Hell on Wheels (2011–2016): Season 2, Episode 8 - The Lord's Day - full transcript

(thunder rumbling)

(grunting)

- Ah, this infernal machine!

- I appreciate you
spending your Sunday fixin' it.

- Better than another Sunday
in an empty house.

You know me circumstance?

- Ain't gonna lie to you.

- So what would you do
if you were married to a woman

whose heart was for another?

- It's a big world, Mr. Toole.

- Nah, Εva's me wife.
I'm making me stand.



(tools rattling)
- Hold on.

Thanks.
- Mr. Durant is returning.

- Yeah.
- His train is at Council Bluffs.

He could be here as soon as tonight.

- More reason to get this machine fixed
by tomorrow so we can finish the bridge.

- Show how valuable
you are to the railroad.

- Ah, he's gonna know you had a hand
in raisin' this bridge, too.

- I'm not so sure.

Shall I see you later?

- When I fix the engine, yeah.

- Right.
(snorting)

- Durant's on his way back.
- Yeah...

I can finish up here
if you wanna get back to town.

That's what I'd do.
- You ain't me.



(theme music)

(crickets chirring)

- Man don't know nothin'
about buildin' no house.

Foundation first, then chimney.
Any fool know that.

- Ain't you got somewhere to be?
- Not on the Lord's day.

Lord want me here.
Watch that chimney fall on your head.

(laughter)

- Oh, yeah. You funny.

- Mm-hmm.

Building a house for anyhow? Huh?

Only folks stay behind on the railroad

is them scrawny-ass clodhoppers
with them, uh...

saggy-titted wives
and squawking-ass babies.

That what you wanna be?

- Yeah. Somethin' like that.

- Y'all go on ahead.

Hell, you gonna do it, do it right.

You gotta lay in
a second wall of rock,

lest the whole thing
fall down on your head, huh?

(train whistle blowing)

(bell clanging)

(train whistle blowing)

- I'll take three, too.
- Let's hope it's a good time for you.

- One... two...
- Oh-oh!

- Ah...
- Come on. Get up.

- What?
- Let's go.

(Mick sighing)
- Aye. I'm out.

- Oh, you're out?

Don't go too far.
We love taking your money.

- Yeah. Just don't give up me seat.
- Oh...

- That bast... that bastard Durant
is back.

He'll be looking for the payment
for his land parcels.

- Durant? Really?

So pay him.
Back to me game.

- I need my cut from this place.

- Well, I'm sorry.
I'm a bit short.

(saloon piano music)
Bad run of luck.

(chuckling)
- And drinking up the rest, no doubt.

Ma was right.
You're a shambles.

Just like Dad.
(indistinct chatter)

- I'm the proprietor here.
And this is my place of business.

- Our place of business.

I stuck my neck out floatin' a land parcel
for Mr. Ferguson for it.

Come on. I know you have money.
What do you got on you?

- No, Sean. You're embarrassing me.
Stop it.

- I'll do worse than that
if you're holdin' out on me.

- We'll see.

(indistinct chatter)

- Dammit.

(grunting)

- Oh, and thank you for... ah...

all you've done these past weeks.

Now it's time to go take care
of that husband of yours.

- Well, at least let me walk you
to the office.

- I... should be seen making my way
to the office under my own steam.

Oh, uh...

(distant shouting)

Please, take it.

And if you ever need anything
for yourself or your child...

- Thank you, Mr. Durant.

Goodbye.

- Goodbye.

(door opening, closing)

(sighing)

(grunting)

- Mr. Gundersen,
that is Mr. Durant's desk.

And those are his personal ledgers.

- Yes, Mrs. Bell, that is true.

I was gathering them
under direct orders.

- Direct or... From Mr. Durant?

- No, from me.

I'm Hannah Durant.

Mr. Durant's wife.

- Hello.

(sighing)

(inhaling)
- Mr. Durant!

How wonderful that you're back.

(background chatter)

- Ah. What are you up to, McGinnes?

(eerie sound effects)

- Nothing at all, sir.

- I...

Whatever happened
to the Magic Lantern Show?

- Oh, well, my brother and I
manage the Pleasure House now.

And we're...
we're partners in the saloon.

- I took in a...
Magic Lantern show in Chicago.

