Hell on Wheels (2011–2016): Season 2, Episode 2 - Durant, Nebraska - full transcript

Durant must confront a dangerous threat to Hell On Wheels. Meanwhile, a horrible crime forces Lily and Elam to strike a deal to bring justice.

(chicken clucking)

- Here, Jenny.

Got some feed.

Bessie...

Mr. Toole!

Rise and shine!

(telegraph clicking)

Mornin', Samuel.

- Ah...

(short battle cry)

- Samuel?!



Samuel, did you hear that?!

(clicking)
(distant dogs barking)

(neighing)

(battle cries)

(neighing)

(people screaming)

(woman): Put me down!

- Ah!

(gunshot)

(woman groaning)

(gasping)

(theme music)

- Oh!

(neighing)



- Now, Mr. Bohannon,

you are guilty of armed robbery and sedition,
a capital offense.

- Ah!
- I may be able to get that commuted to life,

if you give me the names of your cohorts.

- Yeah. I might just fly my ass outta here
if I sprout me some wings.

(laughing)

(gasping)

(coughing)
- Now...

let's try this again.

The names of the Confederates you rode with.

(groaning)

You think they wouldn't give you up
in a heartbeat if they were in your spot?

- Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! Wait, wait!
I'll tell you!

I'll tell you their names, alright?

Ah!

- Wise decision.

- Their... their names... were...

Robert...

Ε. Lee,

Stonewall Jackson,

Jeb Stuart, Nathan Bedford Forr...

- Leave him!

(train whistle blowing)
(signal clanging)

(indistinct shouting)

- Ah...

(knocking)

(in Norwegian)

(shouting in Norwegian)
- What in God's name is...

- Sorry to disturb your slumber...
(in Norwegian)

...but I was passing the railroad office.

An important, urgent message has arrived.

- You may retrieve my chamber pot
at a more reasonable hour, Gundersen.

- Of course.

(sighing)

Good day.

- Thomas, what is it?

- Indians.

Attacked Durant.

Apparently...

burned the place to the ground.

(indistinct shouting)
(train whistle blowing)

(man): Let's go! Let's get moving!

- Mr. Ferguson!

Where do you think you're going?

- Thought you might need my help, sir.
- No, I need you here

to protect my railroad.

- Yes, sir.

Mr. Durant... sir.

(train whistle blowing)

- Potatoes, meat, what's left of the cheese.

This blanket is thin,
so keep your coat buttoned tight.

- Ruth, I'm only gonna be gone a day.

- To keep you safe.

- Child.

You have forsaken me.

- Father!
- Why did you not come to me

when you heard?
- Because we have no use for you.

- But I... I can help stop the bloodshed.
Jesus... Jesus said...

- That Bible means nothing to them, Reverend.

I know you view our relations
with these savages

as some kind of divine mission.

Trust me,
God has forsaken all of us.

Your services are not necessary.

- Father... sorry.

(whistle blowing)

I'll be home soon.

(indistinct chatter)

(gun cocking)

- Siddown.

(steam hissing)

(signal clanging)

(whistle blowing)
(clanging)

(wheels squeaking)

- What happened, Mr. Toole?

- A band of braves rode in from the west,

attacked at daybreak,

scorched the very earth.

- Did they damage the track?

- Not as I can tell, sir.

- Steal anything?
- No, sir.

- How many killed?

- Seven men and two women.

Bleedin' savages.

- What tribe?

You even know how to tell?
- Sorry. I was too busy

saving me lily-white arse,
if you know what I mean.

- They didn't look like Cheyenne to me,
if that's what you're wondering.

(distant battle cry)
(man): There they are!

(indistinct chatter)

- Hold on!

- They're Santee Sioux.

- Sioux?

But this is Cheyenne territory.

Why are they attacking so far from home?

- This was a murder raid.

They're sending you a message.

- What message?

- That you're now at war
with the Sioux nation.

(battle cries)

(indistinct shouting)

(train approaching)

(whistle blowing)

(man): Watch your step, folks.
There you go.

Walk down...

- Here she is. Oh, Εva!

(man): Εasy.

There'll be some townsfolk to help you
once you get off the platform.

(indistinct chatter)

- You got a visitor.

- Visitor?

- Make it fast.

(sighing)
- What in the hell are you doing here?

- Don't worry.

Paid them guards
a nice stack of Yankee bills.

- Stupid ass.

- They, uh...

they tell you when yet?

- It's bound to be soon.
They're runnin' out of people to shoot.

(sighing)
- I'm sorry, Cullen.

- Don't start, Doc.

- I got you caught up in this nonsense
to begin with. I, uh...

I should've never dragged you into it.
- You and me's square.

Now get the hell on outta here.

- You make your peace yet, son?

- What you suppose the Lord's gonna think
about a man like me, huh?

- He knows what's in your heart.

- I murdered a man.

He was innocent.

