Hell on Wheels

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.

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.

If you're not careful, miss bell,

you're going to start sounding like a man.

Right.

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.

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

56 men?

23.

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

That's got to be Fleming. The sentry?

You need to do something.

Bring me the long rifle.

There's too many! They got the high ground.

If you keep them occupied,

we can loop back and try and outflank 'em.

Damn it, I said bring me the long rifle right now!

Get back.

He shot Fleming!

Look at me.

Look at me. Look at me.

Look at me.

I see you.

Damn, woman.

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.

I want you to feel something.

Damn, girl.

Give a man a minute to raise his spirit.

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.

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.

What the hell?

You can bunk with me until you get yourself settled.

Go on. Set him up.

Carl, set them... set them up.

What in the hell's going on?

Why aren't y'all men at work?

Turn around and get back on...

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. - 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 shoot 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 kill 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.

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 coon shit

if you can't use it to help the folk that you care about.

Elam...

What are you saying?

You saying you care about me?

I love you.

I love you, woman.

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 kill 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.

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.

Life ain't fair.

Ain't fair at all.

Hell, most of us here in this room

fought in a war 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.

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 kill.

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

We're willing to protect the end of the rail