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Penance

BARKER:

Folks! Come one, Come all! There's room for everybody! Don't be shy! Come on out! See what you're made of! Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an experience of a lifetime! The McCormick Brothers Traveling Gun Competition, where you can test your skills against the fastest riders and the best ropers and the best sharpshooters this side of the Mississippi! Win yourself a brand-new Winchester rifle! Folks, come one, come all!

J.D.:

I don't see what all the fuss is about.

BUCK:

Oh, these fellas are as full of wind as a bull in corn time!

J.D.:

You are right about that.

EZRA:

Well, you know what they say. Those who can, do, and those who can't, watch.

J.D.:

What's that supposed to mean?

NATHAN:

That means he's trying to goad you into racing for that Winchester.

J.D.:

Ah...have a look, fellas.

MAN:

Whoo!

SECOND MAN:

Yee-hah!

J.D.:

Nice!

BUCK:

The rifle's not bad, either. I might let ya shoot it after I win.

J.D.:

Come on, now, Buck, you got this all turned around. I'm gonna be winnin' that rifle.

BUCK:

Fat chance, kid. ...a rifle like that.

EZRA:

If I were you, I'd hold off on purchasin' bullets just yet. Whoo!

BUCK:

A lot of frostin', no cake.

BARKER:

When was the last time you saw a rifle this purty? I'll tell you--too long! Too long.

J.D.:

Hey, Josiah. Ain't seen you around lately. What's wrong with him?

BUCK:

This wind's kickin' up. Got everybody's skin crawlin'.

NATHAN:

Maybe something happened to him in Vista City. That's where he said he was going to.

EZRA:

Vista City? If I recall correctly, the only cultural attractions in Vista City are dust and watered-down whiskey.

BUCK:

Well, there's only one thing for sure is there. Josiah's own personal hell.

[wind blowing]

JOSIAH:

And in those days shall men seek death and shall not find it and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.

MAN:

Lady, this is Sledge, one of the McCormick brothers. Don't you like him?

IRENE:

Get out of my way!

SLEDGE:

My, my. You are a feisty one, ain't ya? Yeah, that's just the way I like 'em. Ooh. We're gonna have a good time. You like a rough ride?

IRENE:

Let go of me!

JOSIAH:

Now, you owe Miss Irene an apology.

IRENE:

Stop it! Stop it!

SLEDGE:

Go to hell!

JOSIAH:

I'm already there.

SLEDGE:

You son of a--

MAN:

Come on! Come on, Sledge. Let's go.

JOSIAH

I'll take you home.

IRENE:

[sobs]

Aah!

[muffled screaming]

VIN:

Chris! Get a look at this.

BUCK:

Stand back now! We're in control.

CHRIS

Who is she?

NATHAN:

Miss Irene Dunlap. Seamstress. Lived here in town.

VIN:

J.D.'s riding out to her folks' place to tell 'em.

BUCK:

Mary, you might not want to see this.

MARY:

Buck, it's my job.

CHRIS:

Are those silver dollars?

EZRA:

They appear to be freshly minted, but the dates on them say they're six years old. Seems he saved them for just such an occasion.

MARY:

Can we, uh-- should we move her, get the poor girl off the street?

EZRA:

I'll see to it.

CYRUS POPLAR:

Don't touch or move anything! I want everybody clear of this scene. Who's in charge here?

CHRIS:

I suppose that'd be me.

POPLAR:

All right. This woman... She was unmarried. Lived alone. Probably ran her own business. Am I correct?

CHRIS:

What do you know about this?

POPLAR:

I've hunted the devil who did this for two solid years. I've traced his every move. Ah. Name's Cyrus Poplar.

MARY:

You're a Pinkerton detective?

POPLAR:

That I am, ma'am. That I am.

NATHAN:

Wait a second. Two years. So that means there's been other murders.

POPLAR

This makes Seven. And unless I catch him soon... There's going to be an eighth. Two girls per town. That's been his pattern.

