04x01 - The Elusive Eden

[bunniefuu]

Previously on AMC's Hell On Wheels...

Joseph Dutson?

Bishop Dutson You m*rder*d my chief of police.

Father!

You owe me a life for the one you took from me.

Work must continue.

So all contracts will be assigned to me.

The Mormons got Bohannon. I'm gonna bust him out.

I felt his spirit pass.

He's the father of my child.

I pronounce you husband and wife.

I want to register a formal protest.

Noted.

Have you thought of everything?

Course not.

It doesn't occur to me how to engineer my own destruction.

We crossed the Missouri like this, greater river than the crow.

Thicker ice, colder weather.

And larger balls my chief engineer.

[Chuckles] You're the boss.

Who holdin' the money?

Everybody in?

Uh-huh.

You there, big fella.

They call me Psalms, Mr. Durant.

Psalms, yes, of course, Psalms.

What's the wager?

How far across before the engineer jump.

You don't think the train's gonna make it?

I ain’t bettin’ against the railroad itself, Mr. Durant, just the engineer.

[Laughs]

Of course.

Engineer, take it across.

[Train whistle blows]

[Metal creaking]

[Ice cracking]

[Train whistle blows]

[Ice cracking]

[Grunting]

[Bell ringing]

Ugh!

[Metal clanking, crashing]

Congratulations, Mr. Durant.

Red hot boiler on ice, wheels spinning.

What'd you think was gonna happen?

[Western folk music]

♪ ♪

water is sweet and good.

You get att*cked by Indians now or set fire to, won't have to go down to the river.

You'll not be here, should that happen?

Gave you my word, I'd be here till the crops is in, baby's born.

Naomi's due any day now.

Only thing keeping me here after that'll be Bishop Dutson.

Well, you have honored your word to me.

No doubt, he'll feel the same.

I try to walk out that gate, he'll put a b*llet in my back.

Bishop Dutson is not the man you claim him to be.

Father Hatch, I keep telling you, he ain't the man he claims to be.

An imposter could never lay on hands and speak in tongues like Bishop Dutson.

[Chuckles]

Yeah.

One day you'll see.

Close the gate!

Brother Bohannon.

How's Cheyenne?

Sodom and Gomorrah's got nothing on it.

Railroad started stockpiling rail yet?

Railroad's stuck and busted. I did hear the cavalry’s got the Comanche on the run, though.

Mind you don't get a haircut next time.

Slim pickings.

[Clicks tongue]

Wonderful work on the new well.

Careful you don't fall in.

[Laughs]

Oh, try to enjoy God's peace within these walls.

Fort this pretty, it’s hard to remember I’m in a prison.

You are a free man, brother Bohannon.

Free to leave, you mean?

Mm.

[Sighs]

[Men grunting]

[Horse whinnies] [Men grunting]

It's good to see the men fight with their fists.

Usually, they reach right for their knives and g*ns.

[g*nsh*t]

[Thud]

It's the final tally for the material lost in the river.

I don't have this kind of money on hand.

Find it, or the central pacific will meet us here...

In this God forsaken place.

[Sighs] [Clears throat]

Your wife is unhappy here, I take it.

Her father was one of your best friends.

He goes missing, you do nothing about it.

Well, at's not true. We looked everywhere.

You know, we really should have dinner sometime, so we can reacquaint. I can explain it to her.

Oh, she'd love that, since she worries you had something to do with his disappearance.

Who could possibly have put such a hairbrained idea in her head? A Boston detective.

The one who came out here last year.

Her father, Senator Metcalf, was one of my oldest and closest friends.

I was her godfather, for Christ's sakes!

Well, that's what makes it so frightening for her.

I will do everything I can to answer her questions.

Meanwhile, advise your wife to be cautious.

Cheyenne is a dangerous place.

[Indistinct chatter]

[Train whistle blows]

[Sighs]

Eva?

Howdy, Mr. Durant.

Eva, surely, you can find something more suitable than washing whores' bedding.

Well, Mickey was good to give me the work.

It's either this or go back to whoring.

Look at me, Eva.

The eyes of the world are upon me, as I stand on the verge of ruin.

Harassed on all sides, my wife left me while I was in prison, I have no friends, but you don't see me crying, do you?

