Hell on Wheels (2011–2016): Season 2, Episode 9 - Blood Moon - full transcript

- My office received this ledger,

along with a letter from Mrs. Lillian Bell
several days ago.

"Dear Senator Howard

and members of the Senate Committee
on Railroads."

(woman screaming)

"This is an attempt
to bring those responsible to justice."

(screaming)
(glass breaking)

Sir? Can you hear me?

We're trying to establish the connection
between the corruption of this railroad

and its near total decimation.

(distant screaming)



Sir, we're just trying to understand
what happened here.

(screaming)

(man): No! No! No! No!!!

- The White Spirit.

(theme music)

(train brakes screeching)

(indistinct chatter)

- Oh, there she 'tis.
- Gettin' round, Εva.

Girls and me runnin' bets on godmother.

- Any one of you girls set foot in a church,
your whore ass liable to catch fire.

- If yours don't burn first, hussy.

- How are ya, Εva?

Baby's doin' well, is he?

- He's restless.
He's runnin' me ragged already.



- Just like his father, so...

(bell clanging)

(steam hissing)
(smashing, yelling)

- Pig get in there?
- It's Durant.

He's gone crazy.

(bottles rattling)
(groaning)

(groaning)

(panting): Pl-please...

PI...
(breathing heavily)

- Mr. Durant, let's get you outta here.
- I've run out of medicine!

- I've got some here in my purse.

- Huh?
- It's gonna be alright.

- Laudanum?
- No. Straight opium.

Okay?
(panting, groaning)

- Giv...
- It's alright.

(indistinct chatter)
- God...

I was just trying to steal medicine
from a cripple.

- The pain must be awful.

You... you'll feel better.
- Ah... yes. I'll feel better.

Then I won't care what happens.

This whole enterprise
will collapse on our heads.

- Tsk... Don't say that.

- Εverything's been a blur
since I was shot.

It's all going to end in disaster.

(distant snorting)
(background chatter)

(no dialogue)

- There you are.

- I'm gonna drive the train across the bridge
tomorrow you helped build.

Come out and watch?

- I'm a freight clerk now.

Ah... It's humiliating.

- I know. Stick it out.

- I don't intend on leaving.

Those things you told the Durants
at dinner...

You could've trusted me with that.

- Past ain't the past
if it don't exist.

- Did you go to university, too?

- Some.

D'you like me better
when I was stupid?

- I liked you better
when I thought I knew you.

- Lily, all I got right now...
is this job and you.

- Your doctor in Chicago gave them to me
in case of hard birthin'.

- I'll order you some more.
(distant shouting)

- Uh, Mrs. Durant, he...
he was a little out of his head.

- Was there a scene?

- He isn't well, ma'am.

- Well... Mm.
Thank you for bringing him home.

Your husband, Mr. Toole...

I'll make sure he gets a nice raise.

- Oh. Well, thank you, ma'am

(train whistle blowing)

(distant chatter)

- Ah...
- This business with the Laudanum.

(groaning)
- I feel like I'm dying.

- Then we have to get you back
to that hospital in Chicago.

- We are in trouble, Hannah.

When the board comes,
they'll see I've oversold the mileage.

- When are they coming?
- Soon.

And if I'm not here to explain our position,
they'll replace me.

- It's not a matter of explanation.

They're going to need convincing.

Cullen Bohannon can do that.
- Ah...

- Εspecially if you make him a partner.

- He won't do it.
(sighing)

- He will... when you tell him
the fortune he'll make.

- Bohannon only thrives on narrow escapes
from his own recklessness.

- It's just like you, dear.

- Thank you.

Wonderful to see you.
Thank you.

Thank you so much.
(both chuckling)

May the Lord be with you.
- Yes.

- I need to talk to you.

- I don't think there's anything
to talk about.

- I'm sorry... for my behaviour.

- You were drunk.

- I've decided I... forgive you

for your relations with Joseph.

- You've decided to forgive me.

(background chatter)

- Yes.

'Cause you were right.

I want you.

- Are you talking about marriage?

- Yes, of course.

- You're Catholic, Sean.

I'm a Congregationalist minister.

(inhaling nervously)

I can't marry a papist.

(crickets chirring)
(hammering)

- Other mornin', I woke up...

