05x12 - Any Sum Within Reason

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Hell on Wheels". Aired November 6, 2011 - July 23, 2016.*
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Cullen Bohannon, a former soldier and slaveholder, follows the track of a band of Union soldiers, the K*llers of his wife. This brings him to the middle of one of the biggest projects in US history, the building of the transcontinental railroad. After the w*r years in the 1860s, this undertaking connected the prospering east with the still wild west.
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05x12 - Any Sum Within Reason

Post by bunniefuu »

Announcer: Previously on AMC's "Hell on Wheels."

The assassin was a white man.

Pity the only witnesses were Chinese.

Where can I find a dress like that?

Woman: My mother's things.

My request for a stake is non-negotiable.

Get the men back to work today.

Men in America are compensated based upon their value.

Until you acknowledge mine, your railroad will not move another inch.

You're in danger.

Chang work for rebel leader in San Francisco.

I belong to them.

This America...

Ain't nobody belongs to nobody.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(SIGHS)

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

(BUSINESSMEN BIDDING IN CANTONESE)

(BIDDING CONTINUES)

(GROANS SOFTLY)

(SCREAMING)

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

(CRYING)

(WAI-LING SCREAMING)

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

From here on out, you deliver Tao's back pay to the railroad office.

Some hongcha, Mr. Bohannon?

I'll pay out Fong's wages myself.

Your concern for your workers is admirable.

Wages delivered to my office.

Every week without exception.

One day we'll have to do this over tea like respectable businessmen.

Where'd you get this?

Chang knows, doesn't he?

I bought you a seat on the first coach out.

Leaves town in 20 minutes, and you need to be on it.

I no leave town.

Ain't nobody knows the terrain better than Stagecoach Mary.

She'll see you safe to Cheyenne.

Cheyenne?

There's a woman there, Maggie Palmer.

She's a friend. You'll be safe there.

I'm safe here!

He see us in a tent, it no mean...

His whore was wearing your mother's dress.

I give to her.

Well, Chang's on the scent.

He'll follow it straight to your contract with the Sze Yup.

I'll come for you soon just as soon as I deal with Chang.

We stay and fight Chang together.

Ain't no fighting our way out of this.

k*ll Chang, start a w*r with the Sze Yup.

I want life with you.

Hey. Hey, hey, hey, hey.

You ain't safe here.

I love you.

(SNIFFLES)

You don't get it.

Hey! Listen.

You need to run from this place, fast and as far as you can before death catches up with you.

You hear me?

It will.

It always does.

Tea still in box.

It's one coach ride.

Never just one.

STAGECOACH MARY: Time to go.

You'll hit Nevada before nightfall.

You telegraph word from Reno.

Mei, um...

Got a schedule, railroad man.

Be sure you stick to it, Mary.

(STAGECOACH MARY URGES HORSES)

This stuff is more addictive than that midnight oil you sell next door.

The food you're enjoying was shipped fresh in the cargo hold of my company's five clipper ships and 10 lorchas.

They're sitting there waiting to be used.

I don't doubt the extent of the resources at your disposal, sir.

It's me you doubt.

My business.

I've turned a blind eye until now.

If you're gonna haul freight to Asia for the Central Pacific, I need a deeper understanding of the man representing me.

My intention is to read about my business in the same papers I read about yours, Mr. Huntington.

You're a whore minder, sir, and a peddler of opiates.

As well as a fine chef.

The single largest business in Asia began by smuggling opium into China.

The day you grow as big as Jardine Matheson is the day I cut out my tongue and allow you serve it as your daily special.

Shovel salesman yesterday, railroad tycoon today.

American capitalism is a sturdy ladder.

A ladder that doesn't breach the walls of Chinatown.

Then I'll knock them down.

You know, there's a saying about the first one through the wall.

I am not afraid of bloodshed.

I'll need more duck, Mr. Chang.

Absolutely.

Here.

Here?

Nosey little man, ain't you?

Next time, ask.

Your fare already paid and then some.

$2 for dress.

You got a lady waiting on you in Cheyenne?