EZRA:

Step aside!

POPLAR: Give us some room. Be careful with her. I'm gonna want to examine her later.

EZRA:

Easy now.

POPLAR:

I've just returned from Greely, where a young lady fell under his knife. I nearly had him there, too. But I have deduced that's he's working on a trail headed directly due south of the railroad.

VIN:

Any idea what this devil looks like?

POPLAR:

I've never seen him, far as I know.

VIN:

All these traveling cowboys in town, it could be anyone.

CHRIS:

Better set up a patrol tonight.

POPLAR:

I recommend you do that. Who was the last person to see her alive?

MARY:

I saw her. There was a cowboy making trouble for her last night. Josiah saw it, too. I think it was one of the McCormick brothers.

POPLAR:

I'll want to talk to you about that. And, uh, where is this, um, Josiah?

POPLAR:

Josiah?

JOSIAH:

What do you want?

POPLAR:

Well, I want to ask you some questions.

JOSIAH:

Too early for answers.

POPLAR:

A witness informed me that you stopped a cowboy from harassing a young lady last night.

JOSIAH:

Now, who would you be?

VIN:

Josiah, this is Cyrus Poplar. He's with the Pinkerton agency.

JOSIAH:

To what do we owe this honor, Mr. Pinkerton?

POPLAR:

This young lady in question was murdered last night. Where'd you get that wound on your head?

JOSIAH:

Murdered? Miss Irene?

POPLAR:

Can you account for your whereabouts last night?

VIN:

Now, hold on, there. What kind of question is that?

JOSIAH:

I was... I was with her. Tried to walk her home. I was there to save her, but... She's dead.

God forgive me.

POPLAR:

How long have you known this man?

VIN:

Long enough.

EZRA:

Do you mind? Vulture.

NATHAN:

He's just doing his job.

EZRA:

Yeah, well, he can show a little respect.

NATHAN:

Yeah. We got a strong hand, sharp blade...a single cut from right to left. Could be our man's a--

POPLAR:

Left-handed. I see you're a student of pathology.

NATHAN:

I learn as I go.

POPLAR:

Can we turn her over, please? There may be some bruises from where he grabbed her.

NATHAN:

Yeah. Could tell us the size of his hands.

[gasp]

NATHAN:

Rain.

RAIN:

Nathan. They said you were here. I'm...sorry. I did not realize.

EZRA:

Isn't that your charming paramour from the Seminole village? She's a long way from home.

NATHAN:

Rain! Good lord, girl. You drop out of the sky like that... You startle a man.

RAIN:

This isn't the surprise I had in mind.

NATHAN:

You all right?

RAIN:

I... Had heard what happened to that woman. But seeing her...

NATHAN:

Yeah. I'm sorry you had to see that. I forgot how... How beautiful you are.

RAIN:

It has been a long time.

NATHAN:

Yeah. You know, Rain, I've been meaning to come up and see you sometime--

BARKER:

Good people, come out! Don't let this tragedy force you into your homes. Show the world this is your town! Sign up for the big race tomorrow and win a brand-new rifle to help protect your loved ones. Come one, come all...

RAIN:

Is it always this way here?

NATHAN:

Not quite this crazy. But there's always something goin' on.

RAIN:

And this is how you like to live?

NATHAN:

I hadn't really thought about it, I guess.

RAIN:

Maybe you should. Nathan, I've come to find out about you. My village has found a man for me to marry.

NATHAN:

Oh.

BARKER:

Race against Pace McCormick, fastest man on earth. He'll take on anybody with a heart and a horse. If you've got one and not the other, don't waste your hard-earned money. We want competition, not charity. Ha! Come on, boys, sign up. Let's go. Let's get on to this food. One and all. Pace McCormick...

BUCK:

How'd her parents take it?

J.D.:

Buck, I've never had to tell somebody something so terrible in my life. I think I'd rather shoot myself than have to do that again. Well, I guess a little thing like murder's not going to stop people from having fun, huh?

