02x04 - Scabs

[bunniefuu]

You do realize why you're in this car, do you not?

You've been tasked by Mr. Durant to build a bridge.

Any man can lay track. Am I correct?

Yes, ma'am. Pretty near.

Then can you explain why you've been spending all your energy at rail's end instead of at the bridge site?

That will be remedied, ma'am.

Thank you.

[Sighs]

You heard what the lady said.

This the part where I tell you the men don't like taking orders from a woman.

They don't have to like it.

No, they don't.

But if you're looking to get back in Mr. Durant's good graces, then pissing off the man might not be the best tact.

Doesn't matter, as long as we get this railroad built.

[Chuckles] If you're not careful, miss bell, you're going to start sounding like a man.

Right.

[Men shouting]

[Train whistle blowing]

All right! Move your carcasses!

Step on it!

You lot, for the gorge, make room for one more. And as for the rest of you jackanapes, I expect to be able to walk a mile of rail by the time I get back from me lunch break.

[Indistinct chatter]

Change the numbers all you want, that ain't the problem.

56 men?

23.

And we've got another 46 coming in. Another...

[Man screaming and sobbing]

[Screaming and sobbing continues]

That's got to be Fleming. The sentry?

You need to do something.

[Screaming and sobbing continues]

[g*nf*re]

[Sobbing continues]

Bring me the long r*fle. we can loop back and try and outflank 'em.

Damn it, I said bring me the long r*fle right now!

Get back.

[Sobbing continues]

[g*nsh*t]

[Sobbing stops]

Man: He sh*t Fleming!

[All murmuring]

Look at me.

Look at me. Look at me.

Look at me.

I see you.

[Both gasping and moaning]

Damn, woman.

[Laughs]

[Both laugh]

What's so funny?

Never thought I'd be glad Mr. Toole made foreman.

Out early, home late.

Don't speak his name.

You know the rules.

Right.

'cause you live by rules.

[Birds chirping]

I want you to feel something.

Damn, girl.

Give a man a minute to raise his spirit.

[Both laugh]

You feel that?

That little bump?

You and me made that.

How you know?

Because I know.

Say something.

Elam Ferguson, you look me in the eyes and you tell me what you're thinkin'.

Don't you leave here without saying something.

I can't.

See, I'm ask... asking you to look... look inside your heart.

Inside your heart.

Sorry, Reverend. I'm afraid it's empty.

Same as my wallet.

[Grunting]

Hey!

All right now?

Reverend. Cullen!

Could you...

Could you spot a fellow traveler a drink?

Rye, barkeep.

Be right with you.

Carl.

Just the one. You've got to read over a man today.

Oh, you have to ask that harlot who threw me out.

You mean your daughter?

Yeah.

That sinning bitch stole my church.

Yes, she's... Your conduit to the Lord now.

You mind me asking where you been bedding down?

I've been, uh, been sleeping in the cemetery.

It's near freezing at night. There's no cover.

Yeah, I find the dead a comfort.

[Train whistle blows]

What the hell?

You can bunk with me until you get yourself settled.

Go on. Set him up.

Carl, set them... set them up.

[Men shouting]

Cullen: What in the hell's going on?

Why aren't y'all men at work?

Turn around and get back on...

[g*nsh*t]

Mr. Toole.

You mind telling me why these men ain't at work?

With all due respect, we lost a man out there.

A mate. Man: That's right!

Then you finish your day's work.

Then you come back in and drink to his memory.

We parlayed. We all agree.

It's not safe.

It's about to get unsafe around here if you don't get your ass back to work.

I am afraid you'll just have to sh**t us.

That's right!

If we route South, then we can bridge the river here...

And avoid the entire issue of Sacred Land.

Yes.

At considerable expense.

Spend a few more pennies now and keep your work force, Thomas.

Pennies.

We can't run from the Sioux.

If it ain't this gorge, it'll be the next one.

The men are afraid to work.

Then we should find ones who ain't.

They believe that if the Sioux won't k*ll them, perhaps you will.

Bullshit.

Of course. When logic isn't on your side, resort to the profane.