$5.

I paid 10.

Paid who?

Ain't for sale.

Everything for sale.

$20.

Hop in.

Reno waits.

Wait too long already.

Get in.

(STAGECOACH MARY URGES HORSES)

It's time to consider workforce for the future.

You got a taste for f*ring and you want another one?

Chief Mandarin.

Man I know back East, name of Mickey McGinnes, can have us a thousand Irishmen out here by the time we hit the desert.

Mr. Chang provides invaluable services for this road.

Skimming wages, organizing strikes, k*lling my foreman. Yeah, you're right. That...

Hard to put a price on those kinds of services.

Chinese business.

Chang's never betrayed me.

You don't need Chang.

You like him.

His clothes, his food, his accent.

You're mesmerized.

You overstep, sir.

The future is in China, Mr. Bohannon.

We're not building a railroad, Mr. Bohannon.

We're building a bridge.

Across the great land of ours linking Europe and the Orient.

Now, you either adapt and profit, or fight it and perish.

Railroad's completion is upon us, sir.

You need to start planning for what lies ahead, what lies beyond that final rail.

Chang's still on after she's built, don't count me in your plans.

Cullen: I'm aware of your intention to reclaim the Sze Yup Company contract on Mei Fong.

I'm here to purchase that contract at fair market value.

(THANKING IN CANTONESE)

Any price within reason, Mr. Chang.

Simply name it.

A cut-rate prost*tute can earn me $4,000 a year.

A prized one like Wai-Ling, $6,000.

Six thousand, cash, tomorrow.

Annually.

Wai-Ling's made me $30,000 in five years.

The suppleness of her breasts, the slender size of her waist, the length and form of her legs, all these factors predict the healthy earning years a prost*tute earns.

Forty thousand.

That's five there and you'll have rest by the end of the week.

The extra 10 is for your insurance that Fong is free and clear.

Are you in love with her?

If the price ain't fair, son, name one.

I named my price months ago.

A 2% stake in the railroad.

When I did, you laughed in my face.

You refused to sell me a piece of your business.

I refuse to sell you a piece of mine.

She ain't property, Chang.

(LAUGHS)

Your workers come in cargo holds and leave in coffins.

Tell me, how exactly do you calculate fair compensation for being vaporized by nitroglycerin?

Every businessman places a value on human life.

I'm only alive today because you've accurately assessed my worth to your railroad.

You ain't never gonna find her.

Surely you're not willing to jeopardize everything for one measly whore.

Hmm?
I've been waiting for you to show up.

So far, I've been disappointed.

Do not misjudge me.

Do not misjudge how far my company will go to claim what's theirs.

(GRUNTS)

(g*nsh*t)

(MEN SHOUTING)

(PANTING)

(URGES HORSE)

(MAN SHOUTING)

Can I help you, sir?

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Said can I help you.

(HORSE WHINNYING IN DISTANCE)

(MEN SHOUT IN DISTANCE)

(HOOFBEATS APPROACH)

(IN CANTONESE) Each of you take a building. Search every inch. Find her.

(g*n COCKS)

I'm looking for a young man named Fong.

He may have come through here in the past hour.

Boom's over.

Town's been empty for weeks.

I mean you no harm, sir.

A railroad worker absconded with a piece of my property and I simply wish to reclaim what is mine.

A man came through hour ago, bought a meal, moved on pretty quick.

Chang: In which direction?

East, I think.

(HORSE WHINNYING)

Out the back. Go.

(CHUCKLES)

Chang: Mr. Bohannon.

(CHUCKLES) Finally.

There you are.

(SCOFFS)

Sumbitch.

Mr. Bohannon, I...

Wait here.

(g*nshots)

(MAN GROANS)

(FOOTSTEPS RUSHING)

(THUDS)

Cullen: You need to rest.

Mei: Mmm-mmm. We need keep moving.

Train from Truckee take me to San Francisco.

Ship leave Gold Mountain to China to a mission in Ningpo.

You'll stay with me.

We'll get through the tunnel and move on from Truckee together.