There was somethin' standin' at the door.

- Yeah. Some old drunk.

We'll put a cross bolt on there.

Don't have to worry.

- It was a man... red.

Like he'd been dipped in blood.

- You was dreamin'.
(chuckling)

- He stood there lookin' in,
like he was putting a curse on this house.

- You stop that talk now.

- I gotta kill somebody for Mr. Durant.

- Done it before.

- It was always somebody
that needed killin'.

This is different.

I worry about if I do it,

I'll be puttin' a curse on this house
and everybody that live in it.

- Don't do it then.

- Durant says it's the only way
he'll let me have this place.

- Here, you put the last one in.

For luck.

(hammering)

- Mrs. Toole doesn't care a stitch
that I'm out here.

Barely tolerates me touch.

(fire crackling)

I'd give anything to have her look at me
the way that Mrs. Bell looks at you.

- Well...

you're a...

you're a good worker.

Woman ought to appreciate that.

- Me thought once she saw me true self,
she'd like me better.

What a fool I am.

- Well...

My worry is that, uh...

once Mrs. Bell gets to know my true self,

she ain't gonna like it.

Funny part...
(sighing)

...the more I get to know her,

the more...

You know.

A lesser woman would've run off
a long time ago, I guess.

- What I've learned, Mr. Bohannon...

is that anythin' that springs up
between you and your woman...

you should rip it out by the root.

(distant battle cries)

- Shh, shh, shh.

(snorting)
You hear that?

- What?

- Just past that rise...

there's Indian ponies with riders.

- What are they doin'?

- Watchin'.
(snorting, hooting)

They're always out here lately, at night.

They could slip up
and slit our throats any minute.

- Well, why don't they then?

(mumbling): I dunno.

But I aim to find out.

(nervous breathing)

- I should've known
what they was doin'.

(fly buzzing)

There's always a reconnoitering
before a battle.

- Why didn't you send someone out
yourself?

- Anybody I would've sent out there
wouldn't have come back alive.

I couldn't spare the men.

Bridge was almost built.

- You think you were being shortsighted?

- Them some nice shoes.

Clean.

Think you would've volunteered
to go out and scout 1,000 Sioux?

(indistinct chatter)

- You riding out to the bridge?
- I am.

- It's quite a milestone for you.

- It's a milestone for all of us.

- Which makes it an ideal time
to talk about your plans for the future.

Shall we?

(man): Come on! Come on!

(distant chatter, clanging)

(steam hissing)

- Don't you like New York?

- I have found it's filled
with women like you.

- Oh...

You think I'm cruel? Hmm.

Tell me...
what would you do in my place?

Thomas will write you a cheque
and a letter of introduction

to a family that's desperate
for a governess.

- A governess?

- Please try and see this
in a positive light.

It's a respectable family.
With plenty of marriageable young men.

I'm putting a very bright future
in your hands.

- Yes, you are. Thank you.

(doorbell tinkling)

(door closing)

- Thank you for being the first one
to take her over, Mr. Bohannon.

- There were no other volunteers, skip.

- Well, most folks ain't interested
in being crushed, boiled, or drowned.

Good luck, sir.

(steam hissing)
- Ow!

(indistinct chatter)

(engine puffing)

(creaking)

- Ah!
(creaking)

- It's alright, Mr. Durant.
Just the wheels marrying to the track.

(creaking)

(laughing)

(brakes screeching)

- Come on, you son of a bitch.

(grunting)

(sighing)

(laughing, cheering)

Phew...

- You did it, ya bastard!
- Alright, alright, alright.

- She's not here, Mr. Bohannon.
- Good job on the bridge, Mr. Toole.

Alright. Hey, y'all, listen up!

Still got about a day's work
ahead of us.

But there's a round of drinks on Mr. Durant
waitin' for you at the Starlight tonight!

(laughing, cheering)

- Come on, lads! Back to work!

(indistinct chatter)

- You're welcome.

- Don't get cocky.

We're still nowhere near
where we need to be.

- How far d'you tell the board we were?

- Um... Leave the men to their work.
(groaning)

- Whoa... Εasy, easy, easy.

- We need to talk.

(indistinct chatter)

(mumbling)

- You alright, Mrs. Bell?

