Trail of Vengeance (2025) Movie Script
1
Come on.
Come on.
You're not done yet.
We're not done yet!
That's enough.
Daniel, there's no need
for all this brutality.
Just tell me the code names
and the whereabouts
of the remaining Woods
and this will all be over.
I told you everything I know.
As you know,
I'm running for the Senate
and once I'm in office,
well, you will be
rewarded handsomely.
I'm sure you can appreciate
my dilemma.
I can't have this
information out there.
So please, Daniel,
let us put an end to all this
and just tell me
what I need to know.
You're nothing but
a murdering bastard.
I need you to find
the rest of those Woods.
We know where they are, sir.
Well, then what the
hell are you doing here?
Want cornbread?
Oh, yeah. You make
the best cornbread.
That I do.
I gotta run down to town,
trading post.
Shovel handle broke.
Gotta get a new one.
That was my daddy's shovel.
Sorry about that.
You want me to
get you something?
Well, now that the cabin's
almost finished,
I'd like to plant
a vegetable garden.
- Okay.
- Do you mind
picking up some seeds?
Not at all. Be happy to.
I gotta tell you something.
Okay. Tell me what?
There's gonna be a new
addition to the family.
What do you mean?
We're gonna have a baby.
I'm gonna be a daddy?
Yeah.
- You serious?
- Yes.
We're gonna have a baby.
I'm gonna be a dad.
-Yeah.
-Well, why didn't you--
- Is this too tight?
- No, no. It's all right.
I'm gonna be a--
I'm gonna be a daddy?
Yes.
Howdy, Hoko.
Oh, Caleb.
Little early in the month for
you coming into town, isn't it?
Ah, well, my damn shovel broke.
Okay.
Need a new one and a little
something for the missus.
Oh? What's the special occasion?
Well, Katherine's having a baby.
Well, congratulations.
Thank you.
You know, I, uh,
I think I got just the thing.
-Here you are.
-Okay.
Nothing like
a nice piece of hickory.
That'll do.
Somebody ordered that
and didn't bother
to come pick it up.
Looks fancy.
It's imported
all the way from Paris.
I think it's perfect.
Uh, how much do I owe you
for the shovel?
$3.50 for the shovel.
All right, well how
much do I owe you for--
for the music box?
Ah, it's on the house.
No, you can't be giving
something away like this.
Get the heck outta here
before I change my mind.
And you can square up
for the shovel
at the end of the month.
Thank you, Hoko.
Oh, uh, you got some seeds?
Katherine wanted me to get her
some vegetable seeds
for a garden
Seeds. Oh, I just
got in a fresh batch.
They're in the back.
I'll get them,
I'll bring them out to you.
I hope your friends
caught up with you.
What friends?
Oh, there's three guys
were in here
and said you used
to ride with them.
Did one of them have a scar?
Yeah.
You forgot your seeds.
Might be a good
idea to drop your gun.
Good boy. Kick it
towards the window.
And I want you to
walk over real slow,
sit down next to the missus
and put both your
hands on the table.
You okay?
Ah-ah-ah! Hands.
We don't have much,
but we'll give you
anything you want.
What are you
doing here, Frank?
You know these men, Caleb?
Katherine, please.
Caleb?
No, no.
More like code name
William Kirkwood.
Why don't you tell
her who we are, Caleb?
My name's Frank.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
That's Zeke and
this here's Harry.
Oh, nice place you have here.
And you, I feel like
we've met before.
I don't associate with trash.
That's ironic,
ain't it, Caleb?
Tell her.
Caleb?
These boys and I used to work
together a few years back.
In the war?
Yeah, we worked
for the Pinkertons.
The Pinkertons.
You didn't tell me that.
Seems old Caleb here hasn't
told you lots of things.
Uh-oh.
All right, let's get down
to business, shall we?
I need a code name
and a location.
You're not getting shit.
Get him up here.
Keep those hands on the table.
Why are you doing this, Frank?
Let's try this one
more time, shall we?
Come on.
Caleb, please just
give him what he wants.
I can't.
You Woods are hard to crack.
Caleb, please, just tell him.
I won't do it.
If he gives you what you want,
will you leave us alone?
You have my word, little lady.
Sorry.
Hey, now.
Hey, now what's
going on in that pocket?
Take it out. Let's see.
What do we have here?
A music box.
I'm sorry.
May I?
What are you doing?
I gotta piss.
- What?
- I gotta go.
It's true, Frankie.
-He keeps pissing--
-Both of you shut up.
Help me, Frank.
You look me in the eyes
right now or I'll kill you!
Take care of my baby
while I'm gone.
No!
You better kill me
or I will hunt you down
and I will kill you myself!
Before we kill her, what do
you say we have a little fun?
Leave her be.
That's enough.
I said leave her be!
Get up.
Hey!
Put the gun down. Now.
She's seen us. We can't just
let her walk outta here.
You afraid of a little woman?
She's with child.
Let's go.
You son of a bitch!
Dear Lord, please accept
Caleb into your kingdom.
He was a good man.
Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
I love you.
Dear Katherine,
if you're reading this
letter, I've passed on.
Hopefully it was
from natural causes,
but if not, I'd like you
to send a telegram
to an old friend of mine.
John Scobell
in Cades Cove, Tennessee.
Sign the telegram
William Kirkwood,
he'll know who you are
and he'll know what to do.
He's a good man.
There should be
enough money there
for you to live comfortably
for the rest of your life.
Please also know that whatever
you may hear about me,
that I love you
very, very much.
And my wish is for your
safety and happiness.
Your loving husband, Caleb.
Can I help you, sir?
Hey, Hoko.
Oh, Katherine,
I, I'm so sorry. I...