(chuckling)

Two men caught a tiger under a barrel.

Great story.

The two young men
were devoured by the tiger.

Mm. Think about it.

- Sir, I will.

(exhaling)

(indistinct chatter)

(grunting)

(man): Yes, sir!
(bell clanging)

- Well, then,
I'll be seeing you for dinner later.

- Of course.

(background chatter)

(neighing)
(background chatter)

- Bohannon.
(snorting)

- You're back early.

- Damned miracle I got back here at all.

- Yeah. How you maintainin'?

- Is my bridge built?
- Almost.

About wore out that damn steam engine.

- So, no bridge.

Alright.

For your sins, you will come to dinner
tonight with me and my wife.

- Your... your wife?

- Don't look so horrified.

Oh, and wear a clean shirt.

- Yes, sir.

- And... Mrs. Bell will be your escort.

Understood?

- Yeah. Understood.

- Why you looking so down?

Hmm? Look how good this hearth draw, huh?

All you need now is some walls...

windows, door, roof.

Practically done.

- Toole's gonna kill Εva and the baby,
if the baby come out like me.

- Look here. That ain't gonna happen.
Hear me?

- Who gonna stop it?
- Εvery-damn-body, you hear me?

That's who.

You'll be the best father
for that baby, far as I can tell.

- How you mean?

- He'll be mixed, mulatto.
Whatever you wanna say it.

He'll be like you, right?

- Yeah, I suppose.

- Who be better for him? Hmm?

Than somebody just like him?

- I ain't never thought about it
like that.

- You see, you be his father.
And I be his Uncle Psalms.

(Psalms laughing)

I'll teach him all the things
you ought not to.

"Hey there, rascal,
you pull that girl's skirt back down."

- In Chicago, you ain't never seen
nothing like them buildings.

Some of them are,
like, six stories tall.

- You should see the buildings
in New York. Twice that.

Me brother lives
in a building ten stories tall.

(distant shouting)

- Would you take me to New York?
- Of course.

Well, depending on... you know.

- What?
- The baby.

- You mean,
when the baby's fit to travel?

Just say what you're thinking.

- If the baby's born white, Εva...

then we can meet me family.

- Well, see, I thought you said
that you put that aside, Mr. Toole.

- Me brother wouldn't.

In the saloon, the men are wagering
whether the baby will be born white or...

something else.

- Should we leave this place?

- Maybe.

It's a big world after all, ain't it?

(background chatter)

- Alright, you ready?

(indistinct chatter)

- Oh, it's going to be a wonderful evening.
I'm sure you'll adore them.

- Well, as for your flaxen-haired maiden
of the West...

- Fair-haired maiden of the West.
- Fair...

Just like most of your enthusiasms.

I understand.
She's attractive and capable...

and very smart.

And that makes her very dangerous.

- Do you think she may have deciphered
our mileage from...

(footsteps approaching)
- They... Here they are.

Here you are. Come in.
Come in.

Ah, Mr. Bohannon.
Pleased to make your acquaintance.

- Same here, ma'am.
- Now you come right over here...

and sit on my right.
(Cullen): Ahem!

- Lily, forgive me, I can't...
- Mrs. Bell!

- Mrs. Bell, please.
- Andrew.

- Yes?
- Close those shades and shut the door,

and see that we're not disturbed.
- Yes, ma'am.

(sighing with content)

- Ah, thank you, Andrew.
Well, bon appétit.

- Mm-hmm.

- So... tell me where you're from,
Mr. Bohannon.

- Meridian Mississippi.
- Oh.

Is yours a cotton family?

- Was. Ain't nothin' left.

- Ah, of course.

Thomas, didn't we know someone
with the railroad in Meridian?

Is there a railroad there, Mr. Bohannon?
- Mm, yes, ma'am, uh...

Mobile & Ohio had a railhead there
before it burned.

(Hannah): Mm.
- Leonidas Tate.

- Ah, yes. Leo Tate.

He had shares in Credit Mobilier,
didn't he?

We used to summer with the Tates in New York,
on Long Island Sound.

- Hannah, I doubt Mr. Bohannon
is interested in our, uh...

sailing stories with the Tates.
(chuckling)

- Mm.

- Matter of fact, I married Mr. Tate's
youngest daughter, Mary.

