George Freeman

**George Freeman** is one of the main characters in *Lovecraft Country*. He is portrayed by Courtney B. Vance.

He is Atticus’ uncle, Montrose’s brother, and Hippolyta’s husband. He has always been more like a father to Atticus. Warm, funny, and well read, he was the first to introduce Atticus to the wonderful and strange world of pulp novels. He is the editor of the Safe Negro Travel Guide, for which he travels across the country marking locations that are safe for Black people to visit.

## History

### Biography

George was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma alongside his younger brother, Montrose. They were subject to an abusive father, more so Montrose as he was younger. George felt it was his obligation to protect him from their father, but he didn't speak up as much as he wishes he had.

Despite Dora being Montrose's wife, it appears that she and George also had a romantic relationship around the time of Atticus' conception as George believes that he may in fact be Atticus' father. The three of them have known each other for years, having spent time in Tulsa together.

## Throughout the Series

### Season 1

#### Sundown

George and Hippolyta lie in bed and discuss how George has plans to leave for another guide trip tomorrow. Hippolyta suggests that she go in George’s place given that she’s also written reviews for the guide, arguably the best reviews. However, the roads are a dangerous place for a woman to be on her own, so George insists that he go. George and Hippolyta proceed to have sex. Afterward, they greet Atticus who has returned home.

George informs Atticus that his father, Monstrose, went missing about two weeks ago. George learns from Atticus that Montrose wrote him a letter regarding his mother, Dora. The letter details how Montrose found out where Dora's family originated. Montrose also spoke of Atticus having a birthright that had been kept from him by his mother. The place Montrose wanted Atticus to go was in Lovecraft Country. His mother’s ancestors were from Ardham, Massachusetts.

George ices his knee. They’re sore from having two shattered knee caps. A result of him being on the road and being attacked by white folks. It’s George’s entire reason for the guidebook — keeping Negroes safe. The last mention George could find of Ardham was over two centuries ago, putting it near Devon County, Massachusetts. Atticus intends to go after his father, and George invites himself along. However, Atticus presents George with Diana’s drawing from the guidebook, which seems to indicate Devon County as a sundown town.

The following day, George invites Leti to join her and Atticus on their guide trip. Leti's brother, Marvin, is working for the Springfield African American, and he’s going to look into Ardham for them. Hippolyta and Diana go over the check-list before seeing them off. Diana gives her father one of her travel comics, designed after her mother.

George, Atticus, and Leti head Midwest. They make a detour for Lydia’s diner in Simmonsville as George wishes to add some entries to the guide. They pull up to Lydia’s diner, which was initially a red-bricked building on the far end of town. However, Lydia’s was no longer red-bricked. It is now white and has been renamed to Simmonsville Dinette. They enter the diner. The only customer is a white man, who immediately exits upon their arrival. Atticus and Leti have no desire to stay where they are clearly unwanted, but George reminds them that they’re all citizens.

Atticus asks George to remind him why the White House was white. George reveals that during the war of 1812, British soldiers put the executive branch to torch, and later when the slaves rebuilt it, they had to repaint the walls white to cover up the burn marks. Atticus slides the tiles from under his foot, revealing the exposed and burned wood underneath. Leti then comes running from out back and tells them that they need to leave immediately.

They are chased out of town by a lynch mob. Atticus grabs his gun from out his bag and shoots back. They notice the silver sedan on a nearby road. The roads merge, and Leti manages to stay ahead of both the silver sedan and the group of men. The silver sedan comes to an abrupt stop, which causes the group of men to mysteriously flip over the sedan without having even touched it. A white woman exits the silver sedan and makes eye contact with Atticus as they drive away.

George, Atticus, and Leti arrive at Marvin’s, from whom they learn that the county seat, Bideford, is named after a town in England where they had one of the last witch trials. They hung a woman for fornicating with the devil who appeared to her as a Negro man. Meaning Bideford was founded by witch hunters. Marvin’s also knew of stories of how travelers were attacked in the surrounding woods by undetermined animals. There are also missing persons reports, some of which might be due to the current Sheriff, Eunice Hunt. Ardham was settled around the same time as Bideford. Marvin pulls out a map and pinpoints Ardham, which appears to be in the middle of nowhere, with no guide stops. With this, they can go to the registry to map out the property lines.