I understand.
You all right? Where's Caleb?
Caleb's dead.
I need to send a telegram.
Who's there?
I've got a gun.
You're fine,
you're fine, you're fine.
You...you a woman.
Yes, ma'am. I'd like
a room and a hot bath
and I need to check my rifle.
Room two, top of the stairs.
Thank you.
Ain't seen a woman
dressed like that.
Okay, thank you ma'am.
How can I help you ma'am?
I sent a telegram
to a Mr. John Scobell.
Just like to know
if he received it.
Let me, uh,
let me check. Scobell.
Yes, it says here it,
it was delivered.
Could you kindly tell me
where I can find him?
Little cabin just
on the edge of town.
- Much obliged.
- Uh-huh.
Go away!
Shit.
I said go away!
Oh!
Caleb...
William Kirkwood was my husband.
He said that you would know
what to do.
Well?
Well, what?
Can you help me?
Look around.
Does it look like
I'm in any shape to help you?
If Caleb trusts you,
then I trust you.
What happened?
Three men broke into our house
and they roughed me up.
When Caleb came home,
they wanted some
sort of information
but he...he wouldn't give it
so they shot him.
I'm really sorry, ma'am.
Caleb was a good friend.
But I don't see
how I can help you.
Caleb thought that you could.
When you find them,
what do you intend to do?
I'm gonna kill the men
who killed my husband.
That's why I can't help you.
Now, please go away.
Lady, I can't help you!
The man who shot
my husband's name is Frank.
Did he have
a scar on his face?
Yes.
I know Caleb used to
work with the Pinkertons.
That was a long time ago.
You know these men?
I do.
And?
They're killers.
No good will come
from your pursuit.
Where can I find them?
They work for an old and
bitter colonel, William Davis.
The Davis Plantation?
That's right.
Why would he wanna kill Caleb?
I don't know.
Help me find them.
I have money, I can pay you.
Ma'am, you don't have
enough money
to get me to help you find them.
Is $300 enough?
They'll kill us both. I'm sorry.
I guess you're not the man
that Caleb thought you were.
You're never gonna make it.
Then I will die trying.
- Yes, sir.
- Wine.
Anything else, sir?
What is it?
I'm sorry, sir.
It's about the fundraiser.
It better be good news.
Well sir, the Governor
has a previous engagement.
What did you say?
He can't do this to me.
I'm the one that got
that Union-sympathizing,
ass-kissing
son of a bitch elected.
Take a letter!
Yes, sir.
Don't ever let
anyone sneak up on you.
What the hell are you doing?
Teaching you a lesson.
What? You change your mind?
You wanna tell me where
to find these men?
No, I'm not gonna
help you find these men.
I told you that.
I'm here 'cause I told
your husband I'd help you
if something happened to him.
Help me how?
Let's talk about it
in the morning.
Why in the morning?
'Cause I'm tired.
I make you nervous, ma'am?
It's Katherine
and no, Mr. Scobell,
you do not make me nervous.
Just Scobell.
Excuse me?
Call me Scobell.
Why'd you do that for?
'Cause fire's an
invitation to the party.
How you think I found you?
I'm gonna go get my bedroll.
Try not to die while I'm gone.
Time's a-wasting, let's go.
What the hell you doing, lady?
Where'd you learn
to shoot like that?
My daddy taught me.
Well, next time you see your
daddy, you thank him for me.
He's dead.
Sorry.
What?
That's all you brought with you?
That's all I need
for a few days.
You think we're gonna find
these men in a few days?
I'm not looking for those men.
I said I would just go on--
I told you I'd give you $300.
If you're not here for that,
then what you here for?
I don't want your money.
I said I would help you
'cause your husband asked me.
All right.
Where we going?
-Can't say.
-Can't say?
Caleb asked me
to take you,
but not to tell you.
Well, that doesn't
sound like Caleb.
Thought you wouldn't go
if you knew.
Well, that just
doesn't make sense.
Look, lady, none
of this makes sense.
So either you go on by yourself
and leave me to my business
or we can go see what your
husband wanted us to see.
Lead the way.
You always
were a good shot.
That sound like Frank Cooper.
That's me.
Wondering who's
been following me.
Looky here.
Last of the Starwoods.
Actually, it's the last
of all the Woods.
Toughest one to find, too.
Mm-hm.
You done fell out the ugly tree?
That's a decent right hook.
But you're still uglier
than a dog's ass.
Oh, come on, buddy. Come on.
That's enough.
I said that's enough.
I suppose you aim
to kill me here.
You suppose right.
The question is
am I gonna have to torture you
to get what I want?
What do you want?
I just want to know
who else knows.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
That jog your memory?
Actually,
that made it kinda worse.
You've been
the toughest one yet.
Last time I ask
before I filet you
like a baby calf.
Okay.
You wanna know if I told anyone
that the Colonel
massacred innocent
children and women, hmm?
Yeah.
Did you?
I guess
you'll never know.
Let's go.
So how did
you first meet Caleb?
Well now, that's a funny story.
I was working a case
down in St. Louis
and I came across Caleb
fighting three men in an alley.
But Caleb,
he almost whipped them.
That sounds like my husband.
But since he was outnumbered,
I figured I might
give him a hand.
Then what?
I got him hired at the
Pinkerton's just before the war.
Whoa.
It's getting dark.
Let's start looking for
a place to camp down.
Already?
We gonna have to keep going if
we're gonna catch these men.
Look, let's get this straight.
I'm taking you someplace
'cause your husband asked me to
and that's as far as I'm going.
And when we get there,
we're gonna find out why.
There's a place up top
looks good.
When was the last
time you saw Caleb?
