talking.

SPEAKER_06 7:34

Sure. How do Booker? Uh, Mr. Abcron. How do you do, sir?

SPEAKER_09 7:41

I'm Olivia Davidson, Booker's partner. How do you do?

SPEAKER_06 7:44

Hello, young Missy. Franklin, will you see that this gal has something to drink? And bring something back here for me and this boy, please. Very good, sir. Um, Booker, let's head to the back and talk about your particulars.

SPEAKER_09 7:58

Any business you need to discuss with Booker, you can discuss in my presence. We're partners.

SPEAKER_06 8:04

I never. These are the documents. Shall we read them for you?

SPEAKER_09 8:10

We read just fine. I see here. You have the land to be You okay? I'm fine.

SPEAKER_03 8:25

You okay?

SPEAKER_09 8:26

Booker, I'm fine. I see here that the land is to be dated to the state of Alabama.

SPEAKER_06 8:34

Yes? Alabama?

SPEAKER_09 8:36

Deded to Booker T. Washington.

SPEAKER_08 8:39

Ollie, they gave the appropriation.

SPEAKER_09 8:41

It's not an appropriation. It's a reparation.

SPEAKER_06 8:45

When do you plan to open school? It's customary to have colored school from December through February.

SPEAKER_09 8:55

July 4th. And we'll go year-round.

SPEAKER_06 8:58

4th of July. At Vicksburg. That's the anniversary of Vicksburg. Olivia. July 4th is a Yankee holiday.

SPEAKER_09 9:05

I don't care.

SPEAKER_06 9:06

You should care. Besides being a Yankee holiday, July 4th is high cotton season.

SPEAKER_09 9:12

The planters will have to make do. Something wrong, Mr. Washington?

SPEAKER_08 9:20

Talking reparations? Pulling workers from the fields? That's not how you play the game down here.

SPEAKER_09 9:26

Yet we have this little paper that names us as the proprietors of the farm and not the state of Alabama. Because I asked. You play the game down here. The same as anywhere, Mr. Washington. To win.

SPEAKER_08 9:49

Here lies Booker G. Washington, eighteen fifty-six to eighteen eighty-one. He played to win. Some of these plantations may not be around since the war.

SPEAKER_09 10:21

Oh, they're still here. The war changed nothing for these people.

SPEAKER_07 10:25

Let's get that fully going.

SPEAKER_09 10:29

Well, canvas here.

SPEAKER_08 10:31

What if these are working plantations?

SPEAKER_09 10:33

I hope they are. Because that's where we'll find our students.

SPEAKER_08 10:37

And planters are just gonna let us ride up and tell their help about some sort.

SPEAKER_09 10:41

You're scared, I'll do it.

SPEAKER_08 10:43

Ben.

SPEAKER_02 10:46

Morning sickness.

SPEAKER_08 10:47

Morning sickness. Wait, what?

SPEAKER_02 10:50

Are you happy, Booker?

SPEAKER_08 10:52

That's wonderful. Let's get you rested. Miss Davidson. Excuse us, Miss Davidson.

SPEAKER_07 11:00

When were you going to tell me?

SPEAKER_10 11:02

Booker, I don't want to weary your head with you and Olivia building the school and all.

SPEAKER_07 11:06

Brother, I'm going to have a son.

SPEAKER_10 11:08

Booker. What if it's a girl?

SPEAKER_07 11:11

That's fine too. Congratulations, Booker. Thank you, brother. Hey, congratulations, congratulations, Mr. Book, Mr. B. Congratulations. Congratulations, Mr. B. Take a break, Mr. John. That's huge. What's gonna be huge is that knot I put on your head when you come down that ladder.

SPEAKER_09 11:29

Congratulations, Booker.

SPEAKER_07 11:30

All right here, Buck. Let's get that bullet going.

SPEAKER_09 11:32

Parker Plantation. Yes. I'll start there. How do brother? I'm Olivia Davidson.

SPEAKER_03 11:47

I got cotton to get to. And I can't get to it with you in my way. Don't care nothing about no schools.

SPEAKER_09 11:53

Sister, I'm building new schools.

SPEAKER_03 11:55

I got cotton to get to. I got work to do, but I'm gonna go. And I can't get to it with you in my way. Miss, I got cotton to get, miss. Don't care nothing about it. And I can get to it with you and my way. Can't get to it with you and my way.

SPEAKER_09 12:05

Please, move. The Tuskegee School will train you to teach your children the basics. Please, Moo.

SPEAKER_06 12:11

Please get off this lamp, miss. The rope belongs to the plantation to the real belongs to the Okay then.

SPEAKER_09 12:19

That's where I'll stand. Please, miss. Opening day will be please, Dim's warning shot.

SPEAKER_05 12:33

He means it, man. Last one won't be, missing. July 4th will be. Take your time, missing. Speak peace.

SPEAKER_09 12:42

On July 4th, America's birthday. The Tuskegee School will open. We'd like to see you there. Thank you.

SPEAKER_06 12:52

Back to work. Back to work.

SPEAKER_02 12:58

Five, six, seven, eight.

SPEAKER_04 13:02

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 A-U-D I O A-U-T-E-U-R. Patreon.com forward slash audio autour. Thank you. Booker and Olivia was produced by William Sutton, the audio autour.