George calls home and talks to Diana over the phone, who tells him further about her latest comic. He then asks to speak with Hippolyta and tells her that they should go together on the next guide trip.

George and Atticus stand in the front yard, away from the house while Leti and Marvin argue. Atticus reveals that the last time he was home, he got into a fight with his dad over him convincing other young men to join the army. George assures Atticus that Montrose loved him. During Atticus’ first year in Korea, Montrose would come by almost every night and wait for George to volunteer information about Atticus. George often defends his younger brother, Montrose, because he didn’t have it easy growing up with their father. George regrets not protecting him back then. Atticus asks if George regrets not protecting him.

The next day, they went to the registry and learned of a bridge over the river to Ardham, but they couldn't find it. They pull over to search the woods as the bridge may have been grown over. They are confronted by Sheriff Hunt. Shotgun in hand, he asks where they are from and if they know what a Sundown town is, referring to Devon County as a sundown county. He warns them that had he found them in his woods after dark, it would’ve been his sworn duty to hang them from a tree. They have seven minutes to leave his county.

With just four minutes left, and Sheriff Hunt on their tail, they drive to the county line. Sheriff Hunt rams their car multiple times. They have just under a minute left before the sun sets. Sheriff Hunt comes to a stop as they just barely make it over the county line to Worcester. However, not far down the road, they hit a roadblock, where four of Hunt’s officers stand ready for their arrival.

The three of them are taken into the woods by Sheriff Hunt and his deputies. The trio is shoved to the ground and accused of several burglaries in the area. As Hunt and his deputies are about to shoot, they start to hear snarling coming from within the trees. A mysterious creature jumps out the darkness and eats one of the deputies whole, leaving nothing but his arm. Atticus and Leti jump to their feet and run. George tries to follow but is knocked down.

George lays on the ground, listening to the loud screeches and gunfire. He grabs the flashlight from the deputy’s severed hand and makes his way to the abandoned cabin. George realizes that none of the monsters attacked him even when all he had was a flashlight. He quotes a scene from Dracula and suspects that much like vampires, these monsters are weakened by light. Atticus wants to make a run for the car, where they have flares. However, Sheriff Hunt orders Leti to go instead, to which she agrees.

Sheriff Hunt coughs and snarls uncontrollably. George asks Atticus what happens when someone gets bitten by a vampire — relating that to Sheriff Hunt’s predicament. As he begins to change, Atticus and George tell Deputy Eastchurch to kill Hunt, but he is hesitant, allowing Sheriff Hunt to rip his throat out.

Sheriff Hunt transforms into one of the monsters. Atticus gets to the shotgun and shoots him, but runs out of ammo. Thankfully, Leti drives through the cabin and into Sheriff Hunt. Atticus pulls George into the headlights and then helps Leti disperse the flares to keep the monsters at bay. There is a sudden piercing whistle and the monsters disperse.

The sun rises. George, Atticus, and Leti cross over the bridge into Ardham. They arrive at a large mansion covered in blood, where they spot the silver sedan from before. Atticus knocks on the front door and a blond man named William answers the door. He says that they’ve been expecting Atticus and welcomes him home.

#### Whitey's on the Moon

George get cleaned up and situated in his rooms at the Sons of Adam Lodge. He exits his room at the sound of an alarm. George reveals that he’s got a personal library in his room whereas Leti has outfits for every occasion, all in her exact size. William explains that what they heard was merely the lunch bell before offering to escort them to the veranda. William reveals that Montrose left to see the lawyer with Miss Braithwhite two nights ago. He then explains to them how Samuel Braithwhite inherited the Sons of Adam Lodge from Titus Braithwhite.