BUCK:

Folks need something to take it off their mind. Come on, I'll buy you a beer.

J.D.:

Appreciate it.

BUCK:

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey! That's good.

PACE MCCORMICK:

Looks like you don't think you got what it takes, cowboy.

BUCK:

[clears throat]

May I? Well, thank you. Hyah!

J.D.:

Ha ha ha ha!

PACE MCCORMICK

That's a cute trick. Man enough to play with ropes... But not to race a horse, huh?

BUCK:

Well, you know, I wasn't gonna race out of respect for the dead. But I'll tell you what. I think you need to learn a little lesson. Uh-huh. Call it, J.D. I'm signin' up. Yaah! There you go!

J.D.:

How much for the sign-up?

BARKER:

One dollar. Join up.

J.D.:

One dollar, huh?

BUCK:

See you in the saloon.

J.D.:

All right.

BARKER:

That one gonna be a problem?

J.D.:

Oh, he's all show. I'm your problem.

VIN:

Josiah, climbin' back into the bottle ain't gonna make this go away. Now, I'm tryin' to help you here.

JOSIAH:

You can stop anytime now.

POPLAR:

Mr. Sanchez! I have some more questions to ask you now that your mind is clear.

JOSIAH:

Won't be for long.

VIN:

The man wants to be left alone.

POPLAR:

Must be a reason he refuses to talk.

VIN:

I reckon your time would be better spent askin' around about these travelin' cowboys.

POPLAR:

Perhaps you'll allow me the courtesy of conducting my own investigation.

VIN:

All you need to know about Josiah is that he watched my back in more than one gunfight, and that's good enough for me.

POPLAR:

I promised those girls I wouldn't let their deaths go unanswered, and I will keep that promise... Friend of yours or not.

NATHAN:

Hey. Wind's kickin' in off the desert. Makes people a little crazy.

RAIN:

It does not make them crazy. It just gives them an excuse. I did not come to talk about the weather, Nathan.

NATHAN:

Rain, I, uh... I can't tell you not to marry him.

RAIN:

I am not asking you to. All I want is to know more about you.

NATHAN:

Talkin' about myself don't come too easy for me.

RAIN:

Well, that I did not know.

NATHAN:

Hmm.

RAIN:

You see? It is not so hard.

NATHAN:

Rain, you're probably tired after such a long ride, huh? Why don't you get some rest, and, uh, I'll grab a haystack at the livery after my shift on patrol tonight.

RAIN:

Will you be long?

NATHAN:

No. Would you feel better if I took up a bedroll on the floor when I got back? Yeah? All right. Don't you worry. I ain't gonna let nothin' happen to you.

CHRIS:

Hey, Vin.

VIN:

Chris. The cowboy who harassed Miss Irene was Sledge McCormick. Maybe we ought to ride out to their camp tomorrow.

CHRIS:

All right. You manage to wean Josiah off that bottle?

VIN:

No.

CHRIS:

He's got a bad habit of losin' his memory in it.

VIN:

What you tryin' to say?

CHRIS:

It's tough to be impartial when the party in question is one of us.

VIN:

That why you're giving the Pinkerton free reign over this thing?

CHRIS:

If he can help us find the bastard, I don't see how it could hurt.

VIN:

Could hurt Josiah. Unless you think Josiah is who we're lookin' for.

CHRIS:

You so sure it isn't? How well do we know Josiah? How well do you really know anyone?

[banging]

MARY:

Aah!

[muffled cries]

MARY:

Aah! Aah! Aah!

CHRIS:

Mary!

MARY:

Aah! Aah!

CHRIS:

What happened?

MARY:

[out of breath]

Somebody grabbed me in the alley!

VIN:

Are you hurt?

MARY:

No... Just scared.

POPLAR:

Did you get a good look at him?

BUCK:

Mary, I'll take you home.

MARY:

But Billy-- I was on my way to Mrs. Potter's to pick him up.