Before the two of you got
hitched he came to see me.
Said he met the love of his life
and if anything ever
happened to him,
I should bring her here.
Do you believe
in God, Scobell?
Depends on your
definition of God.
The God of the Bible?
Seem to me like
a lot of people
who believe in God
don't live like they do.
I suppose that's true.
You believe?
I do.
I just wish I knew why bad
things happen to good people
and good things
happen to bad people.
It is a fallen world.
Ain't nothing perfect
this side of heaven.
So you do believe?
My mama used to read to us
from this Ethiopian Bible
when the master wasn't around.
We hid it in her mattress.
I'm sorry.
Don't be.
Things were hard, sure.
But we were a family.
Can I ask what
happened to your mother?
She, uh, she passed
away when I was 12.
The work was too much for her.
And the master, uh,
he'd come to see her at night.
And so...
just all just too much for her.
I am sorry that happened
to her and to you.
My mama used to tell me,
"'Vengeance is mine,'
saith the Lord."
I gotta believe
if there is a God,
he'll repay evil men for
the evil that they do.
I hope you're right.
Goodnight, Scobell.
Enter. Report.
We got them all.
Don't you dare sit down.
You're filthy.
-No witnesses?
-No.
There was one witness.
It was a woman.
Kirkwood's wife. She seen us.
I tried to kill her,
but Frank here wouldn't let me.
That bastard tries
to blackmail me
and you let his wife live?
She was with child.
I don't care if she's
the Virgin Mother herself!
Go back there and kill her!
We ain't slept in three days.
You leave at sunrise. Dismissed.
What the hell you doing?
You step outta line again
in front of the Colonel,
I'll kill you.
I should've killed her
when I had the chance.
What? You wanna
be the boss now?
Well, if I was,
we wouldn't be
running around in circles
looking for this bitch.
Enough. Enough.
I've been with the Colonel
since before the war.
So if you're gonna take my job,
you better be willing
to die for it.
You okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
Yeah, you sound fine.
I'm fine.
Left that poor son of a bitch
rotting in the sun.
Damn. Come on.
Was a good shot
if nothing else.
Shut up.
You all right?
Just feeling a little
queasy, that's all.
Mm.
If I didn't know better,
I'd say you're with child.
I was married once.
Do tell.
I got married in 1859
to my lovely wife,
Fanny Woodrow.
One of the greatest
days of my life.
She got pregnant right away.
Gave birth to a
beautiful baby girl,
Sesmarie Armstrong.
Armstrong was
my father's surname.
Second greatest day of my life.
She, uh,
she died later that year,
our daughter.
Killed us both.
I have a son, John Armstrong,
named after my father.
My wife and my son they, uh,
left a while back.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Ain't nothing fret about.
She wanted a life
I couldn't give her.
Hey!
All right, all right.
Keep your shirt on. I'm coming.
Yeah.
You're them fellows that was
looking for Caleb
the other day, aren't you?
That's right.
Where's the, there was three.
Where's the other guy?
Dead.
Dead? D-dead?
Just tell us
what we wanna know.
Where is she?
Where, where, where's who?
The wife.
What? Katherine?
I don't know.
Last time, old man.
She,
she was, she was in here
and she sent a, a,
a telegram to a fella
in, in, in, in, uh, Cades Cove.
Name?
I, I don't know.
I can't, I-I can't
remember his name.
It was...
-Name.
-John Scobell.
So how did
you meet the Pinkertons?
Long story.
Seems like we've got all night.
Mr. Pinkerton debriefed
runaways and freed slaves.
Then personally
recruited some of them
to send back South as
secret service agents.
I was one of them.
I was educated and freed by
the man who owned my family.
'Bout a year later I was
sent on a long-term mission
with two other agents, Lawton,
Webster, were their names.
Seems like a noble thing.
Come back to the South to help.
Nothing noble in what I did.
Did Caleb ever kill anyone?
A lot of men died.
That was war.
But your husband was a good man.
He was.
You are too, Scobell.
You're a good man.
Whoa.
Scobell?
You all right?
Seems like back then
certain folks didn't feel other
people were fit for a headstone.
So much death.
On both sides.
A damn shame.
My father lost
his only son in the war.
Tell me about your father.
Hm.
He was a Union soldier
at the start of
the Reconstruction.
He was never the same
after his son died.
Came upon an orphanage
one day, found me.
I knew the second I saw him.
He took me home, raised me.
He was a good man;
honest,
hardworking, very loving.
Taught me how to ride,
how to shoot.
I think all the best parts
of me come from him.
And Caleb?
Hmm, he had business
with my father.
I loved that fool from
the second I saw him.
Uh-huh. He old me
the same about you.
You set that boy on fire.
I miss him.
We're gonna be there soon.
I recognize this place.
This is the orphanage
where I grew up.
Caleb wanted me
to bring you here.
Let's go inside
and find out why.
Hello.
Mrs. Francis?
Katherine?
Oh, my dear, oh.
Oh my.
You were just a baby
when you were brought here.
Oh, look at you.
I remember being here.
It's very nice to
see you Mrs. Francis.
So nice to see you.
Do you still have her file?
We keep all of our records.
We're not actually supposed to
show anyone these documents,
but your husband came to see us.
It's been a long time, dear,
but I, I know they're
here somewhere.
Oh, here it is.
Thank you.
Caleb, he wanted you to know
who your real father is.
I appreciate you
taking the time.
Katherine,
for your travels, dear.
Thank you,
Mrs. Francis, for everything.
Hey, kid, water
these horses, will you?
You know Colonel Davis?
I knew him once.
He's a bad man, Katherine.
I need to see this through.
I figured you might.
