At the plantation, Tom is trying to pacify Ernestine with some BS about how he wanted to be better than his father. At least he can hold his liquor better. Yes, Tom, because Sam is dead, you're talking to his mother and it’s all about you. And oh, Tom Macon ain’t even his real name. He says he feels bad about Sam. He can’t eat or sleep. He begs Ernestine to forgive him.  Um. You just killed this lady’s first born. She ain’t hear for your sorrow, Tom.

Ernestine says that Sam’s lynching is all her fault, karma for what she did to Pearlie Mae. She tells Massa Tom that she killed Pearlie Mae and she prays for her own salvation. Lady, I don’t even hold that against you. You did what you had to, to protect your daughter.

Tom doesn’t even react about Pearlie Mae. He shoves his hand up Ernestine’s skirt— yes, the ladywhose son he just killed— and says that he wants her to go to DC with him, and they can be “free”. Define free, Tom. You gonna give Ernestine her manumission papers? And what about her kid, James, your kid, the one that you didn’t kill… yet? Is he gonna be free? You gonna take that bounty of Rosalee, or nah? And what about your wife and three kids? Will you be free of them? Tom makes me mad. He ain’t sh—.