J.D.:

Don't worry about Billy, Miss Travis. I'll pick him up. Don't you worry.

VIN:

Anything?

CHRIS:

Whoever it was, they're gone.

POPLAR:

What's that? Over there. Do you recognize it?

CHRIS:

It's Josiah's.

POPLAR:

And you've no idea how it got there.

JOSIAH:

I told you before, I never even knew it had gone missing.

MARY:

Mr. Poplar, I know Josiah. He would never attack me.

POPLAR:

Then why won't he talk?

VIN:

Josiah... This man's raising some serious charges about you. If you got any sense left in you, give him what you know and be done with it.

JOSIAH:

Evil is wrought by want of mind as well as want of heart.

POPLAR:

Those silver dollars won't buy you penance, mister.

JOSIAH:

[sighs]

POPLAR:

Now, you just got back from Vista City, didn't you? Yeah, I heard about that. But, you see, Greely is directly en route. And I found two dead girls in Greely. Tell me what I'm gonna find in Vista City, Josiah. Tell me!

VIN:

That's enough!

JOSIAH:

You want a villain?

VIN:

Easy, now.

JOSIAH:

Do it again! I'll be your sacrificial lamb!

CHRIS:

Josiah...

JOSIAH:

But my sins are between me and my God.

CHRIS:

No!

POPLAR:

That man belongs in jail. Now, I have the authority to incarcerate a suspect no matter who's friend he is.

CHRIS:

Not while I'm the law in town.

[footsteps]

[thump]

NATHAN:

Hey. It's just me.

RAIN:

I was dreaming. I kept seeing her face.

NATHAN:

You're safe now.

RAIN:

Nathan... I don't think I can stay here too long.

NATHAN:

Well, I'm-- I'm sorry to hear that.

RAIN:

Are you?

NATHAN:

Ever since I left your village... Not a day goes by I don't think about you.

RAIN:

Then do something.

BUCK:

Hyah! Let's go! Let's go!

BARKER: You got 'em now! Come on! And the winner is the legendary Pace McCormick! Whoo! I hope all you people who bet against Pace McCormick learned your lesson. Never bet against the best.

BUCK:

You bet against me?

EZRA:

And a wise decision it was. That was perhaps the saddest race I've ever seen.

BUCK:

Damn horse fell asleep on me. What's wrong with you? Huh?

PACE MCCORMICK:

You can blame it on the horse, blame it on the wind if you have to. But we all know it ain't the fiddle, it's the man holdin' the bow. Ha ha ha ha!

BUCK:

Funny guy.

EZRA:

He's quite right, but I fear your fiddle was out of tune. You'd have run poorly, too, if you'd been fed laudanum.

BUCK:

Laudanum?

EZRA:

Yeah. It's an old hustler's trick utilized around the hippodromes back east. I've employed it to great effect myself. You can tell by the eyes.

BUCK:

Oh, damn, you're right. He's roostered.

EZRA:

Yeah, poor thing.

BUCK:

Now wait a minute. You knew that, and you let me make a fool of myself so you could make some money?

EZRA:

Well, your ignominy was an unfortunate byproduct of a most gainful venture. I am, however, prepared to share the wealth in this case.

BUCK:

All of it. All of it.

EZRA:

It's not your greed that offends me. It's your ingratitude.

BUCK:

Thank you, Ezra. Now I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch.

EZRA:

Well, I agree that retribution is in order, but perhaps a more effective method would be a taste of his own medicine. Literally.

[caw caw]

NATHAN:

The man is sick. He's in no mind to answer any of your questions.

POPLAR:

Look, I just want to look around. If he's innocent, he's got nothing to hide.

JOSIAH:

Come on in. I never shut my doors on those in need... Here. Let me help you.

NATHAN:

Come on, compadre, give it a rest, huh? Josiah!

JOSIAH:

Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all!

POPLAR:

You satisfied?

[cell door clangs shut]

JOSIAH:

Thank you, lord, for atonement is finally at hand.