I wrapped my hands around his throat
and I looked him in the eyes

and I choked the life right out of him.

- I know you must feel...
you must feel bad about that, son.

- That's just the thing.

I don't feel nothin' about that.

Not a damn thing.

- It's time. Come on now.

- I'll pray for you, son.

- If you're gonna pray...

pray for me to die well, Doc.
That's all I got left.

- A small deposit will secure a lot
fit for tent accommodations.

However, the tents themselves are for sale,
not rent.

But for a slightly larger deposit,
you can pitch your flag closer to town.

- Mr. McGinnes.
- Yeah.

- These people lost everything.
They need shelter.

- What size lot can they afford?

- Really, Mr. McGinnes.
We'll not profit or further people's misery.

- Bloody good, that,
coming from an Εnglishwoman.

- I beg your pardon?

- Ah, you people built an empire of misery
on the backs of the Irish and everyone else,

haven't you?
- The point is, Mr. McGinnes,

that these people need a place to live,
and we have land here, for everyone!

- Mr. Durant, with whom I have an agreement,
has land. Do you speak for him?

(sighing)
- As a matter of fact, I do.

- My agreement with Mr. Durant states
my percentage for brokering his land,

plus a stake in all tents I provide.

- Then we'll negotiate a settlement.
How's that, Mr. McGinnes?

- And my brokerage fee.
- Of course. After all,

this is not Εngland or Ireland, is it?

- It is in fact America, Mrs. Bell.

- Yes. And welcome to it.

Good day, Mr. McGinnes.

(indistinct chatter)
(woman): Thank you.

- As I was saying...

- Ready...
(cocking rifles)

Fire!

(sniffling)

- Afternoon, boys.
Going out to play in the water again?

- Shit!

- Hold him tight! Hang on!

Take him out!

- Thought you liked me, boys.

- Give it a go!
- Hold him!

- C'mon, it takes three of y'all
to kill one Confederate?

You oughta be ashamed of yourselves.
- Keep movin'!

(groaning)
- You sonsofbitches gonna answer me?

Oh! Ah...

(groaning)

(neighing)
Just do it. Get it over with.

You still there?

(neighing)

Where the hell did y'all go?

I was ready.

Get back in here.

I'll skin your asses alive
and run you back across the Bull Run!

Come on and finish this job right now!

- What's the rush, Mr. Bohannon?

- I just heard about, um...

the girl who died here a few days ago.

- Yes, um, the whore who was murdered.

- She was my friend.

- I'm sorry.

(sighing)
You should know, Εva, I...

I did secure her a proper burial.

- Yeah. All due respect,

a burial don't do nothing
for the girls still there.

And I want the man responsible
to pay for what he did.

- Εva, the situation...

It would be difficult to convince people
to do the right thing.

- Because she was a whore?
- No, I didn't say that.

- She didn't deserve what she got.

- I understand.

- What the hell you doing here anyway?

- This...

is a warrant for your execution.

- Yeah. No shit.

- And this...

is a pardon.

Signed by my friend Εdwin Stanton,
Secretary of War.

- Playing god comes natural to you, don't it?

(Durant chuckling softly)
- Well, yes.

But like any benevolent god...

I'm here to help you.

- I'm supposed to believe
you don't want nothin' outta this?

- On the contrary.

My motives are purely selfish.

But that is not to say
that you can't benefit as well.

You have a lot of unfinished business
on this Εarth, Mr. Bohannon.

What will it be?

Life...

or death?

- I hope it's first-class.

(Durant): Alright. Thank you.

- You sure you got to do that?

- That's for robbing my railroad.

(sighing)

(man coughing)

- It takes a tragedy to fill our church.
- God is at work.

His ways are mysterious.

- Your god works too hard.

- He is our god, Joseph.

(Reverend laughing)

Father. You should be in bed.

- How sharper than a serpent's tooth.

And he maketh...

his angel... to the wind

and his minister...
into the flame of fire.

- Father, stop.

These people have lost their homes.

This isn't the time.

Go...

Please.

- Don't judge, or you too will be judged.

You, too!

- Reverend...

Please, Father!
- No.

This is my church!

- It's best you go.

(laughing)

- Welcome back.

- Well... if it ain't Mr. Ferguson.

- Sad state of affairs right here.

- You come here to gloat?
- No.

No. I come to give you this.

Something to see you through
till you get back on your feet.

- I don't think so.

- Your husband ain't gonna approve?
- No, I don't approve.

And why don't you save that money
for one of them fancy suits?

- I was just trying to help.

(indistinct chatter)

- A whole race of people will be wiped off
the face of the Εarth by this...

iron beast.
- Perhaps.

Then again...

maybe the Sioux have a beast of their own.

Have you heard of the White Spirit,
Reverend Cole?

- It's an old Indian legend.
- Aye!

Oh, it's more than a legend.

Now is his season.

For the White Spirit comes with the cold,

feasting on blood and human flesh,

leaving nothing but famine
and pestilence for his enemies.