Caleb knew you would.
-Let's get this done with.
-Mm-hm.
Appreciate you.
That son of a bitch.
Ain't nobody here.
No shit!
Look through everything.
Gotta find out who
she's been talking to...
and I mean everything!
Come on.
Drawers. Let's go.
Shit!
What have we got here?
What?
He's a Wood.
Damn it!
How do you know
about this place?
I hid out here years ago
after that failed mission.
-Colonel?
-Uh-huh.
Is it safe?
We'll find out.
I'll put up the horses
for the night.
We got a problem.
Seems you're becoming
my problem, Frank.
It's the wife.
She better be dead.
She met with a Wood
in Cades Cove.
I thought
you killed all the Woods.
We didn't know about him.
Now I pay you a lot of money
to take care of these problems.
We think she's on
her way here right now.
And why in God's name
would she be coming here?
Because the Wood's real name
is John Scobell.
Son of a bitch.
Horses are settled
for the night.
-Thank you.
-Mm-hm.
Are you hungry?
Starving.
Mrs. Francis packed us
some biscuits and stew.
Okay.
So what's the plan?
Tomorrow's Sunday,
most of the servants
have the day off.
How can you be sure?
I used to be one.
I humbly accept the office
of the great state of Kentucky.
I humbly accept
the office of the Senate
of the great state of Ken...
I humbly, I humbly
accept the office
of the Senate of
the great state of Kentucky.
Yeah, ho-ho-ho.
How do you know the Colonel?
I assumed the cover of
an illiterate servant to him.
Our mission was cut short
when we were arrested
and tried for being spies.
Webster was sentenced to death.
Lawton was sentenced
to a year in prison
and they released me.
Confederates couldn't believe
a slave could be a spy.
Why did he kill my husband?
The Colonel had
Quantrill massacre
men, women, children
in Lawrence, Kansas.
The Woods knew about it.
So Caleb and the others,
he had them killed
so he could cover up
all the blood he spilled?
You were right, Scobell.
He's a very bad man.
That's beautiful.
Caleb gave it to me
the day he died.
Scobell, I just
want you to know if,
if I don't make it, it's been--
You're gonna make it.
The feeling's mutual.
Goodnight, Katherine.
Goodnight, Scobell.
There'll be hired
guns all around the house.
What about Frank and Zeke?
They'll be there.
How do we get in?
Follow me.
That's them. Those are
the men who killed Caleb.
Not yet. Need a plan.
No matter what,
you stick to the plan.
I'm gonna go in
through the side door.
You stay here and cover me.
I'm gonna bring them to you.
Hey, be careful.
You got a child to raise.
Something happen to me in there,
you hightail it back to the
shack and you get outta here.
You hear me?
You ready?
Oh, I've been waiting for
this day.
John Scobell
or would you prefer I called
you by your code name?
James Howard, the servant
who became a spy.
-Colonel.
-Soon to be a senator.
Keep your hands
where I can see them.
And what brings
you out this way?
I come to do something
I shoulda done a long time ago.
Hmm, well, I don't imagine
that was to kill me,
otherwise, you woulda
shot me by now.
There's someone who wants
to meet you before I do.
Sit back down.
May I offer you a refreshment
or perhaps a nice
glass of bourbon?
Yeah.
Now it's
your turn to sit down.
Sit down. Go on.
What did you think
I was gonna do,
just let you waltz
in here like this?
I shoulda killed you when
I had the opportunity.
Yeah, I guess you should have.
What did you tell the wife?
She knows everything.
That's unfortunate.
And where is she now?
Don't know.
Well, why don't we find out.
Stand him over there
by that window.
Get up. Now!
Come on.
Oh, come on, you son of a bitch.
What happened?
Shit!
She shot my, the--
the bitch shot my ear off!
Well, go get her!
Well, looky here.
Now I'm gonna do what
I shoulda done from the start.
A fighter, I like that.
You got more sand
than your husband.
You shot my ear off.
That's right.
I let you go once 'cause
you're with child.
That was a big mistake.
Let's go. Move.
Good thing you're a bad shot.
You moved, otherwise,
you'd be dead.
You got a lot of nerve
thinking that you
and this half-assed spy
could just walk into
my home and kill me.
I've been looking for you
for a long time, Colonel.
I know who you are
and I'm no daughter of yours.
I didn't know
you had a daughter.
I wish it didn't
have to be this way.
Doesn't have to be.
What are you thinking?
We could just live
happily ever after?
No, I was thinking
instead of you killing me,
I'd be killing you.
She certainly sounds
like your daughter.
Shut up, Frank.
What to do with you?
I oughta just
have him shoot you and
feed the both
of you to the pigs.
You could at least tell me
the whole story first,
before you kill me.
You wanna know
the whole story.
Why did you kill my husband?
I killed your husband
because he knew
you were my daughter.
And he and his cohorts
knew too much
about what I'd done
during the war.
They were trying
to blackmail me.
What? Lawrence, Kansas?
It was war.
You don't know my husband.
I'm sorry to be the bearer
of bad news.
What about my mother?
Your mother was my chamber maid
and she was my mistress.
Soon after my wife passed,
your mother came to me and
she told me she was pregnant
and I couldn't have
anyone knowing that.
So I moved her to the cabin
on the far side of the property.
That tiny little
slave quarters?
Yes.
You can find your pal,
Zeke, there.
Men like him are a dime a dozen.
Your mother died
giving you birth.
-You bastard!
-Hey!
Now, you sit down!
Sit down.
Kill her.
You're not man enough
to do it yourself?
Oh, I believe I'll let
Frank have that pleasure.
You're a coward.
Just like Scobell said you were.
