1883 (TV Mini Series)

The Fangs of Freedom (2022)

Isabel May: Elsa Dutton

Photos 

Quotes 

• Elsa Dutton : I'd known death since I was a child, it's everywhere, but it had never touched me, it had never placed It's rotten finger on my heart, until today.

• Elsa Dutton : [rides up along side Ennis, watching herd]  If I have a baby are you man enough to help raise it?

  Elsa Dutton : [Ennis' smile fades]  Well?

  Ennis : You ain't like anyone I ever met. Hell, yes, I'm man enough. I doubt I'm that lucky though.

  Elsa Dutton : [smiles]  Good morning.

  Ennis : [returns smile]  Good morning.

  Elsa Dutton : [reins, rides away]  I'm gonna go tell Daddy.

  Ennis : [concerned]  Tell Daddy what?

  Elsa Dutton : [excitedly]  That we're getting married.

  Wade : [rides up along side Ennis]  Think you got women all figured out, don't you?

  Ennis : [chuckle]  I don't think there's any figuring that one out.

  Wade : What you need to figure out is her father and quick. 'Cause that son of a bitch is gonna kill you.

  Ennis : [concern returns]  You think he knows?

  Wade : [emphatically]  The whole fuckin' camp knows.

• Elsa Dutton : [internal monologue]  I think cities have weakened us, as a species. Mistakes have no consequences there. Step into the road without looking and the carriage merely stops or swerves. The only consequence, an angry driver. But here, there can be no mistakes. Because here doesn't care. The river doesn't care if you can swim. The snake doesn't care how much you love your children, and the wolf has no interest in your dreams. If you fail to beat the current, you will drown. If you get too close, you will be bitten. If you are too weak, you will be eaten.

  Elsa Dutton : [...]  We crossed the main stem of the Brazos River, just north of the Clear Fork. Though maps say we are still in Texas, the convergence of the main stem and the Clear Fork is where civilization ends. The land of no consequence is behind us. We are in the land of no mercy now.

  Elsa Dutton : [...]  In less than three weeks, we had shrunk by half. Eight men, six women, and four children had died. And now we leave at least that many behind If strength is in numbers, then we are growing weaker. When we need our strength the most.

  Elsa Dutton : [...]  What an odd thing, attraction. It consumes you. Stronger than hunger or fear or anything I've ever felt. I feel it everywhere. My hands my stomach, my toes...

  Elsa Dutton : [...]  The whole world faded away. No more stars or moon. No sky at all. No earth between my feet. No rock against my back. There was only us.

  Elsa Dutton : [...]  Freedom. Freedom is accepting consequences. Embracing them. Wrapping them around you like a blanket. I choose to love him. I choose to let him love me. If the consequence is a child, I'll choose to love that too.

  Elsa Dutton : [...]  I'd known death since I was a child. It's everywhere. But it had never touched me. It had never placed it's rotten finger on my heart. Until today. Today, my eyes died. I see the world through my mother's eyes now. Yes, freedom has fangs. And it sunk them in me. I chose to love him. He chose to love me back. Then chose to protect me. Then a man we've never met chose to kill him and made me color blind.

  [shoots man three times in the chest] 

  Elsa Dutton : Maybe killing this man will get my eyes back. Maybe it won't. But I chose to find out.

• Margaret Dutton : [cautiously rides up along side Elsa watching the herd]  You smell like a goat.

  Elsa Dutton : I was gonna bathe in the river but Ennis said this is bandit country and not to go anywhere alone.

  Margaret Dutton : [scoffs]  Sounds like Ennis is hinting at a bath with you.

  Elsa Dutton : He didn't suggest a bath.

  Margaret Dutton : If he'd gotten this close to you he would've.

  Elsa Dutton : I kissed him, Mama. You mad?

  Margaret Dutton : I suppose I should be. But I kissed a few boys when I was your age too, and the world didn't end. Just don't let it go beyond kissing.

  Elsa Dutton : Why, what's beyond kissing?

  Margaret Dutton : You've seen enough farm animals to know how babies are made, Elsa.

  Elsa Dutton : I know how they're made. Haven't fully figured how it translates to people.

  Margaret Dutton : Mm... You spend enough time with that cowboy I'm pretty sure you're going to find out quick enough. I recommend you don't though. I recommend you save it for someone you love.

  Elsa Dutton : Maybe I love him.

  [catches hear breath] 

  Elsa Dutton : I get butterflies when he looks at me.

  [chuckles] 

  Elsa Dutton : I get butterflies when he don't.

  Margaret Dutton : That's not love, honey. That's... dammit.

  Margaret Dutton : I guess we're gonna have to have that conversation, aren't we? Well, I say we kill two birds with one stone. Come on.

  [each reins and rides away from herd] 

• Elsa Dutton : [postcoital]  Morning.

  Elsa Dutton : [no response]  I said good morning.

  Margaret Dutton : You'd better be careful.

  Elsa Dutton : Careful with what?

  Margaret Dutton : You're a woman now, ain't you? And woman to woman you'd better be careful. It takes years to make something of your life. One decision can change the course of it forever. And we don't know if that decision is gonna be the one that sinks us until we make it. So you'd better be very, very careful what you choose. Freedom is anything but, Elsa. And every choice has fangs. Do you understand me?

  Elsa Dutton : Yes, ma'am.

  Margaret Dutton : [laughs]  We're so past "ma'am." If you have a child you'll raise it. I will not do it for you. Having a hard enough time raising my own, as you can clearly see. And if you decide to do it again... do it outside of earshot of the damn camp.