All right, I'll give you facts.

Here, here, here.

May not be sacred, but it's all Sioux territory.

We've already established what's on this side of the gorge!

For once, let's be smart.

Reroute and show the men that we can steer them out of harm's way.

The Indians' home's at stake, young lady.

They'll fight us all the way to the Rockies.

If that's true, then we're lost!

We turn tail first sign of trouble, yes, we are. You don't...

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

What is your plan, Mr. Bohannon?

Fight 'em here, fight 'em now.

With what? That rabble?

Them's the ones we got.

[Chuckles] They...

They won't even work for you.

You let me worry about that.

Just don't reroute this railroad.

Let me.

Thank you.

Your husband know about what you told me earlier?

No.

Nobody knows but you and me.

Good.

I've spent my whole life trying to get free.

Then here come a woman... A white woman...

A married woman, spinning my head saying she's got my baby.

I couldn't think of nothin' to do but run.

Then it set with me.

And?

Any harm come to you, I go weak in the head.

You are weak in the head.

All the gold eagles in the world ain't worth a pinch of co*n sh*t if you can't use it to help the folk that you care about.

Elam...

[Sighs] What are you saying?

You saying you care about me?

I love you.

I love you, woman.

[Coins jingling]

I need you to take these double eagles and get yourself taken care of.

Taken care of.

You can't have no black baby.

Your husband will k*ll it or you or both of you.

Elam, I used to be a whore. If I want to get rid of this child, I got my ways.

And you don't need to fear for your freedom on my account.

♪ A prouder man I'd walk the land ♪
♪ in health and peace of mind

♪ if I might toil and strive and moil ♪
♪ nor cast one thought behind

♪ but what would be the world to me ♪
♪ its wealth and rich array

♪ if memory I lost of thee

♪ my own dear galway...

I come to pay my respects to Mr. Fleming.

He was a good man.

A poor end he was met with.

And he won't be the last, I'm afraid.

For Mr. Michael Fleming...

Um...

He didn't ask for what he got...

But he got it anyway.

[All murmuring]

Life ain't fair.

Ain't fair at all.

Hell, most of us here in this room fought in a w*r one side or the other.

We all seen men fall.

We prayed over 'em, we drank over 'em.

But we did not quit.

The best way to honor your friend is to carry on.

Finish this road.

[All murmuring]

Mr. Bohannon, Mr. Bohannon!

No disrespect intended, but we won't die for your railroad.

Not on your life!

Your friend didn't have to die.

You best have a point.

We're all in the same position...

The Sioux don't look at any of us any different.

They just aim to k*ll.

That doesn't explain why you're interrupting a private wake.

We're willing to protect the end of the rail and the bridge site.

If the railroad give us g*ns, we'll go out early and...

Give 'em g*ns?

[Loudly] Patrol for Sioux.

Mr. Durant ain't going to arm no ex-slaves and these men wouldn't stand for it, neither.

Damn right. Aye!

You best get yourself on out of here.

Then you ain't getting no work out of us.

That's not a stand you want to take.

We aren't working, neither. Not until you protect us.

We won't be sitting ducks out there.

[All murmuring]

Dammit, y'all, listen to me.

That road's going to get built with or without you.

If y'all don't go to work, it's you who's going to lose.

Now trust me on this.

You'll lose and it'll get ugly.

I'm sorry for your loss.

♪ 'Tis far away I am today

♪ from scenes I roamed a boy ♪
♪ and long ago the hour I know, I first saw Illinois ♪
♪ but time nor tide nor waters wide ♪
♪ can wean my heart away

♪ forever true it flies to you ♪
♪ my dear old galway bay

Hang him!

They are burning me at the stake out there and I had to come and find you?!

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am.

[Glass shatters]

What are they demanding?

They want protection.

Well, we can't guarantee their safety against the Sioux. It's a hazard of the job.

More beans.

And the freedmen?

They want to be armed.

Give r*fles to an army of ex-slaves?

[Scoffs] No, no. I won't allow it.

That's what I told them.

This is why we change the route.

Avoid sacred land.