I don't believe I'm gonna
have to worry about
what Scobell says or doesn't
say to anyone anymore.
You gonna shoot
an unarmed woman?
No.
'Cause you
don't even deserve a bullet.
Hah!
You ain't gonna do it.
You ain't got what it takes.
Scobell. Scobell.
No.
Sit down.
No remorse for
killing your friend?
You really are a chip
off the old block.
I like that.
I'm ashamed and disgusted
that your blood
runs in my veins.
Well, let's not
forget about your child.
Frank told me the good news,
You won't ever know him
and he will never
know who you are.
This doesn't have
to be like this.
So what are you thinking?
We all live happily ever after?
I am your father.
You are not my father!
My father was a good,
respectable, God-fearing man
that pulled me out of that
orphanage that you put me in.
I did what I had to do.
It was kill or be killed.
But you wouldn't
understand that.
Are you a God-fearing man,
Colonel?
I'm gonna stand up
and walk outta here
and then you're gonna leave
as though you were never here.
You're not gonna shoot
your father in the back.
I don't care
where I shoot you.
"Vengeance is mine,"
saith the Lord.
That was for Caleb.
And this is from my mother.
Nice shooting, son.
Your daddy would
be proud of you.
I wish Daddy was
here to watch me.
He's always watching, honey.
Give me that.
You state your business!
I got a telegram for
Mrs. Katherine Atherton.
All right.
All right, keep practicing.
Keep your shoulders down.
Hey, Dad.
Come on.
Come on.
You're not done yet.
We're not done yet!
That's enough.
Daniel, there's no need
for all this brutality.
Just tell me the code names
and the whereabouts
of the remaining Woods
and this will all be over.
I told you everything I know.
As you know,
I'm running for the Senate
and once I'm in office,
well, you will be
rewarded handsomely.
I'm sure you can appreciate
my dilemma.
I can't have this
information out there.
So please, Daniel,
let us put an end to all this
and just tell me
what I need to know.
You're nothing but
a murdering bastard.
I need you to find
the rest of those Woods.
We know where they are, sir.
Well, then what the
hell are you doing here?
Want cornbread?
Oh, yeah. You make
the best cornbread.
That I do.
I gotta run down to town,
trading post.
Shovel handle broke.
Gotta get a new one.
That was my daddy's shovel.
Sorry about that.
You want me to
get you something?
Well, now that the cabin's
almost finished,
I'd like to plant
a vegetable garden.
- Okay.
- Do you mind
picking up some seeds?
Not at all. Be happy to.
I gotta tell you something.
Okay. Tell me what?
There's gonna be a new
addition to the family.
What do you mean?
We're gonna have a baby.
I'm gonna be a daddy?
Yeah.
- You serious?
- Yes.
We're gonna have a baby.
I'm gonna be a dad.
-Yeah.
-Well, why didn't you--
- Is this too tight?
- No, no. It's all right.
I'm gonna be a--
I'm gonna be a daddy?
Yes.
Howdy, Hoko.
Oh, Caleb.
Little early in the month for
you coming into town, isn't it?
Ah, well, my damn shovel broke.
Okay.
Need a new one and a little
something for the missus.
Oh? What's the special occasion?
Well, Katherine's having a baby.
Well, congratulations.
Thank you.
You know, I, uh,
I think I got just the thing.
-Here you are.
-Okay.
Nothing like
a nice piece of hickory.
That'll do.
Somebody ordered that
and didn't bother
to come pick it up.
Looks fancy.
It's imported
all the way from Paris.
I think it's perfect.
Uh, how much do I owe you
for the shovel?
$3.50 for the shovel.
All right, well how
much do I owe you for--
for the music box?
Ah, it's on the house.
No, you can't be giving
something away like this.
Get the heck outta here
before I change my mind.
And you can square up
for the shovel
at the end of the month.
Thank you, Hoko.
Oh, uh, you got some seeds?
Katherine wanted me to get her
some vegetable seeds
for a garden
Seeds. Oh, I just
got in a fresh batch.
They're in the back.
I'll get them,
I'll bring them out to you.
I hope your friends
caught up with you.
What friends?
Oh, there's three guys
were in here
and said you used
to ride with them.
Did one of them have a scar?
Yeah.
You forgot your seeds.
Might be a good
idea to drop your gun.
Good boy. Kick it
towards the window.
And I want you to
walk over real slow,
sit down next to the missus
and put both your
hands on the table.
You okay?
Ah-ah-ah! Hands.
We don't have much,
but we'll give you
anything you want.
What are you
doing here, Frank?
You know these men, Caleb?
Katherine, please.
Caleb?
No, no.
More like code name
William Kirkwood.
Why don't you tell
her who we are, Caleb?
My name's Frank.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
That's Zeke and
this here's Harry.
Oh, nice place you have here.
And you, I feel like
we've met before.
I don't associate with trash.
That's ironic,
ain't it, Caleb?
Tell her.
Caleb?
These boys and I used to work
together a few years back.
In the war?
Yeah, we worked
for the Pinkertons.
The Pinkertons.
You didn't tell me that.
Seems old Caleb here hasn't
told you lots of things.
Uh-oh.
All right, let's get down
to business, shall we?
I need a code name
and a location.
You're not getting shit.
Get him up here.
Keep those hands on the table.
Why are you doing this, Frank?
Let's try this one
more time, shall we?
Come on.
Caleb, please just
give him what he wants.
I can't.
You Woods are hard to crack.
Caleb, please, just tell him.
I won't do it.
If he gives you what you want,
will you leave us alone?
You have my word, little lady.
Sorry.
Hey, now.
Hey, now what's
going on in that pocket?
Take it out. Let's see.