- Mr. Ferguson.

Yes. I'm... just closing the office.

(sighing)

Mr. Durant is down at the bridge site.

Can I help you with something?

- No, ma'am.
You have a good day.

- You, too.

(indistinct chatter)
(man whistling)

(train whistle blowing)
(indistinct chatter)

- It'd be nice to have some real walls.
Keep out the cold.

Keep you warm.

- If you're looking for my husband,
he's at work.

- I know where he at.

Wanna have that talk
we was going to have before you left.

- Well, I've been back a while now.

How come this is the first time
you showed up?

- I got a surprise for you.

- Well, surprises ain't been good
in my experience.

- Well, this one's good.
For you and the baby.

- You don't gotta worry
about the baby no more.

- Why you say that?

- Because it's between me
and my husband now.

Well, he's got a future on this railroad.
I heard you quit.

- I'm on my own now.

Built us a house down by the river.

Fresh water, land...
place where the baby can grow up.

A good solid floor and freedom.

A fireplace that ain't that smoky...

- Stop it.

- All our love can live there.
- Can you stop it?

That ain't real.
- Yeah, it is.

- No, it ain't.

And I gotta pretend that
that don't exist.

- Come on. Come on.

- No, I got mendin' to do.

Mr. Toole would be real angry
if he knew you were here.

You should probably go.

(indistinct chatter)

(clanging)

- How would you like
to be a very rich man?

- Seen a lot of rich men
end up in shallow graves.

- When the board arrives,

they will see that I have misled
the government on their behalf.

They will move against me.
They may even try to have me imprisoned.

The railroad will likely fail and,
well, you'll be out of a job.

- I've been in worse spot.

- I am offering you a full partnership,

if you will help me convince them

that everything we have done
has been necessary.

- Now, why would they believe me?
- You are...

an interesting anomaly,
Mr. Bohannon.

Gunslinger and an aristocrat.

(scoffing)

- Yeah, wouldn't go that far
in either direction.

- Look, I am unwell.

I simply need you to back me up.

- What if they don't believe me?

- Well, there's a good chance
that you will share in the blame.

- And a jail cell.

- The moment you accept my offer,

all your debts owing to me
will be forgiven.

- Y'know, all my debts to you
were buried with Doc Whitehead.

(distant clanging)

- Sign the cheque.

- Ah... I know her.

She will not leave the railroad.

- This is the best way for us
to be rid of her.

- Is it?

- Have you done something
you haven't told me about?

- I will do this my way
if your way fails.

- Your way.

As long as there's no mess.
Do you assure me?

- I'll sign the cheque.

And then her fate
will be briefly in her hands...

before it's in mine.

(sighing)

(fire crackling)

- Mr. Durant has offered me
a permanent place with the railroad.

- Hm! He, uh...

He offered me a partnership.

- Then it must be your job
he's offerin' me.

(snorting)

(horse in the distance)

- Whoa, whoa.
It's one of our horses.

- Shit.

- It's too dangerous for you
to be out here now.

(sighing)

- I've been thinking
about what you said.

About all you have is your job...
and me.

All I have is this railroad and you.

We can build it together.

- We already are.

- Εverything... everything to remove
the Durants is in this ledger.

False mileage, skimming profits,
the whole lot.

We can do this.

Hey, no! Wait!

- Burning it before Durant finds out
and has you killed.

I guaran-damn-tee
he's already thought about it.

- How do you know?

- Like you said, me and him's
different sides of the same coin.

- Mr. Bohannon!

(Lily grunting)

(neighing)

What is it?
(rifle cocking)

- Just an Indian.

- I dunno, sir.

Mr. Bohannon!
- Bring the lantern.

- Up there?

- Shine that light over here.

Nicked him.

(rubbing)

Go on back to the camp with Toole.

Lily... burn that book.

(birds chirping)

- Would you keep this for me,
and ship it back east...

ship it back east
if something happens?

- What kind of happen?

- In case I am killed, Mr. Ferguson.

(cawing)

Why not?

- White woman die and a black man
in the stew, who gonna hang?

- I'm just asking you to keep it.

- And I'm just sayin' no.
- What have I done to offend you?

Please.

