Hell on Wheels

Previously on AMC's "Hell On Wheels".

Tell me about Meridian.

How do you know about Meridian?

Are you a gunslinger then?

I was just heading out west, looking for work on the railroad.

The thing's government pays me per mile.

You putting up a church here?

You have to say the word.

Nothing about... Maps being found?

No, sir.

You ever been to Meridian, Mississippi?

I am not proud of what happened to your wife.

Mr. Durant.

What the hell is he doing here?

Are you the Chicago Tribune reporter?

Yes.

Did you photograph this body?

Yes, sir, Mr. Durant. But just the one body.

What is wrong with you, man?

I'm sorry. I thought...

Well, just the one won't do.

Get those bodies back off the wagons.

Come on, snap to, boys.

I want this scene photographed

exactly as you found it.

I want an unblinking look

at the horror perpetrated here.

More arrows.

We need more arrows.

He can't feel anything.

He's dead, for God's sake.

The maps.

Did you find them?

No, sir. Nothing anywhere.

Keep looking.

Mr. Durant, over here.

Robert.

Pack up everything.

Bring it all back to hell on wheels.

Hell On Wheels S01E02 "Immoral Mathematics"

Yah! Yah!

Yah! Yah!

They found Johnson's body.

Everybody back at the camp talkin' about it.

Get the hell back to that cut.

Cullen Bohannon?

Did you hear about Daniel Johnson's murder?

Who wants to know?

Why you so spooked, son?

I guess I still ain't quite cottoned

to the sight of union blue riding up on me.

Well, you ought to be happy to see us.

Yeah, why is that?

The boss wants to talk to you about taking Johnson's job.

I thank thee, lord,

for is bounty you have placed before me.

Sit down.

Sit down.

Horse thief.

Thor Gunderson.

Head of security for Mr. Thomas Durant.

They call me the Swede.

I'm Norwegian.

No matter. We are all Americans now.

Even you rebels, yes?

Hmm.

Daniel Johnson told me that the two

of you was cut from the same cloth.

Yeah, I don't think so.

Why is that?

Did you not like him?

He's my boss.

That's about all there was to it.

And drinking companion, yes?

We tore it up some.

I understand the two of you was tearing it up

some on the night he was murdered.

In fact, you were seen leaving the saloon with him.

Hmm?

Yeah.

I'm not here to talk about Johnson's job, am I?

Is that what they told you?

You a law man, Mr. Swede?

Hmm?

Because I don't see no badge.

Hmm, no.

There's no official law out here yet.

Then what auority you got to be interrogating me?

Mr. Durant has appointed me to bring some order to the chaos out here.

When was the last time you took a look outside, Mr. Swede?

Looks to me like chaos is winning.

Ah, when whorlets and dipsomaniacs are killed,

I lose not a minute's sleep,

but Daniel Johnson... Was a valuable asset to Mr. Durant.

Daniel Johnson was hated by just about every man who worked for him.

Ah. Any with a reason to kill him?

Perhaps one of the negroes?

I heard he had some trouble with them. Hmm?

Yeah, I don't know nothin' about that.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Well, that leaves only you then.

You know what?

I'm done here.

This ain't no court.

This here's beauty.

She's an old piece, but she still shoots true.

I'm gonna give you a chance to confess to this crime.

Where is she?

Hello, little brother.

What are you doing way out here?

Where's the woman?

I don't have her... Yet.

You kill white men, it's one thing,

but you take one of their women,

you'll have every damn one of them hunting you down.

Good.

I'll count coup and get more scalps.

I hope it was worth it.

What about all the scalps you took?

You act so pure now,

but I remember there was a time when you loved the taste of blood.

Jesus has forgiven me for that.

Jesus may have forgiven you,

but do you think your white friends would?

You better find her before I do.

Hey.

Hey!

You'd be surprised how fast you get used to the feel of them things.

What the hell are you doing here?

Want to know if you fixin' to be testifying on me.

I don't know, ain't decided yet.

I know 'bout that sergeant.

Heard Johnson say some other things, too.

Things 'bout men gettin' killed in churches and such.

Yeah, what's your point?

Point is, if I be hangin' for Johnson,

then you gonna drop down right beside me for them folks you done killed.

Tell you what.

You tell your story and then I'll tell mine.

We'll see who they believe.

Yeah.

Who will believe some nigger slave over a white man?

Relax, son.

Ain't nobody hangin' nobody.

I ain't your damn son.

Well, I'll be out of here by tomorrow.

I imagine that's what that horse thief done said.

- Thanks. - Thank you.

- Thanks so much. - See you again.

- Good luck. - Cheers.

Good luck.

Did you enjoy the show, sir?

Very moving images of home, boys.

But you don't sound Irish.

I ain't, but my heart was moved nonetheless.

We're all yearning for our homeland out here in this strange place.

Excuse me, sir, have we met?

We have not.

Folks around here call me the Swede.

You got yourself a prime location here, boys.

Yes, siree, right between the whores and liquor.

Picked it out meself.

What is it you want, Mr. Swede?

I like that, right to the point.

And the point is,

a nice location like this got a nice price attached to it.

I should have realized

there was a reason this spot wasn't taken.

I shoulda seen this comin'.

I take it then, you're the smart one.

Aye. Aye.

So, how much do you want, Mr. Swede?

Oh, once again, right to the point.

Uh, $2.00 a week.

The first payment due this Friday.

But that's half our flippin' take.

For this $2.00, you shall have my protection

against all the villains that surround you in this wicked place.

And what if we don't pay?

You can always move down to the slaughterhouse.

And what if we refuse to move?

And I thought you was the smart one.

You know I used to be a bookkeeper.

You look like a bookkeeper.

Hmm. I was always more comfortable around numbers than people.

I could control numbers.

The war put a stop to that, didn't it?

You're suffering from the soldier's heart, Mr. Swede.

I can see it in your eyes.

You're still fighting them battles.

I saw no battles.

I was a quartermaster.

More numbers.

Hmm. I never even saw the enemy

until our supply train was captured and...

I become prisoner of war.

Andersonville?

That's right.

Way down in the great state of Georgia.