NATHAN:

He wouldn't talk to you either, huh?

CHRIS:

He's acting like a guilty man! He's gonna get himself hung!

NATHAN:

We'll clear all this up when we find that McCormick cowboy.

VIN:

I'll see y'all later.

NATHAN:

Where's he goin'?

CHRIS:

Vista City to find out what he can on Josiah.

J.D.:

Hey, you goin' out to that McCormick camp?

CHRIS:

Yeah!

J.D.:

That sounds like fun.

[horse neighs]

CHRIS:

Lookin' for Sledge McCormick.

PACE MCCORMICK:

You're fishin' up the wrong stream, my friend. My brother ain't no saint, but he ain't no killer neither.

CHRIS:

Well, I'd like to hear him say that.

PACE MCCORMICK:

I just said it for him.

CHRIS:

Don't suppose you'd mind if I looked around?

J.D.:

Chris, there he is! That's him!

CHRIS:

I got him!

NATHAN:

J.D.!

J.D.:

Back up.

CHRIS:

Cover 'em, J.D.

J.D.:

I got 'em. Go ahead and reach for it. I'll shoot it off. Ain't much work for a one-armed roper.

CHRIS:

Come here! Get down! Where you goin', huh?

SLEDGE MCCORMICK

I didn't do nothin' to that lady, now, I swear it.

NATHAN:

Where'd you get that bum leg?

SLEDGE MCCORMICK:

I busted it when I fell off a bronc last month.

NATHAN:

Let me check it. Hold still. I want to check it.

CHRIS:

You hold still!

SLEDGE MCCORMICK

Aah!

NATHAN:

We're lookin' for a man fast enough to chase down a scared girl and get away after Mary got grabbed.

CHRIS:

If you didn't hurt that girl, how come you ran? You tell me!

SLEDGE MCCORMICK:

'Cause I suspected that it was gonna end up on my head, so I ran. I ain't gonna lie to you guys. I done some bad things. But I don't kill no ladies.

CHRIS:

I got more questions for you. Now get up! Go on!

SLEDGE MCCORMICK:

Ow!

CHRIS:

Where was your last performance? Was it in Greely? Huh? Where they found those dead girls?

[convent bell ringing]

[burro braying]

[horse snorts]

[chickens clucking]

VIN:

Afternoon, sister. I was wondering if you could help me out. They say the man I'm lookin' for comes up here from time to time.

SISTER:

A man here?

VIN:

His name's Josiah Sanchez. Big feller, hair goin' a touch gray.

SISTER:

No. No man comes here. I'm sorry.

VIN:

Sister, please. Josiah's my friend, and he's in a heap o' trouble. Now, I need to know if he's been here.

MEXICAN BOY:

Psst.

VIN:

¿habla ingles? ¿has visto venir unos gringos por aqui?

MEXICAN BOY:

Si

VIN:

Si. ¿y que vino hacer?

CHRIS:

He didn't do it. He's just a dumb cowboy.

NATHAN:

Yeah. Looks like we're back to square one.

CHRIS:

Yeah. Doesn't look good for Josiah.

NATHAN:

You know, if you ask me, Josiah bein' locked away ain't gonna keep those ladies safe. I know Rain, she's pretty shook up.

CHRIS:

She's got a right to be.

NATHAN:

You know, she's thinkin' about gettin' married back in her village.

CHRIS:

Must not be thinkin' too hard... Since she's here.

NATHAN:

[chuckles] I suppose. I mean, I wouldn't try to stop her. It's just... I'm not ready for that.

CHRIS:

You got feelings for her. That's clear.

NATHAN:

Oh, yeah. I got feelings for her. It's just they all mixed up.

CHRIS:

Mixed up how?

NATHAN:

I don't know. I mean, everybody I ever got close to... Sooner or later they was dead or... Sold off or something.

CHRIS:

'Cause you lost 'em, are you sorry you ever had 'em?