What do we have here?
A music box.
I'm sorry.
May I?
What are you doing?
I gotta piss.
- What?
- I gotta go.
It's true, Frankie.
-He keeps pissing--
-Both of you shut up.
Help me, Frank.
You look me in the eyes
right now or I'll kill you!
Take care of my baby
while I'm gone.
No!
You better kill me
or I will hunt you down
and I will kill you myself!
Before we kill her, what do
you say we have a little fun?
Leave her be.
That's enough.
I said leave her be!
Get up.
Hey!
Put the gun down. Now.
She's seen us. We can't just
let her walk outta here.
You afraid of a little woman?
She's with child.
Let's go.
You son of a bitch!
Dear Lord, please accept
Caleb into your kingdom.
He was a good man.
Thank you, Jesus. Amen.
I love you.
Dear Katherine,
if you're reading this
letter, I've passed on.
Hopefully it was
from natural causes,
but if not, I'd like you
to send a telegram
to an old friend of mine.
John Scobell
in Cades Cove, Tennessee.
Sign the telegram
William Kirkwood,
he'll know who you are
and he'll know what to do.
He's a good man.
There should be
enough money there
for you to live comfortably
for the rest of your life.
Please also know that whatever
you may hear about me,
that I love you
very, very much.
And my wish is for your
safety and happiness.
Your loving husband, Caleb.
Can I help you, sir?
Hey, Hoko.
Oh, Katherine,
I, I'm so sorry. I...
I understand.
You all right? Where's Caleb?
Caleb's dead.
I need to send a telegram.
Who's there?
I've got a gun.
You're fine,
you're fine, you're fine.
You...you a woman.
Yes, ma'am. I'd like
a room and a hot bath
and I need to check my rifle.
Room two, top of the stairs.
Thank you.
Ain't seen a woman
dressed like that.
Okay, thank you ma'am.
How can I help you ma'am?
I sent a telegram
to a Mr. John Scobell.
Just like to know
if he received it.
Let me, uh,
let me check. Scobell.
Yes, it says here it,
it was delivered.
Could you kindly tell me
where I can find him?
Little cabin just
on the edge of town.
- Much obliged.
- Uh-huh.
Go away!
Shit.
I said go away!
Oh!
Caleb...
William Kirkwood was my husband.
He said that you would know
what to do.
Well?
Well, what?
Can you help me?
Look around.
Does it look like
I'm in any shape to help you?
If Caleb trusts you,
then I trust you.
What happened?
Three men broke into our house
and they roughed me up.
When Caleb came home,
they wanted some
sort of information
but he...he wouldn't give it
so they shot him.
I'm really sorry, ma'am.
Caleb was a good friend.
But I don't see
how I can help you.
Caleb thought that you could.
When you find them,
what do you intend to do?
I'm gonna kill the men
who killed my husband.
That's why I can't help you.
Now, please go away.
Lady, I can't help you!
The man who shot
my husband's name is Frank.
Did he have
a scar on his face?
Yes.
I know Caleb used to
work with the Pinkertons.
That was a long time ago.
You know these men?
I do.
And?
They're killers.
No good will come
from your pursuit.
Where can I find them?
They work for an old and
bitter colonel, William Davis.
The Davis Plantation?
That's right.
Why would he wanna kill Caleb?
I don't know.
Help me find them.
I have money, I can pay you.
Ma'am, you don't have
enough money
to get me to help you find them.
Is $300 enough?
They'll kill us both. I'm sorry.
I guess you're not the man
that Caleb thought you were.
You're never gonna make it.
Then I will die trying.
- Yes, sir.
- Wine.
Anything else, sir?
What is it?
I'm sorry, sir.
It's about the fundraiser.
It better be good news.
Well sir, the Governor
has a previous engagement.
What did you say?
He can't do this to me.
I'm the one that got
that Union-sympathizing,
ass-kissing
son of a bitch elected.
Take a letter!
Yes, sir.
Don't ever let
anyone sneak up on you.
What the hell are you doing?
Teaching you a lesson.
What? You change your mind?
You wanna tell me where
to find these men?
No, I'm not gonna
help you find these men.
I told you that.
I'm here 'cause I told
your husband I'd help you
if something happened to him.
Help me how?
Let's talk about it
in the morning.
Why in the morning?
'Cause I'm tired.
I make you nervous, ma'am?
It's Katherine
and no, Mr. Scobell,
you do not make me nervous.
Just Scobell.
Excuse me?
Call me Scobell.
Why'd you do that for?
'Cause fire's an
invitation to the party.
How you think I found you?
I'm gonna go get my bedroll.
Try not to die while I'm gone.
Time's a-wasting, let's go.
What the hell you doing, lady?
Where'd you learn
to shoot like that?
My daddy taught me.
Well, next time you see your
daddy, you thank him for me.
He's dead.
Sorry.
What?
That's all you brought with you?
That's all I need
for a few days.
You think we're gonna find
these men in a few days?
I'm not looking for those men.
I said I would just go on--
I told you I'd give you $300.
If you're not here for that,
then what you here for?
I don't want your money.
I said I would help you
'cause your husband asked me.
All right.
Where we going?
-Can't say.
-Can't say?
Caleb asked me
to take you,
but not to tell you.
Well, that doesn't
sound like Caleb.
Thought you wouldn't go
if you knew.
Well, that just
doesn't make sense.
Look, lady, none
of this makes sense.
So either you go on by yourself
and leave me to my business
or we can go see what your
husband wanted us to see.
Lead the way.
You always
were a good shot.
That sound like Frank Cooper.
That's me.
Wondering who's
been following me.
Looky here.
Last of the Starwoods.
