1883

Captain.

I know.

I know.

My father won't speak of the war.

When men ask if he fought, he says no.

I've seen fellow soldiers call out his name on the street.

He turns and walks the other way.

He spent three years in a Union prison.

When he came home, my mother said...

he weighed ninety-seven pounds.

Gonna need a cook.

Or two.

Why do we need a cook?

Because your passengers are feasting like it's Christmas...

and somebody needs to ration their food...

because when they run out, they're coming after my food.

Or your food...

We're gonna bring a herd of beef with us.

Food ain't gonna be a problem.

Yeah, it will.

Add a cook to the list.

You feel like moving some cows?

Somebody's gotta watch after these folks.

If these folks can't survive six hours sitting by a river...

I'd rather know it now.

What are you looking at?

Nuthin'.

How come I ain't got no hair?

"Ain't got no"?

Been in Texas six days, you already forgot how to speak.

How come?

You will.

When you're older.

But how come not now?

I don't know "how come not now".

Maybe 'cause it makes you easier to tickle.

Elsa.

Where's your mother?

Don't know.

We're going to go round up some cattle.

Be back in the afternoon.

I want you to stay in camp...

I want you to keep an eye on your brother...

and don't wander off.

All right.

Cool air rises from the ground and sends a shiver through me.

Then the sun finds my face, and I am warm.

The world here plays parlor tricks on your senses...

I do not know what the word "Texas" means.

But to me it means magic.

Look, these here cattle...

they're going to Kansas...

unless you can pay Kansas prices.

What are Kansas prices?

Hell, you can get forty dollars a head...

for these sons of bitches up there.

Those New Yorkers sure do love their steaks.

We can't pay that.

Well, I don't blame you. I wouldn't either.

I tell you what, I'll put a bee in your bonnet.

There's still wild cattle down there on the Brazos...

if you got the stones to go get 'em.

We got the stones, we just don't have the men.

We could saddle up some of them wagon horses...

stick them Germans on them.

Surely they can hold a line.

Don't bet on it.

Let's put them in the sell barn, lot four.

Ain't changed our mind yet, Captain.

We're going to round some up. Can I hire you for that?

Where you holding 'em?

- Ain't found them to hold them. - Hm.

You hunting wild cattle?

I'll give you a dollar apiece for every one you gather.

How many you trying to get together?

Hundred or so.

You need ten hands.

And I mean good hands.

How 'bout three good hands and twenty who ain't worth a shit.

If they ain't worth a shit...

we ain't gonna get nuthin' and we ain't gonna get paid.

I'll pay you ten dollars apiece...

whether we wrangle any or not.

You're wasting your money.

Aw, come on, Wade.

You're handy enough for all of us.

Yeah, there's still some wild cattle around Fort Griffith.

That's a pretty good ride though.

We're ready when you are.

- Yee-haw. - Yee-haw.

Come on, boys, y'all got cattle to sort, let's go.

We'll be back for them cattle, don't you worry.

Hya!

It seems even trees are new to this place.

They scatter about in clusters, like little villages...

And everywhere, treasures.

Everywhere there is a bounty...

just waiting to be scooped up...

When I looked out over this land...

I only saw the freedom it promised.

I knew nothing of the horror that hides in freedom's shadow.

Let me see 'em.

Put them in the pot.

Fools.

- I'm going to go warn him. - Don't bother.

Better they die up here...

than do something on the trail that gets us killed.

Only cure for stupid is reaching the gates of heaven.

Funny, I don't recall the word "stupid" anywhere in the Bible.

Look what the cat drug to camp.

Across the river... People...

Nausea has a number of them to their knees.

You were across the river?

Your dress is dry, so you didn't swim.

Either you learned how to fly...

or you rode the back of one of those Germans.

I don't know which image is more upsetting.

There's a sand bar.

And a log.

Mystery solved then.

They don't even boil it.

Just drink it like it's from a faucet.

Cholera will run the lot of them.

What's my mother doing?

She's wasting her time.

I'm done with berries.

Your turn.

Mind the thorns.

Don't see any saddle horses.

I've got a few.

Got a few saddles, too?

These sons of bitches are plow drivers.

We warned you.

Hell, we're better off without 'em.

Can any of 'em ride?

I got one can ride.

It's the water.

You have to boil it before you drink it.

Don't drink it.

Go saddle Lightning.

She's sick. From the water.

They all are.

Go saddle Lightning.

You making them tea?

These poor people don't know to boil water.

I'll be gone 'till tomorrow late.

Be careful.

Shotgun's under the buckboard if there's trouble.

I have Claire if there's trouble.

Claire usually makes things worse.

I'm taking Elsa...

You're what?

This bunch is short on riders and we need her.

I'd object, but it sounds like you're not asking my permission.

No, ma'am, I am not.

How am I supposed to make her a lady...

when you keep treating her like a man?

Plenty of ladies in this world.

Pretty short on decent men, though.

How am I supposed to respond to that?

Sun'll be fierce.

It'll blow off.

Here, tie it down.

What's that for?

Not sure.

But I'd sure hate you don't have it when we find out.

Stay close to me.

They're back early.

Yep.

Who are they?

A stroke of luck there, Captain.

Goddamn, Wade.

If there's a better way to get shot I don't know it...

chargin' in here like a bunch of fucking bandits.

We've seen you shoot, Grady. I think the bandits are safe.

Y'all hunting strays?

Wild ones. Seen any?

Yeah, some.

Them wild bulls pester them English cows pretty good.

Must be the way they smell.

All smell the same to me, but I ain't a bull.

Your crew's pretty light to gather wild cattle.

Could use the help. We'll pay.

No need. We need to clear some out.

Y'all best come on up to camp.

Come on.

Good to see you, Wade.

Almost fucking shot you.

Whoo, yeah, I got you one.

What you got here?

I bet you double.

Woo.

I'm surprised you got anything to bet at all after Abilene.

That town is hard on a cowboy's wallet.

We stay away from that son of a bitch.

It'll suck on you like a tick.

You better bat your eyes...

Even if we get a herd to the wagons, we can't hold it.

We can't leave till we've hired some guns and some hands.

These Germans gotta learn to hold their own, Thomas.