Hell on Wheels (2011–2016): Season 4, Episode 7 - Elam Ferguson - full transcript

Shh, shh, shh.

Hi.

Hey.

What you looking at?

You need to get on
from this place.

Good morning to you too.

I've been praying
the blood of Jesus over you,

the missus, and the baby.

But I ain't strong enough
for whatever coming next.

You look like
you've seen a ghost.

Me and them... they can bury us
in that blowed-up mountain.



Yeah, well,
I got an idea about that...

That don't matter none.

You and her... the baby...

You still got a chance.

Go.

Yeah.

Come on.

Durant...

Open up.

Need to talk.

Dura...

Hello?

(9.333 c', D., :2°'~-~g>

Doc?



Hey, whoa. Hey. Hey.

Easy. It's me... Bohannon.

Here...

Here, drink this.

Somebody left you for dead.
Did you see 'em?

It was one of Campbell's men.

Well, scalp's gonna need
some stitches.

Best get you to the doctor.

No. No, no, no, no.

There's...

there's a kit in the desk.

Sew me a couple
of field knots, will you?

I'm surprised at Campbell.

This is gonna hurt like hell.

I want justice.

Damn blast it, Bohannon!

God.

The world's catching up to us

in the form
of the United States Government.

I've gone up against them
and lost it all,

just like you're about ready to.

Shit, that hurts!

We're done here, Durant.

You and I both know it.

We only have to get
through that mountain.

Over it.

And I'm the only who can do it,
not you, not Delaney...

Nobody but me.

Now if I'm wrong,
they can bury us

underneath that rock pile
out at the cut,

'cause that's where we're headed anyways.

Should have been a surgeon
instead of railroad man.

"Railroad man"?

Looks like it.

What do you need from me?

Sign that.

Well, this-this is-this is blank.

I may need it.

Trust me.

They come back,
they're coming to kill ya.

Not...

if I kill them first.

All of them.

Best set them thoughts aside,

otherwise you'll bring
everything down on our heads.

There are some men
who need killing.

You and I both
know that, Bohannon.

I've drunk from that cup.

It don't quench.

Over the mountain
and out of this place...

I'll get us there.

Frog legs jump
out of the skillet

when you fry 'em up.

Don't they, boy?

It's called a steam dredge.

They're using 'em to dig
canals back east.

Now, this is
what one looks like.

Fascinating, but I have no use
for a steam dredge,

Mr. Bohannon.

No. It's me who does.

I wasn't trying to sell you one.

And what are you
trying to sell me?

Well, I know you wouldn't
loan Durant the money for this.

Hell would freeze first.

So I was hoping you'd see
clear to loan us the money

for a down payment.

- You have collateral?
- No, ma'am.

- Stop making me feel old.
- No, Maggie, I don't.

But they're starting
to stockpile barbed wire

in Chicago.

We can send a letter
forbidding Union Pacific

to ship it west.

That's not collateral...

But I will take it.

Fill it out how you like.

What about for the loan?

Only for your wife
and son will I do it.

You need to move them
out of here.

You're the second
person to tell me that today.

On.

God, man,
were you kicked by a horse?

One of your men...

I believe his name is Heckard.

What did you do to provoke him?

Provoke?

He broke into my car,

accused me of killing
his... his paramour,

and then he tried to kill me.

On.

Yes, he's upset
at Jessup's passing.

They were very close.

I had nothing to do
with Jessup's killing.

And I will enjoy
taking your railroad from you.

But killing you would spoil
the sport of it for me.

I did not send Heckard
to your car last night.

I give you my word.

I want justice.

In this case, I understand.

I'll put Heckard
on the first train back east

this afternoon.

This afternoon?

I want more.

Well, that'll have to suffice.

The man is grieving.

You're lucky
to have survived at all.

Good day.

I can't take
any more of this, Abby.

Go over, confront Durant,
be done with it.

I don't have the strength.
He scares me.