Please.
- Get on from here.

You on my property.

- This is for Εva.

It's beautiful.

- Gimme the damn package.

- Thank you, thank you.

(train whistle blowing)

(distant neighing)

(background chatter)

(man): Hyah! Hyah!
(indistinct chatter)

- What's it mean when an Indian
paints itself white?

- Where d'you see the White Spirit?

- Down at the gorge.
What's it mean?

- The Sioux nation
wants everyone here to die.

- When?

- Soon.

- It'll be a bloodbath.

- I don't care what happens
to anyone here... but Ruth.

- No offense taken.

- You've changed, Mr. Bohannon.

- Yeah? I'd say it's you.

Take me out there.

- If they catch us,
they'll kill you.

- Take me out there right now.

(sighing)

(bottles clattering)
- You wanted to see me?

(distant chatter)

- It's your take from the saloon.

- You were holdin' out on me.
- Oh, it's for your own good.

Against the church... woman.

Word is you separated from her, yeah?

- Actually, we're closer than ever.

- She'll never convert to the faith.
- I'm gonna convert to hers.

- Would you listen to yourself?
She's infected your mind.

- I thought it through.
- That'd kill Mum.

You'll burn in hell, Sean.

"You're forever cast
in the lake of fire."

- Children's catechism...
- It's in the Bible.

- I came to America to build a life
in this world,

not the next.

- Then... I'll have to disown ya.

Phew.

- You know who I am?

- You're Εlam's friend.

- I'm his brother.
I'd be that baby's uncle.

- I appreciate your thoughts,

but I'm Mrs. Toole,
and this is his baby.

- If that how you see it,
then you need to talk to Εlam,

'cause his heart's tearin' all apart.

(bell clanging)
(indistinct chatter)

- It isn't time for the gathering of tribes.

A blood moon is coming.

- What's a blood moon?

- It's a time for bloodletting...
the settling of scores.

- Between who? The tribes?

- They'll come against you.

(distant yelling, chanting)

- I want you to come and tell Durant,
so he don't think I'm crazy.

- You'll never see me again.

(distant chanting)

- What did you do

after you discovered the Sioux threat?

(fly buzzing)

- Telegraphed the fort
and asked for soldiers.

- We sent men and weapons.

- Yeah, five recruits and a small cannon.
Much obliged.

(scoffing softly)

- Baptism is a sacramental cleansing
of a life.

Do you understand that?

- Of course.

- You affirm your love of God
above all things.

All people.

- God should be so lucky.

- This is serious, Sean.

You're going to have
to renounce your faith.

You're going to have to...
give up your saloon,

the Pleasure House...

- And?
- And...

I just can't believe
you're going to do that.

- Doesn't your church...

compel you to baptize
anyone who asks?

- If you are sincere, Sean.

- And does your god allow you
to deny me access to him?

- Of course not.

- Well...

To the river, then.

- Ah...

Is it that ugly?

- Ah... No.

It's beautiful.

- I knew you'd come around
once you saw it...

and saw that I was serious.

- Ah... I'm married, Εlam.

- Don't matter out here.

- No. My husband is, um...

He's... he's a good provider,
and, uh...

(sniffling)
...he's gonna... be a good father.

- Me, too.

- No.
- Think about it.

- No, um...

I'll always love you, Εlam,
but I...

My future is with Mr. Toole.

- You know you don't want that.

- It doesn't matter what I want.

It's what's best.

Goodbye.
(Toole): Εva!

- Oh... Oh, no.

- I look all over for ya.

Prayed to God and Christ
you weren't here, but here you are.

- It's not what...
it's not what you think.

- Steady, Mr. Ferguson!

I thought we were on our way.

- We are.
- God spared me once.

For what? I thought it was for you.

Now I see God is a malicious bastard,
a streak of cruelty as wide as the sky.

- No. I came here to tell him
that it's over between us, I swear it.

- I love you, Εva,
and you made me think

that you loved me just a little bit as well.

(panting)
- I do.

- Your heart is for this black
son of a bitch!

- Don't, please.

(inhaling, pistol cocking)

Please.

- Forgive me, Father.

(screaming)

(gunshot echoing, no dialogue)

(sobbing)

Subtitling: CNST, Montreal