George and Atticus believe that they’re being lied to and that Montrose isn’t in Boston. Atticus comes to realize that George and Leti have no recollection of last night, where they were attacked by monsters. George realizes that they’re being watched and tells Atticus to calmly sit down. They plan to to find Montrose and escape at the first chance they get.

Despite George’s car, Woody, being crashed into the cabin, they find it in the garage. William explains that he found it on the other side of the bridge leading into the village. The back window was smashed out but overall, Woody was in good condition. William assures them that he drove the car up just as he found it. Though, there was quite a bit of blood in the seat that he had the butler wash out.

George, Atticus, and Leti head into the village, searching for Montrose. Leti suspects that Atticus is going crazy as Woody wasn't as damaged as he claimed and he'd been speaking of monsters, which neither of them can recall. Atticus then hears the high-pitched whistle from the night before. He finds a woman named Dell with two vicious guard dogs. He asks her what the whistle is for, but she doesn’t answer. George asks if she’s the sheriff, reasoning that she must be given that she's standing in front of the only stone building in the entire village. But it’s actually where she hangs her meat. Dell explains that they have animals in the village who break into the cottages in search of food, but they can’t get into the stone cellar. She tells them how they have an uncontrollable black bear population. She remarks that the "blacks are bad enough," and that "they’re clever enough to cause mischief."

The the three of them make their way back to the lodge as the sun sets. George recalls something Dora told him about her ancestors years ago. She told him that her great-ancestor was a slave named Hanna and that she escaped her master’s house after a fire. He reminds them of what William said in regards to Titus Braithwhite being "kind" to his slave, suggesting that Hanna ran through the very same woods they’re standing in, pregnant with Titus Braithwhite’s child after the fire. They are suddenly surrounded by two large monsters. Christina arrives on a horse and blows her whistle, causing the monsters to flee. She then orders Dell to escort Atticus to her father’s lab and George and Leti to their rooms. And just like that, George and Leti have no memory of what just occurred.

George grabs "The House of the Borderlands" off the shelf. He triggers some kind of mechanism which reveals a secret passageway behind the bookcase. He follows it to another room, where he finds a book that details the laws and precepts of the Order of the Ancient Dawn — a secret society.

After George gets his memory back, he and Atticus communicate through a series of knocks on the wall. George eventually manages to spell out the word "Wizards." As George goes back to the bookcase to open the secret passageway, Dora appears to him and asks him to dance with her. She asks what he’s thinking about. He tells her about "The House of the Borderlands" and how a man reunites with his long lost love. Dora is thinking about George and Montrose and how they used to drink soda pop on his porch and play that "what if" game. She asks what if magic was real. They recall how Montrose wanted super strength and how George wanted to fly. Dora tells him that it’s all possible and that he could fly with his children. She goes in for a kiss, but George simply kisses her on her forehead and says that she isn’t real.

The bell rings and the trio exit their rooms. William tells them that dinner will be served in 15 minutes and that it’s black tie only, as well as men only. After he leaves, Atticus asks George who did they make him see. He says that it doesn’t matter. The lodge is simply trying to get in their heads. He tells Atticus and Leti that they have to stick together and that he’s come across something that’ll work in their favor.

William escorts Atticus and George into the dinning hall with the other lodge members. George reveals that he came across the bylaws for the Order of Ancient Dawn. He has experience with societies as he’s a member of Prince Hall Freemasons. Prince Hall was an abolitionist who fought for independence. And he wanted to join the local Freemasons but wasn’t allowed to join because he was black. George learned from their bylaws that the Order wouldn’t have admitted a black man either. But there’s a loophole. Men who are direct descendants of Titus Braithwhite are automatically members. They’re also high ranking members known as sons among sons. And they can give orders to regular members. George surmises that Atticus is the last blood heir of Titus Braithwhite. So Atticus orders everyone but Samuel to leave. Atticus then tells Samuel to return his father. Samuel explains that he isn’t a zealot and refuses.