Safer to run, far as I can...

You're safe here.

Chang dead.

More Sze Yup to come.

They'll leave the same as Chang.

You've seen me now.

The man that I am.

You've seen me long time ago.

Stop here.

You went to see Chang's whore.

Wai-Ling was Chang's sl*ve.

She gave you up to him.

Chang take her life, her freedom, her honor.

She give up much more than me.

I owned slaves.

I can't shake it, Mei.

I see you.

You good.

(SOFTLY) You good.

You good.

(TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWING)

You don't leave this room until I get back.

Mei?

You hear me?

It never stop.

(CLEARS THROAT) Well, it stops now.

This life mine.

I no want for you.

(EXHALES)

(WHISPERS) Mei.

I told you I lost everybody I ever had.

All right. That was a lie.

The people I loved, I didn't lose them.

I let 'em go.

But as soon as I got that telegram from you, I knew...

(SIGHS)

Mei...

I love you.

I love you, Cullen.

Lock the door.

Collis: Mr. Bohannon, this is General Lee Yong, with the Sze Yup Company in San Francisco.

He has just informed me that Mr. Chang has been m*rder*d.

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

Mr. Chang was tracking a runaway whore in Washoe City when he and his men were gunned down in cold blood.

White assassin.

I may know the man responsible.

A white assassin came to town and k*lled my foreman a few months back, sh*t him point blank in Chinatown.

Maybe it was the same guy.

Y'all fight wars to keep your whores, right?

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

Perhaps Chang's death was due to a dispute over the value of this woman.

Please inform the General the Central Pacific hopes that Mr. Chang's death doesn't need to interrupt a long business relationship between our companies.

(MUTTERS)

You wouldn't jeopardize your entire business for one man, would you?

(CHUCKLES)

(SPEAKING IN CANTONESE)

The General says the Sze Yup's services will continue without interruption.

He will send one of his best company men, Ling Lee.

He speak English?

You'll find him of equal use and value to you as Mr. Chang.

Collis: Ah, it's truly a shame.

Mr. Chang was a forward-thinking businessman.

Chang pimp.

Taiping rebel.

Nothing more.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Half our workforce could've walked out that door just now.

General himself says Chang can be replaced.

(SOFTLY) Yeah.

You said the same thing three days ago.

Now, here we stand learning Chang has been dispensed of.

Three days you were out of town.

You wanna ask me something, best ask.

Did you have a hand in Chang's m*rder?

(DOOR CLOSES)

[ALL MY TEARS' PLAYING]

♪ When I go don't cry for me ♪
♪ In my father's arms I'll be ♪
♪ The wounds this world left on my soul ♪
♪ Will all be healed and I'll be whole ♪
♪ Sun and moon will be replaced ♪
♪ With the light of Jesus' face ♪
♪ And I will not be ashamed ♪
♪ For my savior knows my name ♪
♪ It don't matter where you bury me ♪
♪ I'll be home and I'll be free ♪
♪ It don't matter Anywhere I lay ♪
♪ All my tears be washed away ♪
♪ Gold and silver blind the eye ♪


Mei, open up, it's me.

Mei?

♪ Come and eat from heaven's store ♪
♪ Come and drink and thirst no more ♪
♪ So weep not for me, my friend ♪
♪ When my time below does end ♪
♪ For my life belongs to him ♪
♪ Who will raise the dead again ♪
♪ It don't matter where you bury me ♪
♪ I'll be home and I'll be free ♪
♪ It don't matter Anywhere I lay ♪
♪ All my tears be washed away ♪
♪ Come and eat from heaven's store ♪
♪ Come and drink and thirst no more ♪
♪ So weep not for me, my friend ♪
♪ When my time below does end ♪
♪ For my life belongs to him ♪
♪ Who will raise the dead again ♪
♪ It don't matter where you bury me ♪
♪ I'll be home and I'll be free ♪
♪ It don't matter anywhere I lay ♪
♪ All my tears be washed away ♪
♪ All my tears be washed away ♪
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