Missouri, 1876. A year into his studies in St. Louis, things look bleak for Gus. Father Dolan is acting strangely, often disappearing with no explanation. Gus is working at a local Sunom where he witnesses things no young Christian man should see. If he's ever going to reach the seminary, something will have to change. The Saints, Adventures of Faith and Courage. A Gus is told them. Episode 3, Free Slaves. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at TheSaintsPodcast.com. And suppose once more that he is reluctantly dragged up a steep and rugged ascent. And held fast until he's forced into the presence of the Sun himself. Is he not likely to be pained and irritated? When he... Father Dolan? Father? Mm-hmm. Are you alright? Yes, of course. My apologies. You look like you're in pain. Don't be silly, Augustus. What were we talking about? Plato's allegory of the cave. Right. Of course. Read on. When he approaches the light, his eyes will be dazzled. And he will not be able to see anything at all of what are now called realities. I'm sorry, Augustus. Me, we... I think, let's end there for this evening. Father, what's wrong? Nothing. I'd like to go. That's all. I'm tired now. I have other business that need attention. But we only just started. I'll see you at Mass in the morning. Father Dolan? I wish you'd go to a doctor. And I wish we could have full lessons again. What is the point of being here if I'm not able to study? Raise your bets, gentlemen. Raise your bets. Dolan! Where is that boy? Dolan! Right here, Mr. Barnes. I've been sick. Dolan. How long does it take to sweep up some glass? Nearly done, sir. We'll be quick about it. I need you behind the bar. There's customers, Mr. Sir. Sir. Final bets, gentlemen. Dolan, I don't be a fool, Harry. I said all in. Harry Flint! You promised me, Harry! You promised me no more, gambling! Stop hitting me, Del! You come to this filthy place. You drink yourself blind. You don't you lecture me, Adelaide. How are we supposed to feed the boys? How are we going to survive with you gambling away every penny we save? Oh, man's got a ride. What my husband's not, Harry. Mrs. Flint, don't you dare, Tolton. I told you before, Flint, if you can't keep your nag of a wife from spoiling the atmosphere, find yourself another saloon. Now get out. Get out. Both of you. All right, all right. Keep your shirt off. Tolton, get behind that bar. Yes, sir. Got something on your mind, boy. No. Good. But get back to work. Still away, still away to Jesus. Drunken husbands and heartbroken wives. That's all that is, mama. Makes me sick. I came here to learn to serve people as a priest, not to learn how to serve beer. Hand me those plates. Here. Thank you. Still away, still away home. I ain't going to stay here. And there's nothing I can do about it. Whenever I try to intervene, Mr. Barnes just... Well, I don't think he's too happy without the war at it. Silverwell? Can't go to seminary unless he saves up the money, goes. I know that. I just can't stomach how often I have to stand idly by in that place. It feels wrong. I think it is wrong. Then you'll have to find something else. I've looked. Nothing else works with my lesson schedule. Though, who knows how much longer that'll last? What does that mean? Father Dolan's been acting strange. He misses our lessons. And when he does show up, he's distracted. Like he doesn't hear a word I say. I'm worried about that man. He hardly touches the meals I prepare and his hands are always shaky. Every time I mention doctors, Father Dolan changes the subject or finds an excuse to leave. Maybe I should write to Father McGear. Maybe you should talk to Father Dolan first. Really speak with him. Don't let him leave. Hey, right, Mama. I'll talk with him in the morning. Don't wait. Go and talk to him now. Get yourself a little piece of mind before going into work tonight. I will. Thank you, Mama. See ya, prayer. I'm already praying, baby. Still the way, still the way to Jesus. Still the way, still the way home. Father Dolan? Father it's Gus. I was hoping to have a word. Father? Father! Father, come on, get up now. Train. What? I can't understand what you... Have you? How much of this if you had to drink? Come on. Let's get you in, baby. Gus, I'm deeply saddened by your letter. The Patrick Dolan I knew in our youth was prone to melancholy. I knew he'd carried it into adulthood. I did not know that it had taken this form. Oh, my friend. No two that I'm quite embarrassed to have put you in this situation, even if unwittingly. But I do think you're correct. Circumstances being what they are, remaining in St. Louis will do you no good, would have to arrange something else. In the meantime, you'd better return here to Quincy. Next stop, Quincy folks. 20 miles to Quincy. Nearly home. I'm glad for it. That all you can manage? I'll stop with that. What's got you all serious? Thinking about how much hatred I've got for slavery. Is that not what you expect to me to say? No, it's not. And I don't know what could have got you so gloomy about what's over and done. It ain't done, mama. What are you talking about? People walk into saloons every night. They gamble away their wages, they forget their marriage vows. They drink until they can't talk. All that's been going on everywhere in the world for a long time, baby. Ain't abolished that kind of slavery. But even with the slavery we did abolish, white folks can still make freedom a burden. I've been rejected by every seminary I've applied to. My old classmates got accepted months ago. You've been called. We just got to keep praying. And there's another thing I'm worried about. We keep seeing folks walk away to whatever denomination is most exciting. But I know the Catholic Church is the answer for us, warts and all. I want us to have real freedom, mama. Do you hear what I'm saying? Yes, I do. We might not be slaves to each other right now. But we're all a slave to something, all of us. You are a free man, Augustus Totten. By the mercy of God you are free in body and spirit. Don't you ever forget the mercy of God. I know, mama. No, sir. I want to hear you say it. By God's mercy, I am free. In Christ, I am free. In Christ, I am free. In Christ, I am free. And more than ever, I want to be a priest. I want to lead people to true freedom. The Post arrived! It comes every day, Father. Ah, but does it always contain letters to one Augustus Totten from the St. Joseph Society in Baltimore? They finally wrote back? Well, are you just going to stand there? Or are you going to open it? I'm nervous. This is my last chance. There's no such thing as a last chance, lad. But I've been rejected by every other seminary in the country. This is the last one. You'll want to know either way. All right. Here goes. Dear Mr. Totten. Well, did you get in? No. Turns out there's no place to get into. What do you mean? The Baltimore branch of St. Joseph doesn't even have a seminary. Let me see that. Now I really have been rejected from every single seminary in the United States, including an imaginary one. What about London? London? This letter says St. Joseph has a seminary branch in London, England. Is that even an option? The Lord's will is not confined to national borders. I suppose. I've always wanted to go abroad. Well, then we should write them a letter. It'll take some time to hear back from London, so you might be looking at another year or so before you can go to seminary, even if you do get in. That's all right, Father. I still need to save a little. And I've got some ideas of what I can do in the meantime. What of those ideas wouldn't happen to be St. Francis' College? What did? St. Francis? How did you even know about that? Well, it seems they wrote back to you today, too. Why did you keep it such a secret? I didn't think it'd be worth sharing until I heard back. We'll go on. Open it. I can't believe it! What? I'm...excepted! Accepted? I can study at St. Francis! Hi, this is Peter Atkinson from The Marybakers. Tune in to episode four, Abandoned by My Own, to hear the next installment of a Gus' Toulton. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at TheSaintsPoncast.com. The Marybakers is the entertainment division of relevant radio.