You don't have
the strength, or is it conviction?

There is doubt in your mind.

My own thinking disgusts me.
What if I'm wrong?

We'll never know, Abby.

There was never a trace
of your father.

The detective seemed sure.

The detective was here one day.

Go home...

grieve with your mother,
find some comfort in that.

You're miserable here.

And I'm making
you miserable, too.

I'll wire you
if I discover anything.

Write me letters...

Not too rude,
in case mother opens them.

What is it?

It's harder for you to leave Durant

than it is to leave me.

But... Go.

I know you pray for me...

F-for us, and, I think
your prayers have been answered.

I just got the money
for a piece of machinery

to get us over that mountain
and out of this place.

Few weeks, we won't
ever have to see Cheyenne

or the Wyoming territory again.

Or my family?

Will I ever see them again?

If you really wanted to, yeah.

I would really want to.

All right, then.

Take the train.

By then, I'll have
my own private car.

Your car?

Will the baby and I be there?

That's what I meant.

Cullen!

Elam.

God almighty, son.

Elam...

It's me... Cullen.

Can you see me all right?

I see you in my path.

Looks like something got at ya.

Wha... Bear?

I am Bear Killer.

Yeah.

Yeah, I own that's true
from the looks of it.

So these yours wives?

Hey...

I got me a wife.

Can you imagine that?

A son, too.

- Elam...
- What'd I tell you?

You want to buy these slave?

Please help us.

You don't speak unless you spoke to.

You want to buy 'em?

Elam...

I don't know
what's messed you up,

but don't go riding into
Cheyenne like this.

I'm riding straight in.

Yeah...

Yeah, we got a, auction house.

Slave market?

Yeah. Why don't you camp
yourselves right here?

I'll come fetch
you and the slaves

when the market opens.

That sound about right?

All right.

This is
a third-class ticket, sir.

I got you on two pair.

And you, my friend...

are bluffing.

I see your dollar.

Come on. This can't wait.

Leave the pot.

You're saving me from a busted
flush, but I'll lose my seat!

Ham's back.

Wait.

Something's happened...
to him, all right?

Something bad. He ain't right.

Wha... take me to him.

Now, you listen to me, Eva.

He's right messed up,
especially his mind.

I don't care.

Seen something
like it in the war.

Some wounds you
don't want to survive.

What are you talking about?
It's Elam!

I know! I...

What I'm saying is...

we got to be gentle, all right?

His-his-his
remembering is wrong.

He don't seem to know me,
but he might know you.

- I can't believe he's back.
- He may not be back.

Abby...

What are you doing here?

I'm going home to Boston.

This train doesn't go to Boston.

This is a private train.

We have to get you off.

Uncle Thomas, please.

I have to ask you something.

Why... are... people saying
you had something to do

with Father's disappearance?

People don't think that.

They even say you killed him.

Yes.

I killed your father, Abby.

Would you like
to know how and why?

Elam?

Elam...

It's Eva.

It's me.

You been with them Arapaho?

Who you belong to?

We used to belong to each other.

Can't no slave own no slave.

Go find your master,
unless you a runaway.

Cut your heels for that.

Elam.

How come I want to hurt you?

For something I done to you.

I want you.

And I want to hurt you bad.

I don't blame you.

Now, who own you, I say?

- Nobody.
- You're a liar!

Whoa, Elam. It's all right.
It's all right.

I'll come with you
if you let them women free!

- Eva, that can't happen.
- Elam!

Elam, listen to me.
Listen to me.

Buying, trading, selling...

That can't happen, all right?

Times has changed.
They won't let it.

I won't let it neither.

It ain't up to you.

I don't even know you.

Get up! Get up!

Come on! Let's go!
We going to market!

Come on!

On my advice...

he invested
your estate's treasury

heavily in Union Pacific bonds.

When we had to default...

he became desperate.

I take the blame.

He was prone to despondency,

as you know, Abby.

He came to me begging for help.

I couldn't.