Actually, it's the last
of all the Woods.
Toughest one to find, too.
Mm-hm.
You done fell out the ugly tree?
That's a decent right hook.
But you're still uglier
than a dog's ass.
Oh, come on, buddy. Come on.
That's enough.
I said that's enough.
I suppose you aim
to kill me here.
You suppose right.
The question is
am I gonna have to torture you
to get what I want?
What do you want?
I just want to know
who else knows.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
That jog your memory?
Actually,
that made it kinda worse.
You've been
the toughest one yet.
Last time I ask
before I filet you
like a baby calf.
Okay.
You wanna know if I told anyone
that the Colonel
massacred innocent
children and women, hmm?
Yeah.
Did you?
I guess
you'll never know.
Let's go.
So how did
you first meet Caleb?
Well now, that's a funny story.
I was working a case
down in St. Louis
and I came across Caleb
fighting three men in an alley.
But Caleb,
he almost whipped them.
That sounds like my husband.
But since he was outnumbered,
I figured I might
give him a hand.
Then what?
I got him hired at the
Pinkerton's just before the war.
Whoa.
It's getting dark.
Let's start looking for
a place to camp down.
Already?
We gonna have to keep going if
we're gonna catch these men.
Look, let's get this straight.
I'm taking you someplace
'cause your husband asked me to
and that's as far as I'm going.
And when we get there,
we're gonna find out why.
There's a place up top
looks good.
When was the last
time you saw Caleb?
Before the two of you got
hitched he came to see me.
Said he met the love of his life
and if anything ever
happened to him,
I should bring her here.
Do you believe
in God, Scobell?
Depends on your
definition of God.
The God of the Bible?
Seem to me like
a lot of people
who believe in God
don't live like they do.
I suppose that's true.
You believe?
I do.
I just wish I knew why bad
things happen to good people
and good things
happen to bad people.
It is a fallen world.
Ain't nothing perfect
this side of heaven.
So you do believe?
My mama used to read to us
from this Ethiopian Bible
when the master wasn't around.
We hid it in her mattress.
I'm sorry.
Don't be.
Things were hard, sure.
But we were a family.
Can I ask what
happened to your mother?
She, uh, she passed
away when I was 12.
The work was too much for her.
And the master, uh,
he'd come to see her at night.
And so...
just all just too much for her.
I am sorry that happened
to her and to you.
My mama used to tell me,
"'Vengeance is mine,'
saith the Lord."
I gotta believe
if there is a God,
he'll repay evil men for
the evil that they do.
I hope you're right.
Goodnight, Scobell.
Enter. Report.
We got them all.
Don't you dare sit down.
You're filthy.
-No witnesses?
-No.
There was one witness.
It was a woman.
Kirkwood's wife. She seen us.
I tried to kill her,
but Frank here wouldn't let me.
That bastard tries
to blackmail me
and you let his wife live?
She was with child.
I don't care if she's
the Virgin Mother herself!
Go back there and kill her!
We ain't slept in three days.
You leave at sunrise. Dismissed.
What the hell you doing?
You step outta line again
in front of the Colonel,
I'll kill you.
I should've killed her
when I had the chance.
What? You wanna
be the boss now?
Well, if I was,
we wouldn't be
running around in circles
looking for this bitch.
Enough. Enough.
I've been with the Colonel
since before the war.
So if you're gonna take my job,
you better be willing
to die for it.
You okay?
Yeah, I'm fine.
Yeah, you sound fine.
I'm fine.
Left that poor son of a bitch
rotting in the sun.
Damn. Come on.
Was a good shot
if nothing else.
Shut up.
You all right?
Just feeling a little
queasy, that's all.
Mm.
If I didn't know better,
I'd say you're with child.
I was married once.
Do tell.
I got married in 1859
to my lovely wife,
Fanny Woodrow.
One of the greatest
days of my life.
She got pregnant right away.
Gave birth to a
beautiful baby girl,
Sesmarie Armstrong.
Armstrong was
my father's surname.
Second greatest day of my life.
She, uh,
she died later that year,
our daughter.
Killed us both.
I have a son, John Armstrong,
named after my father.
My wife and my son they, uh,
left a while back.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Ain't nothing fret about.
She wanted a life
I couldn't give her.
Hey!
All right, all right.
Keep your shirt on. I'm coming.
Yeah.
You're them fellows that was
looking for Caleb
the other day, aren't you?
That's right.
Where's the, there was three.
Where's the other guy?
Dead.
Dead? D-dead?
Just tell us
what we wanna know.
Where is she?
Where, where, where's who?
The wife.
What? Katherine?
I don't know.
Last time, old man.
She,
she was, she was in here
and she sent a, a,
a telegram to a fella
in, in, in, in, uh, Cades Cove.
Name?
I, I don't know.
I can't, I-I can't
remember his name.
It was...
-Name.
-John Scobell.
So how did
you meet the Pinkertons?
Long story.
Seems like we've got all night.
Mr. Pinkerton debriefed
runaways and freed slaves.
Then personally
recruited some of them
to send back South as
secret service agents.
I was one of them.
I was educated and freed by
the man who owned my family.
'Bout a year later I was
sent on a long-term mission
with two other agents, Lawton,
Webster, were their names.
Seems like a noble thing.
Come back to the South to help.
Nothing noble in what I did.
Did Caleb ever kill anyone?
A lot of men died.
That was war.
But your husband was a good man.
He was.
You are too, Scobell.
You're a good man.
Whoa.
Scobell?
You all right?
Seems like back then
certain folks didn't feel other
people were fit for a headstone.
So much death.
On both sides.
A damn shame.
My father lost
his only son in the war.
Tell me about your father.