It was there at, um, Christ Church.

- Well, small world.
Well, tell us, how is she?

- She's dead.

The war took her.

- Oh.

(distant chatter)

(slurring): Did your family know
Richard McLemore, then?

- He and my grandfather laid the very first
spur line in Lauderdale County.

(utensil clanging)
- God, Bohannon!

I just might send you to New York
one of these days

to deal with the board
on my behalf!

- Unless memories of the city
would be too painful.

- Well, my eyes are set west to the future,
Mr. Durant.

I think you know that about me, too.

(grunting)

- Well said, Mr. Bohannon.

- Ahem.
Well, this has been lovely.

But I must go.

- I'm so sorry. All this talk of the railroad
must've been so boring for you.

- Not at all.

After all, my future is bound
to the railroad also.

(Hannah): Of course.
- Mm.

- It's very tragic,
what happened to your husband.

Well, it's just good we could provide you
with some employment in the meantime.

- In the meantime?

- Until you decide
where you're gonna reestablish yourself,

someplace more conducive.

- Of course. Thank you.

- I'll walk you to your car.
- There's no need, really.

Good night.
- Good night.

- Goodnight, uh, Miss Bell.
- I'll accept that offer, Mr. Bohannon,

seeing as though my husband is still
enjoying his brandy. Aren't you, dear?

- Ye... yes, of course. Yeah.

- You should know
that Mrs. Bell has been...

uh, very important to the railroad.

She done a lot to get us this far.
(indistinct chatter)

- Does that include sleeping
with my husband?

- I... I ain't around much.

- You ain't?

Why do you hide your breeding,
Mr. Bohannon?

- Oh, I guess I just got used
to travelling low to the ground.

(chuckling)

- Regarding Mrs. Bell,
my husband is making some changes.

- Is Mr. Durant firing her?

- Be careful with whom you align yourself.

My husband believes you have a future
on the railroad.

And I do too.

- Oh...

You hardly know me.

- Hmm.

Yes, but my instincts...
are always right.

Good night, Mr. Bohannon.

- Good night.

(background chatter)

(indistinct chatter)

Lily...

- Mr. Bohannon.

- Here you go.
- Thank you, sir.

- We need to...

We need to discuss your progress
on my bridge.

- Miss Bell has an estimate.
I think we should ask her opinion.

- I'm asking yours.

- Two weeks, if the weather holds,
and we work Sundays.

- Not good enough. One week.

- You're dangerously behind schedule.

- Whose schedule would that be?

- Well, yours, Mr. Bohannon.

It was on your advice

that we decided to bridge the gorge
at this point.

- Yes, sir. And we made good time,
considering.

- Considering what, Mr. Bohannon?

- Indians. Strike. Wash-out.

- All I need is a structure

that will support a locomotive
from one side of the gorge to the other.

You understand?

- I'll, uh...

I'll drive it across the bridge myself.

How about that?

(liquid being poured)

- Can we speak, in private?

(distant shouting)

- Yes.

- I've got something for you.

It's a Claddagh ring.

From home.

- You're offering it to me?

- I mean, I'm a successful businessman,
and you're starting a new church...

- I thought when you gave me the land
for the church,

it came with no strings attached.

- These aren't strings, Ruth.
It's a token of my affection.

- You're proposing marriage, Sean?

- It's how you wear it, um...

On your right hand...

pointed towards your wrist means...

your heart is captured.

I would like you to wear it
like that for me.

- Ah, it's a bit small.

But I'll keep it, Sean.

- And you will think about it?

- I just need a little time.
This is all so fast.

- Of course. With your father's death,
and the new church.

Take your time.

I'll find a ring that fits better.

Goodbye.

(cringing)
(indistinct shouting)

- Hey! Let's get into position
like we went over this morning.

- Aye!
- Check the corner braces and line her up.

Hold tight, Mr. Toole.

(grunting)
(indistinct shouting)

- Alright, together!

- If she's lifting up,
you lay them braces, alright?

- Aye, we will!
- Give it speed, Mr. Toole.

(creaking)

(indistinct shouting)

Εasy on the lift, Toole. Dammit.

Watch the foot.

Keep that rope in line.

(creaking)

- The valve's stuck!

Ah! Mother of God!

Jesus!
- Get back!