Then one night he...
he simply disappeared.

I can only imagine the worst.

He... took his own life?

That's what you want me
to believe?

He tried once before, you know.

Ask your mother, Abby.

But he lives on.

He sustains me

through my own nights
of the black dog.

Are you... lying
to me, Uncle Thomas?

No, Abby.

No.

Did I kill your father
by including him

in my railroad dreams?

Will I regret that
for the rest of my life?

Absolutely.

Am I a murderer?

Obviously not.

Is there trouble?

I'll go and check on it,
and you stay here.

What I hear bid
for these slaves?

It's a good breed.

Can we handle the merchandise?

They breed good.

Why don't you take
your drunk ass and go home,

you black man?

Somebody put a stop to this!

I need to hear a bid.

Somebody give me a bid!

Shit!

- Wait right here.
- Come on!

This a good breed right here.
They make good babies.

They work hard.

Sunup to sundown,
they work hard.

Once you separate the negro
from his prisoners

and he refuses
to surrender, kill him.

What you planin'?

Separate the negro
from the women.

If he should refuse,
then we'll have no choice, but...

Now, hold on.
I don't think that's the way.

We don't even know what's
going on right...

Never hand me again.

Come here!

There will be no trade
in human commerce in my town...

Neither involving squaw,
white women,

nor addled negro.

All right, now,
he ain't done nothing.

Contrarily, he's
stated his intent

at the most heinous of crimes,

and he is guilty of kidnapping
at the least.

Look at him.
He's a danger to public safety.

Mr. Campbell...

You're a veteran.

You know what violence
can do to men.

Mainly to the weak-minded

and predisposed to violence.

The negro is an inferior race,

but human nonetheless.

That is why we fought your war,
Mr. Bohannon.

The emancipation proclamation.

The constitution.

Those are his rights.

He ain't in his mind.

He'll fight you
if he's cornered.

Then that is his choice.

Field the perimeter
when he makes a run.

That man right there...

that's my friend.

You have 15 minutes
to solve this charade.

Hey. What the hell is this?

Your stop.

This ain't no stop!

Hey, what are you doing?

Get your...
Get your hands off me!

You're a dead man!

Do you... you know who I am?

Do you know who I am?

I do.

How did Mrs. Delaney
get on the train?

We didn't see her, Mr. Durant.

Straight to Cheyenne after this.

Look at her.
She breed good for you!

Gone crazy.

She got everything you want.

She breed good
and get you good business.

- What you gonna do?
- Get over here.

Look at her.

I'm gonna retell him who he is.

Elam?

Get over there!

Elam!

Look hard at my face, all right?

Cullen Bohannon.

I hear of you.

Eat-u“ ' Yeah.

We been friends a long time.

You got some slaves to sell?

That there one of yours?

This ain't a slave market.

This ain't Charleston,
New Orleans neither.

This is Cheyenne.

You even know where you are?

You trying to fool me?

No.

Trying to save your damn life.

Come on.

Y'all get on home!

This ain't a damn show.

Prime, healthy.
It ain't gonna cost you a lot.

- Beat it, kid.
- Come here!

Mr. Campbell.
Look at her! This one...

" Get!"

You've left Mr. Bohannon
to defuse this situation alone?

Interesting to watch
Mr. Bohannon

confront the monster
of his own creation.

- Interesting?
- Mmmmm.

Those women's lives are at risk.

I'm well aware.

I've ordered my men
not to spook the negro.

His name is Elam Ferguson,
an honorable man.

- At least I've known him to be.
- Come on!

Get your head up!

Act like you got some dignity!

You trying to be uppity on me?

You trying to be
an uppity, negro?

Nothing in his past
will save him

from his fate today.

And killing a negro makes you
a little more formidable,

doesn't it?

They work hard.

Those women's lives are at risk.

We are in
agreement on that, are we not?

I need to hear a bid
for these slaves now.

They worth more than that.