No, so pick yourself up.

Yes, Mr. Durant.

Good.

Mr. Mayor. [Men cheering]

[Clears throat]

I am seeking counsel.

Always happy to oblige one of my constituents.

[Men cheering]

[Laughter and chatter]

Ahh. The railroad… is broke.

Mm-hmm.

If you were me, what would you do?

Historically, sir, you'd have gone back east and sold a bunch of phony paper for millions of dollars, but after sinking the train, I'd say you have credibility concerns.

Correct, so what would you do now?

Sell off anything you have of value, including that watch.

I'll give you a fiver for it.

[Laughs]

I have land, 20 acres either side of the track, and any land I can claim mineral rights to.

You should sell it… at auction.

And you should buy it, at auction.

I don't want it, and I don't want that kind of trouble.

I made you mayor. I made you rich.

You arrived with a magic show and a dopey smile.

You could leave with a lot less.

Post a notice, something official.

Oh, and bring cash.

And for God sakes, get Eva out of the mud.

Some people don't want to be pulled out of the mud, Mr. Durant.

True. Don't be one of them.

[Background chatter, piano playing, man singing]

Here.

Go ahead and read it.

Your railroad’s fallen behind during the winter.

Durant sunk a train into the crow river and called it a minor setback, so...

He struggles, probably 'cause you're not there.

"Chief engineer Martin Delaney announced today."

Damn it! I can't believe this.

What is it?

I can't believe Durant hadn't fired that idiot Martin Delaney by now.

I b*at him out for the job once already.

I know how much that railroad means to you.

You came out here to build it, not live a life among people who aren't your own, with a wife that you may not love.

Come to the railroad huntin’…

The men who m*rder*d my wife and child.

k*lled the ones I could find.

Now, Naomi...

You're married to a k*ller.

You're just tryin' to scare me into not lovin' you so you can leave.

No, I'm just bein' truthful is all.

You can leave, Cullen.

I'll be all right.

[Low chatter]

Thank you.

It's quite all right.

Bread, husband?

Why don't you have a seat? Rest a spell.

There you go.

[Footsteps approaching]

Well, I'm glad.

After four months among us, you're making friends.

I can count 'em all on one finger.

Hmm.

Brother Dultey.

I talk to him, he talks to me.

Especially when he returns from his trips to Cheyenne.

Let go of Cheyenne, your former life.

Uh-huh.

Mm.

I want to talk to you about something, Bishop.

Yes?

That thing you said about freedom earlier.

Hmm?

I think I finally understand it.

Good. Good!

And... and something else.

Mm-hmm?

I had me a vision.

Tell me.

I had me a vision that I was leaving this place.

But why?

Th-there’s still… so much to be done with you.

I don't know, I just...

Saw myself walkin' straight through that gate.

No, no. Walkin' right out through that gate, whistling Dixie.

You… you would not abandon your wife and child.

Yeah.

I wouldn't worry none.

It's just a vision.

Hmm.

[Slurping soup]

Mr. Campbell, General Grant will see you now.

General Grant.

With my election assured, I'm sending you west, Campbell.

Wyoming. Ever hear of it?

Vaguely.

Lawless place.

Union pacific has gotten itself bogged down out there.

Things are running amok.

I don't think I'm the man you want to send there.

You will not be returning to Atlanta.

My work there is incomplete.

I'm saving you from yourself, Campbell.

You were a bit overzealous.

Mistakes were made, but order was restored.

And you'll do the same as the provisional governor of Wyoming. Good luck, sir.

General, you honor me with this opportunity.

[Merrymaking outside continues]

[Door closes, crowd noise muffled]

[All cheering] The greatest good to the greatest number is the object to attain.

[Cheers and applause]

This requires security of person and property in every...

Gentlemen, the general is very pleased with our success in Atlanta.

He's not giving us the boot?

On the contrary, he appointed me governor of a new territory.

Which one?

Wyoming.

Never heard of it.

The frontier.

It's a wilderness.

This is worse than getting the boot.

Well, not so fast. There's gold out west.

Free land out here, opportunities for those with a keen eye.

This is not a place of hooded rascals, a city in ashes.

It's wild, surely, but so is an unbroken horse.

We'll break it.