(screaming)

- Cullen, look out!
- Look out!

(screaming)

(screaming)
(tumbling)

- Ah!

Get it off of me!

Get it off!
(grunting)

Help! Help!

- Somebody!
- Can somebody help us?

(indistinct screaming)

(train whistle blowing)

(brakes screeching)

(Toole): Hurry up and get these men
to the infirmary.

- Toole.
- I need help gettin' him off.

- I want you to tear that damn thing apart
right there and tell me why she blew.

- Overworked and overloaded,
Mr. Bohannon.

- Just do it.

- Yes, sir.
(indistinct chatter)

- Mr. Toole.

Ah...

- I thought maybe you would have been glad
that I had been flattened.

- No, I was worried about you.
Did you... did you get hurt?

- Oh, just a bit by a bit of steam is all.

(indistinct shouting)

- Are you okay?
- Εasy...

- Help me out, here...
(groaning)

- What in God's name has happened now?
- Steam engine blew.

- Well, you should have been
more careful with it.

- I ain't the one that wanted
to cross the gorge in a week, alright?

- Don't blame me for your failings,
Bohannon.

- Ah...
- It's not my fault you blew the engine.

- And it ain't my fault that you oversold
our mileage to the board back east.

- Mr. Bohannon!

You are out of your depth.

Thomas, let's get you back inside.

(Durant sighing)

You need to fix this.

(clattering)
(sighing)

(indistinct chatter)

(snorting)

- Joseph, where did you...

- I was worried
you weren't being provided for.

- Where did you go?
- To the Long Country.

I prayed and fasted.

I realized I am
and will always be a Cheyenne...

- No, you are a baptized Christian.
- Ruth, after I became a Christian,

I killed my brother,
and I killed your father.

(background chatter)

Broke my father's heart,
just like you broke mine.

- I'm sorry, Joseph.

- Didn't come here for your pity.

I came here to bring you food.

To tell you,
while I was hunting,

I saw the White Spirit.

- I don't believe in ghosts, Joseph.
- Your father was right.

This is a bad place.
You should leave.

- I've just started a new church.
I can't leave.

- Then you will die.

- Tell me you found the problem.

- I pulled the whole bloody thing apart.
There's something keeping the presser...

the pressure valve stuck.

- Pressure valve. Lemme see it.

(background chatter)

Hold on...

(spitting)

It's an ore coin.

Norwegian penny.

- Mr. Swede.

(distant shouting)

- Put this back together double-time.
We got a bridge to build.

- Reckon I don't understand.
(cawing)

It's like he wanted us to know.

- It's exactly like him, Mr. Toole.

(door closing)

- Good morning.
I'm going to work.

- You can't just push me out.
- I'm trying to run a railroad.

- And so am I.
Thomas, you made me a promise.

- I did?
- Yes. I have done the work.

I've been by your side
when you needed me.

And... I've kept things going
when you were at death's door.

- You're not naive, Lily.
Pretending to be only diminishes you.

- Naive? Naive?

We've shared so much.
How can you deny that?

(chuckling): Yes...

You seem... quite fond of sharing.

How does Bohannon know about the mileage
short fall on this railroad?

- Um...
- Did you lay with him?

Did you lay with him?!

- Thomas, I've given everything of myself
for this railroad.

(scoffing)
- Yes...

You certainly have.

Now if you'll excuse me,
I have work to do.

- If I take the two cards, and not...
- No idea what an inside straight is.

- Εxcuse me.
- It doesn't make...

- You've had your time.
Durant wants to see me.

- Yeah, I got your money.
I'm not givin' it to ya.

- I want my share, Mick.
You owe me.

- Oh, that's right.
(laughing cynically)

For the paper you floated
on the negro's sorry scrap of mud bank?

Mm, yeah.

(Mick mumbling)

Mm, well, that should cover it.

(saloon piano music)
Now bugger off.

- I want my fair share, Mick.
I'm in a jam.

(knocking down glass)

- This was your plan, huh?

To palm the deeds
and hope that Mr. Durant died,

and that no one would find out?

And they call me the family idiot.

- I want my money.
- I'm not givin' it to ya.

I'll not be part of you payin' the debts
of some church whore across the street.

- Watch your mouth.
- Aye!

An Indian-laying church whore,
by the way.