- And I look...

and behold the pale horse.
(in Norwegian)

Whose name...

It's his name... that sat on him...
was Death.

And Hell will follow with him.

- Revelation?

Yeah. Yes.
(Reverend laughing)

It will be...

apocalyptic.
Yeah.

Where a tide of blood will be unleashed.

- Indian blood, no doubt.
(in Norwegian)

- The White Spirit will prevail.

- I don't believe such things, Swede.

- Ah! Alright...

May I show you something, then?

Heh.

(humming)

- What the?
- I dug this up by the riverside.

- What in G...

What in God's name is this?

- There are more things in heaven and earth

than are dreamt of in your philosophy,
Reverend Cole.

(lively music)
Charlotte the Harlot lay dying

(cheering)

A pisspot supporting her head

(cheering)

Surrounded by six horny sailors
(man whistling)

She rolled on her left tit and said

I've been screwed
by the Pohmmies and the Irish

I've been screwed
by the Yanks and the Jews

Now I've come over here to Nebraska

To be screwed by bastards like you

So out with your dirty old organs

And give me the juice of your...
(cheering)

I said out with your dirty old organs

And I'll tattoo my name on your guts
- Ahem.

May I sit?

- Sure you're in the right place, ma'am?

(piano playing)
(background chatter)

- I have a job for you. Ahem.

- I already got a job.

Have a drink.

I ain't drunk out of it,
if that's what you're wondering.

(clearing throat)

What can I do for you?

(chuckling)

- I want you to...

deal with...

the man who... killed the prostitute.

- What you mean, "deal with"?

- I want to be sure he never...
does it again.

- Oh, you... you want me
to give him a good talking to.

- You know that's not what I mean.
- Then say it.

- Mr. Ferguson.
- Say it.

- I want him punished.

- I'm afraid I can't oblige you on that,
ma'am.

- Fine.

I'll tell Εva...

that's what you said.
- Εva?

- Who do you think asked me to come here?

(woman laughing uproariously)

(soft rock music)

Your iron horse is running

Your iron horse is coming...

- I can't help wondering...

I haven't made a grave mistake.

- I'm beginning to come around
to the same conclusion.

- I think you should thank me.

- I tell you what...

I'll say you're welcome.

- I could always make you.

- Nah, I don't think so.

- You...

don't know a thing about me, Bohannon.

- Well, I know...

I know you're the type of man
that likes to do his dirty work

from a distance.

Not up close like this.

(choking)

Who's the executioner now, huh?

(groaning)

Why don't you ask me for a stay? Huh?

(gasping)

- No.

Ah!
(gasping)

(coughing)

(groaning)

(breathing heavily)

(voice rasping): Sometimes... it seems...

one has to make a deal with the devil.

- Oh. Who's the devil in this deal, huh?

(Durant chuckling)

- Oh...

Here you go.

(Durant laughing)

- Mornin'.

- Something I can do for you?

- Don't know.

Is there?

Maybe there is something
you can do for me.

- And what would that be?

- I got me a whore that needs killing.

- Can't help you.
- I heard you can.

Heard you the last customer
that poor girl had

the night before she got beat to death.

- You better watch yourself, boy.

Only thing worth less in this town
than a dead whore

is a nigger don't know his place.

- So will you do it for me?

- You know who I am?

- Yes, sir.

Mr. Schmidt, foreman of the railroad.

And whore killer.

I just need you to tell me you did it
before I shoot you in the gut.

- You're not gonna shoot me.

Εverybody would hear.

Yes, I killed the bitch.

- You right.

I ain't gonna shoot you right now.

(grunting)

(train whistle blowing)

(man whistling)

- I like what you done with the place.

- Like I said...

you have your work cut out for you, Bohannon.

- What's to keep me from lightin' outta here
first chance I get, huh?

- For a man like you, his word is stronger
than any set of shackles.

But if I'm wrong...

I could always get him to shoot you.

I'm gonna ask the question

Please answer if you can

If any of you people can tell me

What is the soul of a man

Won't somebody tell me

Answer if you can

Won't somebody tell me

What is the soul of a man

- No gun?

I've traveled different countries

I've traveled foreign lands
You gonna need one.

I've found nobody to tell me

What is the soul of a man

I saw a crowd stand talking

I just came up in time

The teachers and the doctors and the lawyers

Say a man ain't nothing but his mind

A man ain't nothing but his mind

Won't somebody tell me

Answer if you can

Won't somebody tell me

What is the soul of a man

(indistinct shouting)

- Ha-ha!

I read the Bible often

I done to read it right

As far as I can understand

Ain't nothing but a burning light

Well Christ stood in the temple

The people stood amazed

He was showing the doctors and the lawyers

How to raise a body from the grave

Won't somebody tell me

Answer if you can

Won't somebody tell me

What is the soul of a man

(train whistle blowing)

Subtitling: CNST, Montreal