[woman praying in Spanish inside]

VIN:

Excuse me.

[woman continues praying in Spanish]

VIN:

Excuse me. Oh, I'm sorry to trouble you, ma'am. Can I talk to you for a minute? I--I was wondering if you happen to know a friend of mine. Name's Josiah Sanchez.

HANNAH:

[whimpering]

VIN:

Do you know him? Ma'am, please. Just tell me what you have to do with Josiah.

SISTER:

What are you doing in here? Get out now. It's all right, Hannah. It's all right.

VIN:

Sister, just tell me who she is.

SISTER:

Just go! There's nothing for you here. It's all right, Hannah. Get out!

[Hannah crying]

SISTER:

It's all right, dear. It's all right, Hannah. Hannah, it's all right. Come here. It's all right.

HANNAH:

Ohh...

JOSIAH:

You had no right to go see her, Vin.

VIN:

I got every right, 'cause I'm tryin' to save your damn hide. Now, who is she?

JOSIAH:

A soul in torment. That's all you gotta know.

VIN:

Then I'm gonna ride out there and get it out of her myself.

JOSIAH:

You stay away from her!

VIN:

Then talk to me, you stubborn fool! I'll give her your regards.

JOSIAH:

She's my sister. She wasn't always like you saw her. Time was when she was real full of life. Course, bein' a missionary's daughter ain't easy. My father... My father. He said she was, uh, on the road to destruction. He tried to rein her in. But the harder he pulled, the wilder she got. Like she had a demon inside of her. Started doin' crazy things. Goin' off with men, drinkin'. He tried lockin' her up.... Sendin' her away... Beatin' her. I should've stayed. I could've saved her. But I couldn't see past savin' myself. Every time I went home, she was worse off... Till she finally got to be how she is now. Every penny I got goes to keepin' her. And when I see her, it tears me up so bad... It takes me a week before I stop wantin' to die. And now the Lord is servin' up my penance, and I'm lookin' forward to it, Vin. I really am. I need to find peace.

POPLAR:

So you will, Josiah. So you will. Overly religious father, sexually promiscuous sister. Even the coins make sense when you think about the resentment he felt for paying for her care.

VIN:

You're twistin' around everything he said, and it's gonna end now.

POPLAR:

I have hunted him for too long to let him walk away now.

VIN:

You listen to me. You got the wrong man, Poplar.

POPLAR:

The judge will decide that. Now, you seem in an awful hurry to beat your friend to the grave.

JOSIAH:

Give 'em over, Vin. You ain't gonna do me any good dead.

VIN:

I'll be back with the guilty man.

EZRA:

Ah. Agreeable breakfast, Mr. McCormick?

BUCK:

Damn fine preserves, huh?

PACE MCCORMICK:

Excuse me, boys. I'm off to--[retches] Humiliate your friend here.

BUCK:

You know, folks around here don't appreciate a horse poisoning.

EZRA:

I suggest you find a quiet alley somewhere. Ipecac takes effect quite suddenly from what I hear.

PACE MCCORMICK

[retching]

BUCK:

Ha ha ha ha!

J.D.:

Ezra, Buck, what did you just do?

BUCK:

Nothing.

J.D.:

Come on, now. I can win this race on my own.

BUCK:

Well, sure you can, son.

EZRA:

But it's a matter of principle now.

J.D.:

Principle?! Since when do you two have principles?

WOMAN FROM MCCORMICK BROTHERS SHOW

Ahem. I do believe I'm in need of an escort.

BUCK:

Ezra, would you care to...

EZRA:

Oh, no, no, no. You're the ladies' man, Buck. Please, be my guest.

BUCK:

All right.

WOMAN:

Well?

BUCK:

Here you go.

WOMAN:

How charming.

EZRA:

Have fun.

J.D.:

Buck always gets the girl.

BUCK:

Well...ahem... It's been a pleasure, ma'am.

[wind blows wig off]

WOMAN:

Ohh!

BUCK:

Whoa!