(man): Whoa!
- Aye!

(indistinct shouting)

(neighing)

(indistinct shouting)

(grunting)

- Get out!

(Mickey): Come here!

Get up!
- Ah!

(indistinct shouting)

- Will you listen to me?
Just... Ah!

(cheering)

Listen to me!
(both grunting)

- Son of a bitch! Argh!

- Get...
- Ah!

- Get up. Come here.
- No! No!

- Stay... stay down...
- Take back... Take back what you said!

- Jesus, Sean, everybody in town knows.

(panting)
- It's not true.

- It is!
I just saw them together.

(both panting)

Ask her yourself.

I'm your brother, Sean.

I'm not the problem.
She is.

- Let me go. Argh!

- I tasked you...

with being my eyes and ears
on this railroad.

- I don't work for the railroad no more.

- Really?
- No, sir.

Got me a place down by the river.
Settled down.

(scoffing)

- Now, you listen to me.

I own every piece of land
between here and Council Bluffs,

and as far as you can see
in either direction...

- No, Mr. McGinnes and me,
we have an arrangement.

- There are only two ways
to leave this railroad.

You die in my employ,

or you walk back
through Indian territory. Ah...

Back to whatever squalid slave shack
from which you came.

- This ain't right.
It ain't right.

(sighing)

- If the sun rises on your sorry ass
in the morning,

I will have you shot for trespassing.

Is that what you want?

- What you just tore up,
that's what I want.

I wanna build me a house
down by that river,

where I can lock my damn door at night.

And know that
that's my damn house!

And my damn property.

And I can shoot any damn man
that come through that door

and tell me it ain't mine.

I ain't afraid to work, Mr. Durant.

But I ain't gonna be
your damn nigger no more.

What I want is some respect.

And if I got to take it out
of your damn hide,

or anybody else's, I will.

- Mr. Ferguson.

Have a seat.

Please.

(knocking)

- Oh, did I come at a bad time?

(distant chatter)

- No, I-I was just resting.

- Thomas told me you had words.

- He did?
- There are no secrets between us.

You were not a surprise to me.

- I see.

- I told him that I thought he was wrong
to speak to you in that way.

You've been very instrumental
in the building of the railroad.

And if it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have
stayed afloat during Thomas' recovery.

- Thank you.

- That's why what I'm going to ask you
is so difficult.

In light of Thomas' injuries
and his... nightly discomfort,

well, it's just not possible for us
to share a bed.

- You want me to leave my train car?

- I need suitable accommodations.

I'm sure you understand.

- I have nowhere else to go.

- You're a smart girl.

You seem to know
your way around.

I'm sure you'll find something.

(sighing)

(background chatter)

- You don't have to leave.

- I've seen how you fare in the tents.
Can't build another floorboard.

- That's not funny.
- I know it ain't.

- You know, you could stay.

Thomas already knows.

- Nah, he only thinks he does.

- Yeah, well, he's right.

- Lily...

You shouldn't test a man who's jealous
or afraid for his livelihood.

Εspecially not when he's both. Hey...

Don't wanna test a man.

(owl hooting)

(distant laughter)

(Sean): Is it true?
(Ruth gasping)

- Sean, you can't be here.

- I need to know if it's true.

- You've been drinking.

- Did you?
- Sean, you're scaring me.

- Joseph.

Did you and he?

- Don't.

- People say you had... relations.

- People lie.

- Mickey saw you together.

- What do you want from me?

- I want the truth.

- Get out.

- I want the truth!

- And I thought it was me you wanted.

- Ah...

- You have to go.

(lantern cringing)
Please go.

(door closing)

(background chatter)

(metal clattering)

(pistol cocking)

- This ain't no boardin' house.

- From the looks of it,
it ain't even a house.

- What happened, Durant kicked you out
of your fancy railroad car?

- Somethin' like, yeah.

(scoffing)

What about you?

You get tired of buildin'
your dream house?

(sighing)

- Somethin' like that.

Might as well.

You oughta know,

Mr. Durant offered me a new job.

- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah.

(sighing)

He want me to do somethin'
I'm sure you ain't gonna like at all.

- Mm...

What's that?

(scoffing)

What'd you tell him?

- Told him I'd think about it.

Subtitling: CNST, Montreal