Win the men back by taking them out of harm's way.

You do that, you'll lose this railroad.

At least get the freedmen back out there.

They'll do what we tell them to do.

All evidence to the contrary.

Those Negroes...

Are the property of this railroad, Mr. Bohannon.

Property?

Yes. Most of the freedmen are criminals that we bought their sentences from the states where they were serving time.

Bought them, bought me, it's all beside the point.

They do not make demands.

I told you when you hired me, this was a w*r.

Yes. And I expected you to have a battle plan.

Well?!

Let me be clear.

I can't do anything without your complete authority.

This is yours to deal with.

Then, yeah. I've got a plan.

[All yelling]

Hear you're holding that railroad hostage, huh?

He'll use you as a sacrificial lamb for them Injuns.

You worry about your people.

And I'm going to worry about mine.

Boys get themself k*lled playing with g*ns.

They ain't never going to see us as equals till we holding the weapons they got.

Ohh.

[All yelling]

I suppose everybody looks the same once the maggots get to 'em.

Mm-hmm.

[Muffled shouting]

You'd be a vision even if your whole body were covered in them things.

Your beauty could never be hidden from my eyes.

Are you drunk, Mr. Toole?

How did you know?

You always wax poetic when you got a noseful.

Chitterlings again?

Yeah.

I had a hanking for them.

Just can't seem to get enough.

They're fattening you up a bit.

I like me a woman with a bit of girth.

Oh, it's... it's strange me wanting to eat so much with me being so sick in the mornings of late.

I'm sure it'll pass.

Give us a kiss, woman.

Mmm.

Mr. Toole...

I'm with child.

And it ain't yours.

I can't...

I can't lie to you.

You've been one of the most halfway decent men I ever known, but this... this child belongs to another.

Does this mean you're leaving me?

[Clatter]

Seems you've got your work cut out for you, boss man.

It ain't nothing I can't handle.

Can you send a message to the council bluffs office?

"Labor negotiations stalled." Stop.

"Work halted." Stop.

"Send 200 replacement workers on the next available train."

Stop. Got that?

All right.

There's gonna be bloodshed.

What you care?

You ain't no Freedman.

You sure as hell ain't Irish or German.

I ain't cleaning up after your mess.

Nah. You'll just do whatever Mr. Durant wants you to.

Won't you?

[Accordion plays]

There is a storm brewing in town.

Oh, that's... that's a labor dispute it appears to me.

Oh, more blood.

More bodies.

More coffins.

Heh heh heh.

Our jobs have never been more secure. Hmm?

[Hiccup]

Can I tell you a... A secret, Reverend?

w*r is coming.

Yet again.

And not this business of workers sitting down on the job.

A real w*r.

Ahh!

Now is the time...

To see things clear.

We must decide...

Which side we are on.

Hmm?

[Dogs bark in distance]

[Indistinct chatter]

Where do you think you're going?

Out of me way.

I'm gonna tell you this once.

You lay a hand on her, I'm gonna k*ll you.

Oh, you can thrash me?

Fine.

You're not a real man.

Just so we're clear.

Puffed up. Big g*n. You can go to hell.

What kind of man are you?

Most of us would give our life to be a father, but look at you, huh?

You didn't even stay by her side before.

And where are you now?

In the middle of town flexing your damn trigger finger.

[Spits]

You're no father.

You're just a coward.

Good night, then, yellow belly.

Reverend?

You... you got any socks you want done?

[Train whistle blows]

Why don't you go to the starlight, huh?

Get us a bottle.

What's a train doing here so late at night?

Steel workers.

Coming in to take over for thems who won't go out.

You're replacing the men?

Laying rail ain't no scholarly business.

If the men don't want to work, there's hundreds more where they came from.

Now, you get us a bottle.

Whatever's left, you keep.

[Train whistle blows]

[Train whistle blows]

Elam: You enjoying your view?

Matter of fact, I ain't.

[Men shouting]

Let's go!

The men think they stepping off that train and get jobs.

If they can fight, they might just have them.

[Indistinct yelling]

[All shouting]

Boys are getting their ass kicked.