You'll be provisional marshal of the whole territory.

You'll be the judge.

You'll be the treasurer.

Grant says all this?

Pack your gear. No carpet bags.

[Crowd cheering]

Wyoming.

[Cow moos]

Good morning, gentlemen.

This morning, you have a rare opportunity to buy some very valuable land.

Now, what bid do I hear for parcel 21 in the north valley?

It breaks my heart to offer it.

Ours too. It's open range.

What if somebody fences it in?

That open range, as you call it, was granted by the largess of the union pacific railroad.

$400.

$500.

$500. The bid is $500, gentlemen.

And the advance?

$501.

$501. Going once, going twice...

$600.

Mrs. Palmer.

Just what is this stunt, Thomas?

This is an auction, Maggie.

Hmm, I see that.

I thought we had an agreement about the use of this UP land for free range.

Yes, and perhaps you can strike a similar deal with the new owner, whomever that may be.

I struck a deal with you, Durant, in perpetuity.

Now, you're reneging behind your flunky here.

I'm not a flunky. I'm the mayor of Cheyenne.

If you're looking for a range w*r, just say, "Barbed wire."

I'm looking at a bid of $600.

$601.

$1,000.

[Men murmuring]

[Sighs] $1,001.

$2,000.

[Applause and murmuring]

I'm going to ruin this scheme.

$2,001?

$3,000.

[Applause and laughter]

[Men murmuring]

Oh.

[Breathing heavily]

Shh.

[Whimpers]

[Humming]

[Humming continues]

Hey. Hey! Hey!

Hello, down there!

Drop down that ladder, Bishop.

Brother Bohannon, I've been contemplating your vision to leave us.

When was the last time you had to draw a g*n or raise a hand in v*olence?

Isn't there a peace in that?

I was hoping digging this hole into the earth would give you time to contemplate your soul, a daily reminder of...

Of our need to return to the light.

God has put me on earth to save your soul, brother Bohannon.

I believe you believe that.

Don't say no to this second chance.

Beautiful young wife and precious son, whose arrival may be heralded as we speak.

The ladder.

God has spoken to me that it is a boy, you know?

[Distant wailing woman]

Cullen!

Drop down that ladder.

Will you use this time to meditate on these words?

[Distant yelling] Cullen! Cullen!

Throw down that ladder!

[Sobbing] Cullen!

Ugh! Bishop!

Cullen!

Bishop!

[Screams]

Bishop asked me about your leaving.

Yeah? What'd you tell him?

Nothin', I thought you liked it here.

[Distant sobbing]

No, we wait.

[Sobbing]

To hell with that. [Grunts]

Cullen, please!

[Grunts]

You too?

I don't want that sumbitch anywhere near my wife.

[Groans, yells]

There seems to be a difficulty in the birthing.

[Grunts]

She's begging for the gentile.

Cullen!

Cullen!

Let me go.

Please?

[Wailing] Oh, Cullen, please!

[Sobbing]

I'm here, I'm here, I'm here.

[Sobbing]

It's okay.

You're gonna have to turn the baby.

We're doing that.

[Straining]

Do it faster.

[Grunts]

We're doing the best we can.

She's young, healthy.

[Sobs]

My first wife was young and healthy, and we lost twins.

[Sobs]

Do it.

Shh, shh, shh, shh. It's all right.

It's all right.

It's all right.

And you made me an enemy of Maggie Palmer and her cattlemen.

Shitkickers and cow-punchers.

She called me your flunky.

Ah, the grit in your oyster.

Mr. Mcginnes, you are the mayor of Cheyenne, and now, the second largest property owner in the entire Wyoming territory.

You wiped me out.

[Scoffs]

Merely transferring money from one ledger to another.

Thank you.

Ah. Flunky, no.

Partner, yes.

You are not your brother, Michael.

[Door opening and closing]

[Whimpering]

[Groans]

Pray for me. [Panting]

[Groans]

♪ Precious babe♪
♪
you remain foretold ♪

[Panting]

[Singing prayer]

Please? [Whimpers]

♪ Born of spirit ♪

Our Father, who art in heaven.

[Whimpers]

[Panting and whimpering]

[Singing prayer]

sh*t, forgot the rest of it.