Just keep in mind, you'd be
walking into five drawn guns.

Come on, now.

Do I hear a bid for these women?

- Get up. Look at me.
- Good lord.

Look at them. Show your face.

What do you do? What do you do?
Elam!

My brother.

I knew you'd know me.

Mmmmm. Heard you was back?

- It's good to see you.
- You too.

You about finished here?

I ne... I-l need you
to get something for me.

. Anything.

Run to the big house
and tell Mamma

to get me something for my head.

It's starting to hurt.

- Go ahead and run.
- Sure, Elam.

She most likely in
the kitchen right about now.

Now go on ahead.

Why don't you come with me?

Be faster.

No, shoot, man.

You know what'd happen
if the missus catch me

round the big house.

Now go on.

Come on, I got business.

Elam.

God, please listen to me.

The mens here gonna kill you
you try to sell these women.

I know.

They gonna try.

Something they don't know...

Can't nobody kill me, Mo.

Nobody.

What my name?

Moses then.

Go on ahead, man.

Go. Come on.

Time's up.

Elam... Elam!

It's Eva!

Just let me talk to him
one more time, please!

I know it's me he wants
underneath.

I know it.
Just let me talk to him!

Eva, he's liable to kill you.

I don't care.
I'll take my chances.

Laws exist to protect us,

not only from others,
but from ourselves.

Gentlemen...

Man on the roof with a rifle.

Ms. Ellison, do something!

- There's nothing I can do, Eva.
- Time's up, Bohannon.

You're talking to the governor.

Please say something to him.

I'm just a newspaper lady.
I don't have the authority...

But it's Elam! It's my Elam!

These women's lives
are at risk, Eva.

You think it best
he be killed, don't you?

Don't you?

Now, you need
to listen to me right now.

Hey!

You got to let these women go.

There's men drawing down
ready to shoot.

Elam!

My name is
Pah duh wuh toh kweh nuh.

"Bear killer."

I got bear magic.

Your name is Elam Ferguson.

Railroad police.

Lawman.

You and me...

We had some times.

Put down some bad men... wha...

We found your lost baby.
You remember that?

We even beat the hell
out of each other one time.

Friends always.

You owned slaves.

Yeah.

Long time ago.

You was a slave yourself,
but you're free now.

Everybody's free.

Even these women right here,
they're free.

Elam, let me help you,
all right?

Let me help you.

. Hey, hey. Hey.

Hey, it's all right.

It's all right.

Listen to me.

Why don't you-why don't you
give me that knife?

It's all right. Hey, hey.

Let's let these women go.
What you say?

Here.

No!

My name is
Pah duh wuh toh kweh nuh.

"Bear killer."

I 9911 big magic.

L 9911 big magic!

Cullen! Get out of there!

Cullen!

$100!

I bid $100. I got money.

Can't no slave buy no slave.
I told you that.

What about trade, then?

Please, Elam.
Take me, and I'm yours.

- For god's sake, that's her.
- Quiet, woman!

- The woman!
- That ain't her!

Eva, the one you're looking for,

she's right there!

That ain't her!

I told you that ain't her!
It ain't her!

I told you!

Elam!

Come on, get up.

Come on! Come on, get!

Don't run away from me!

- Don't run!
- Let's go. Go.

They mine!

You need to get
on your horse and ride.

Can't promise you
they won't shoot,

but I'll cover you
as best I can.

You ain't my boss.

No, I'm your friend.

You a white devil.

You ain't did nothing
but took from me and mine!

- No.
- You're gonna pay today!

You're gonna Pa!!!

Don't do this, Elam.

I ain't gonna fight you.

Somebody go get him
his damn horse!

Get up, Elam!

Wake up.

Wake up!

Come on.

I'm sorry.

He went looking for you.

What give you the right?

You saw.

What give you the right?

Whoa.

Please...

put Mr. Ferguson in the wagon.

You want to come?

He ain't in that box.

Cullen.

Please go away.

Please.