Let's get them, boys!

[All shout]

Don't do it. Don't do it.

[Shouting continues]

[Train whistle blows]

You tell anybody else trying to come out here what happened.

You hear me?

[Cheering]

Get out of here!

Go! Go!

Go back where you came from!

[Men cheering, train whistle blowing]

Woman: Let me see.

Man: What you got?

[Indistinct chatter]

We're willing to go back to work, under one condition.

Maybe you don't understand.

I could have another trainload of workers here tomorrow.

We understand.

If the Negroes are willing to put themselves between us and the Sioux, we're OK with them having g*ns.

Hmm.

Go get yourself some rest, Mr. Toole.

Proud of yourself?

Pride ain't got nothing to do with it.

So that was the plan?

Now everybody's supposed to get along happy ever after?

Not quite yet.

Now you need to get your people back to work.

Ain't no sense having a horse unless it's broke enough so you can ride it.

Except we ain't talking about horses.

We talking about men.

Same principle.

You work for Mr. Durant now.

Same as me.

That means we're the ones doing the riding.

Y'all got a choice.

You either get back to work...

Or go back to prison.

Says who?

Boss man.

Then we need to hear it from the boss man.

You're hearing it just as good from me.

I ain't hearing nothing but some noise...

Coming from the boss man's flunky.

Look at you.

What you've become.

Get your ass up, boy!

[Men shouting]

Get him, son. Get him!

♪

Aah!

Don't know if you're black, don't know if you're white.

You're nothing. You hear me?

You're nothing.

[Grunts]

[Chicken clucks]

[Groaning]

You ain't nothing.

You ain't nothing.

Get your ass up.

Get your ass up, boy.

Aah!

You bit me!

You bit me!

[Grunts]

[Groans]

You're still my n*gg*r.

[Grunts]

[Men cheering]

[Chickens clucking]

Strike's over.

[Door closes]

They gave in?

If the freedmen agree to go back out, no conditions, when the men sober up, we'll give the Negroes r*fles and send everybody back out to the cut.

But you said yourself we can't capitulate to their demands.

Point is, we ain't.

I am not arming the freedmen.

You want this railroad built, somebody's got to patrol that land.

Now, you gonna let me do this or not?

[Sighs]

Well, if they want to be Cannon fodder, hmm, so be it.

But we have lost two days and 5 Miles.

Those men fought to the death for their jobs.

We'll make up those
5 Miles in no times.

So that's it. We move forward.

At what cost?

You're the one said building this railroad is the only thing that matters.

Being smart and rerouting is not the same as being weak.

You and me's gonna have to agree to disagree.

Yes. Because clearly it always has to be on your terms, doesn't it?

It don't work...

If there's any question about that.

Got yourself a real workforce now.

[Door closes]

[Footsteps]

Mrs. Toole, your husband has returned home.

Reverend, you leaving me?

Well, I see you've bent the men to your will.

I suppose I played a part in that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Is it true?

I mean, do you believe you're at w*r with the Sioux?

Yes, sir, I do.

And now you have the men to do the job.

I can't stay with you.

I respect that.

r*fle in your left hand, cartridge in your right.

Join the line. Arms distance, please.

You think this is unwise?

Probably.

But this is...

Barrels down, gentlemen.

But a necessary evil, Mr. Toole.

You're speaking of yourself then, Mr. Bohannon.

[Scoffs]

[Grunting]

r*fle in your left hand.

Cartridges in your right.

Congratulations.

All right, gentlemen. The rest of y'all, r*fles in your left hand, barrels facing the sky.

Finger off the trigger. Take one cartridge in your right hand.

Sharp end is the business end.

Load that cartridge into the cartridge port on the side of your r*fle, business end first.

Now, on the order to make ready, rack that lever all the way forward and all the way back, loading the round into the chamber.

And... make ready!

[g*ns click]

You dropped your round.

[Laughter]
Pick it up.

Start again.

And... make ready!

[g*n click]

[Horse neighs]

Boss man coming through. Hold your fire.

Boss man coming through!

Anything moves... sh**t the sh*t out of it.