[Whimpers]

[Screams]

♪ bless this mother ♪

[Speaking in tongues]

[Yelling gibberish]

Hallowed be thy name.

[Mrs. Hatch singing, Dutson speaking in tongues]

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done...

[Speaking in tongues]

On earth...

[Singing, speaking in tongues continues]

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

[Speaking in tongues]

[Screaming]

Careless bitch.

Look what you've done.

I'm not gonna be an improvement to you.

[Whimpering]

[Gagging]

[Grunting, whimpering]

[Train whistle blows]

As head of the family, you should be the first to hold him.

[Baby cooing]

Bless you, Bishop Dutson, for saving us with your prayers.

Lord God, bless this child, yours, mine, ours.

Forever and ever, amen.

Amen.

[Laughs]

And bless you, my children.

God's will be done.

Wire Omaha to ship rail and ties.

That's the new bank ledger.

This came for you.

Confidential, from General Grant.

You got company comin', new provisional governor of Wyoming.

"John Campbell and staff."

You're to show Campbell every courtesy and assistance.

Don't overstep, Delaney.

General grant sends his best to me and Mrs. Delaney.

[Chuckles]

First, my own company sends you to spy on me, and now, the government sends an overseer.

Everyone knows what you're capable of.

Steady, you son of a bitch!

I am capable of anything, as your wife so clearly intuits.

I never said k*lling her father was a bad idea.

[Baby cooing]

What was your father's name?

William. William Edgar.

William. Did you like him?

I like him better the older I get.

Yankees sh*t him.

Let's name him William.

I like it.

[Quietly] We're leaving here together, you, me, and baby William, but you can't tell nobody till right before we go, you understand?

You want me? Y-you want us?

Yes.

[Ahem]

You promised my husband a life for a life after you hung my son.

There's more to it than that.

Yes, there is.

Every time I see you, all I can think about is my Jeb swinging from that horrible noose at your hand.

I'm sorry, mother Hatch.

[Scoffs]

It’s not your… your sorrow, your pity I want.

I want you to leave this place.

The sight of you sickens me, as it does others.

Naomi will raise the child as her brother.

His name shall be Jebediah Hatch.

In time, you will be forgotten.

Naomi is young and healthy and will outlive her husbands, as is our custom...

Beginning with you.

Jesus.

[Murmurs, grunts]

[Whimpers]

Shh, shh.

[Whimpers]

What happened to you?

[Whimpers]

I've done all I can for you, Eva.

Twice I gave you train fare out of this place, and you still don't leave.

[Sobs]

Shh.

[Whimpers]

There's no place for me in this world, Mickey.

You bring it all on yourself.

You involved yourself with a... n*gro.

[Sobs]

I loved Elam.

You loved him so much that you gave away the baby that he adored.

[Hisses]

That ain't right.

You should never have left off the whoring.

You were good at that.

A natural.

All women are whores by nature...

I suppose except for me mum.

It's the one thing that all women have in common.

Whoring.

Just whores.

At the end of the day...

They're all whores.

Is everything where you thought it would be?

What?

I said, "is everything where you thought it would be?"

I...

I wouldn't...

Didn't mean to.

Maggie! Join me.

I actually liked you until today.

Oh, you still like me.

You just don't trust me. That's perfectly normal.

I had to do it, Maggie. I needed the money.

So here you sit with your money, alone.

I'm expecting the new governor of the territory.

His train is late.

One day, you will need someone that you can trust.

All you'll find is a room of... empty chairs.

I have bags just like those.

Oh, those are your bags, and here is your bill.

Bill?

Figured you'd bring the thr*at.

A plea.

Well, things can be two at once in your mouth.

You k*ll me outright, you'll be seen for what you are.

Hmm. I k*ll you outright, you'd be some kind of Saint, and I'd hang.

Once outside those gates, I cannot guarantee your safety.

Our safety. Taking my family with me.

Your family?

That's right.

Oh. Hmm.

[Gates thud closed]

You not allowing me to leave...

Is that as Bishop Dutson, or as The Swede, also known as Thor Gundersen?

The late Thor Gundersen was Norwegian.

Oh.

Well... Whoever you are... You better sh**t to k*ll.

I'm coming back to finish this once and for all.