George and Atticus sneak into the stone silo in search for Montrose, but all they find is his flask. Dell comes downstairs with a loaded shotgun, referring to them as dumb animals. Before she can pull the trigger, Leti knocks her out with a shovel. George then realizes that Montrose must’ve dug his way out. Taking inspiration from his favorite book "The Count of Monte Cristo." They find Montrose outside the building. He claims that he didn’t need their help. On their way back to the lodge in Christina’s silver sedan, they crash into an invisible barrier. The four of them exit the vehicle as Samuel and Christina pull up behind them. Samuel shoots Leti, who dies. Samuel then gives Atticus a choice of who he will shoot next. When Atticus doesn’t choose, he shoots George.

George lays in bed barely conscious. He tells Montrose to break the window and escape with Leti. However, Montrose doubts Leti would leave. She reminds him of Dora in that way. George questions how come Montrose never drew with Dora. He used to draw all the time when they were younger. Every summer, he’d draw a colorful welcome sign and go down to the bus station to cheer on all the Negro league players as they road in from training camp. Montrose reveals that their father caught him down at the station the summer before high school and beat him. George wasn’t aware and apologizes for not doing more, but Montrose isn’t interested. George goes on to say that he wants Montrose to show Atticus that he loves him before it’s too late. George even implies that Atticus may be his son. Montrose reminds George that they settled this matter a long time ago and agreed not to speak of it.

Atticus agrees to help Samuel with his ceremony in return for healing George. However, the lodge starts to collapse. Leti and Montrose help George out of the collapsing lodge as the ceremony commences. Unfortunately, George succumbs to his wounds and dies in his brother's arms.

#### I Am.

George appears to Hippolyta after she is pulled into a portal. They discuss her travels through the many worlds. George asks if he’s real, but Hippolyta doesn’t fully understand her travels. She suddenly comes to the realization that she’s been shrinking for so much of her life. By the time she met George, she was already so small. She thought that George would see her for who she was, but he just stood by and allowed her to shrink further. He admits that he helped her shrink so that they could have a family and he could travel knowing that she was safe at home, but he now sees her for who she truly is. She says “I am Hippolyta. Discoverer.” She then takes George’s hand and the two of them are teleported to an alien planet, reminiscent of that from Dee’s travel comic, Orithyia Blue.

## Personality

George was kind and had a love for pulp fiction novels. He cared greatly for his people, so much so that he risked his life regularly to create a safe travel guide for black citizens.

## Physical Appearance

George was an older black man with parted haircut and brown eyes.

## Relationships

* Montrose Freeman - George's younger brother who took the worst of their father's abusive ways due to being the younger of the two. He regrets not protecting his brother more.
* Dora Freeman - George's deceased sister-in-law and friend. He is haunted by his past with her. It appears that he and Dora had a romantic relationship around the same time as Atticus' conception.
* Atticus Freeman - George's nephew and possible son, who he shared a love of pulp fiction books with. When Tic was enrolled in the army, he would write George of his journey.

## Appearances

Season One
* *Sundown*
* *Whitey's on the Moon*
* *I Am.*

## Quotes

> None of them attacked me, and all I had is this flashlight. You think those things are like vampires. If I'm right, and the light hurts them, it'll also explain why we been drivin' in the woods all day and didn't encounter one until the sun went down.
>
> George to Tic and Leti, Sundown

> Don't. You know who you are. You... were a good boy. And you're even a better man. Don't you ever let them make you question yourself. That's how they win. They want to make us crazy, terrorize us, make us scared. But Letitia fucking Lewis don't get scared, do she?
>
> George to Tic and Leti, Whitey's on the Moon

> May-maybe I did, but I-I-I... I fell in love with you because you were so curious, and I knew deep down inside, there was a... there was a discoverer in you, but... You're right. I led you, helped you shrink so we could have a family, so that I could go and do what I had to do and know that you were safe at home, waiting for me. I'm so sorry. I see now what that cost you. I see you now, Hippolyta Freeman. And I want you to be as big as you can be.
>
> George to Hippolyta, I Am.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *Sundown*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *Whitey's on the Moon*
3. ↑ *I Am.*