J.D.:

Don't look at that.

BUCK:

I knew there was somethin' different about you! You're a funny cowboy.

Ha ha ha ha ha!

"WOMAN":

Wait!

MAN IN CROWD:

She's a he!

"WOMAN":

Ohh!

POPLAR:

Why? I have to know. What motivates a man to do such terrible things?

JOSIAH:

I got no need to confess to you, Poplar.

POPLAR:

Oh, you're angry. That's clear. But why? Do you see someone in those girls? Do you see your sister?

JOSIAH

I don't know whose story you're telling, but it ain't mine.

POPLAR:

You can't lie to me. I see it in your eyes. Yeah. The rage.

[jangling]

JOSIAH:

Why am I mad, Poplar? What is it those girls did to me? Or are they paying for somebody else's sins? It's a woman, isn't it? She hurt me. She-

POPLAR:

She left you.

JOSIAH:

That's right. She left me. But why?

POPLAR:

For all those other men! You can... Hear the noises she made with them at night.

JOSIAH:

Yeah, she left me for those other men.

POPLAR:

And every evening before she'd go away, she'd... Put me on her lap and tell me I was her one true love.

JOSIAH:

But she loved someone else, didn't she?

POPLAR:

She loved...

[coins jangling]

POPLAR:

She loved these. The miners would lay them on her bedside table. Two apiece. Two shiny...Silver dollars. Aah! Uhh! Uhh!

JOSIAH:

Poplar. Poplar! Poplar!

RAIN:

Aah! Aah! [muffled cries] Help! Ohh! Aah! Aah! Aah! Aah! Uhh! Nathan! No! Don't leave me! [crying]

JOSIAH:

Come on! Help me out here!

BARKER:

All right, ladies and gentlemen, finally, the race you been waitin' for, between the incomparable Pace McCormick and your very own J.D. Dunne! Are you ready? Place your bets. Place your bets.

POPLAR:

You're Miss Travis.

MARY:

Oh. Uh--

POPLAR:

Would you care to come with me?

MARY:

Oh, um, well--

PACE MCCORMICK:

I've won races in worse shape than this. And I'm even faster when I'm mad.

EZRA:

Come on, J.D.

JOSIAH:

It's Poplar!

BARKER:

On your mark...

VIN:

There he is!

BARKER:

Get ready...

CHRIS:

Mary! Get away from him!

J.D.:

Hang on, Miss Travis!

JOSIAH:

I got him!

CHRIS:

I'll go around back!

POPLAR:

Stay back!

[guns cock]

JOSIAH:

Now, you can't undo what's already done. But you can put an end to it now. They torment you. They haunt you, those women. You see them when you close your eyes. There's no rest. Pay your penance, Poplar. Pay it... And be free. Hand me the knife.

POPLAR:

Ohh! Oh... God.

JOSIAH:

Of all the tyrannies of humankind, the worst is that which persecutes the mind.

VIN:

Josiah... What you told me about your sister and all... I just want you to know that... That's between you and me.

JOSIAH:

Appreciate that, Vin. But you know, saying it out loud... kind of made it a little easier to bear.

VIN:

Mm. Well... now you're free and clear.

JOSIAH:

Oh... I'll never be free and clear.

NATHAN:

You know, Rain, I--I got no right to ask you this question--

RAIN:

I am not going to marry him, Nathan. I came to see about you. And while I did not find out all I wanted to, I did learn one important thing.

NATHAN:

What was that?

RAIN:

You are crazy about me.

NATHAN:

That I am, Miss Rain. That I am.

RAIN:

[clicks tongue]

NATHAN:

You know, Rain, if... I was thinkin', uh... If I was to ride a ways with you... Maybe I could tell you a little bit more about me, and you can tell me a little bit more about you.

RAIN:

Could be a long talk.

NATHAN:

Well, we got a long ride. Did I ever tell you I was born on a slave plantation in 1839 outside of Atlanta? I never told you that?

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