Hm.
He was a Union soldier
at the start of
the Reconstruction.
He was never the same
after his son died.
Came upon an orphanage
one day, found me.
I knew the second I saw him.
He took me home, raised me.
He was a good man;
honest,
hardworking, very loving.
Taught me how to ride,
how to shoot.
I think all the best parts
of me come from him.
And Caleb?
Hmm, he had business
with my father.
I loved that fool from
the second I saw him.
Uh-huh. He old me
the same about you.
You set that boy on fire.
I miss him.
We're gonna be there soon.
I recognize this place.
This is the orphanage
where I grew up.
Caleb wanted me
to bring you here.
Let's go inside
and find out why.
Hello.
Mrs. Francis?
Katherine?
Oh, my dear, oh.
Oh my.
You were just a baby
when you were brought here.
Oh, look at you.
I remember being here.
It's very nice to
see you Mrs. Francis.
So nice to see you.
Do you still have her file?
We keep all of our records.
We're not actually supposed to
show anyone these documents,
but your husband came to see us.
It's been a long time, dear,
but I, I know they're
here somewhere.
Oh, here it is.
Thank you.
Caleb, he wanted you to know
who your real father is.
I appreciate you
taking the time.
Katherine,
for your travels, dear.
Thank you,
Mrs. Francis, for everything.
Hey, kid, water
these horses, will you?
You know Colonel Davis?
I knew him once.
He's a bad man, Katherine.
I need to see this through.
I figured you might.
Caleb knew you would.
-Let's get this done with.
-Mm-hm.
Appreciate you.
That son of a bitch.
Ain't nobody here.
No shit!
Look through everything.
Gotta find out who
she's been talking to...
and I mean everything!
Come on.
Drawers. Let's go.
Shit!
What have we got here?
What?
He's a Wood.
Damn it!
How do you know
about this place?
I hid out here years ago
after that failed mission.
-Colonel?
-Uh-huh.
Is it safe?
We'll find out.
I'll put up the horses
for the night.
We got a problem.
Seems you're becoming
my problem, Frank.
It's the wife.
She better be dead.
She met with a Wood
in Cades Cove.
I thought
you killed all the Woods.
We didn't know about him.
Now I pay you a lot of money
to take care of these problems.
We think she's on
her way here right now.
And why in God's name
would she be coming here?
Because the Wood's real name
is John Scobell.
Son of a bitch.
Horses are settled
for the night.
-Thank you.
-Mm-hm.
Are you hungry?
Starving.
Mrs. Francis packed us
some biscuits and stew.
Okay.
So what's the plan?
Tomorrow's Sunday,
most of the servants
have the day off.
How can you be sure?
I used to be one.
I humbly accept the office
of the great state of Kentucky.
I humbly accept
the office of the Senate
of the great state of Ken...
I humbly, I humbly
accept the office
of the Senate of
the great state of Kentucky.
Yeah, ho-ho-ho.
How do you know the Colonel?
I assumed the cover of
an illiterate servant to him.
Our mission was cut short
when we were arrested
and tried for being spies.
Webster was sentenced to death.
Lawton was sentenced
to a year in prison
and they released me.
Confederates couldn't believe
a slave could be a spy.
Why did he kill my husband?
The Colonel had
Quantrill massacre
men, women, children
in Lawrence, Kansas.
The Woods knew about it.
So Caleb and the others,
he had them killed
so he could cover up
all the blood he spilled?
You were right, Scobell.
He's a very bad man.
That's beautiful.
Caleb gave it to me
the day he died.
Scobell, I just
want you to know if,
if I don't make it, it's been--
You're gonna make it.
The feeling's mutual.
Goodnight, Katherine.
Goodnight, Scobell.
There'll be hired
guns all around the house.
What about Frank and Zeke?
They'll be there.
How do we get in?
Follow me.
That's them. Those are
the men who killed Caleb.
Not yet. Need a plan.
No matter what,
you stick to the plan.
I'm gonna go in
through the side door.
You stay here and cover me.
I'm gonna bring them to you.
Hey, be careful.
You got a child to raise.
Something happen to me in there,
you hightail it back to the
shack and you get outta here.
You hear me?
You ready?
Oh, I've been waiting for
this day.
John Scobell
or would you prefer I called
you by your code name?
James Howard, the servant
who became a spy.
-Colonel.
-Soon to be a senator.
Keep your hands
where I can see them.
And what brings
you out this way?
I come to do something
I shoulda done a long time ago.
Hmm, well, I don't imagine
that was to kill me,
otherwise, you woulda
shot me by now.
There's someone who wants
to meet you before I do.
Sit back down.
May I offer you a refreshment
or perhaps a nice
glass of bourbon?
Yeah.
Now it's
your turn to sit down.
Sit down. Go on.
What did you think
I was gonna do,
just let you waltz
in here like this?
I shoulda killed you when
I had the opportunity.
Yeah, I guess you should have.
What did you tell the wife?
She knows everything.
That's unfortunate.
And where is she now?
Don't know.
Well, why don't we find out.
Stand him over there
by that window.
Get up. Now!
Come on.
Oh, come on, you son of a bitch.
What happened?
Shit!
She shot my, the--
the bitch shot my ear off!
Well, go get her!
Well, looky here.
Now I'm gonna do what
I shoulda done from the start.
A fighter, I like that.
You got more sand
than your husband.
You shot my ear off.
That's right.
I let you go once 'cause
you're with child.
That was a big mistake.
Let's go. Move.
Good thing you're a bad shot.
You moved, otherwise,
you'd be dead.
You got a lot of nerve
thinking that you
and this half-assed spy
could just walk into
my home and kill me.
I've been looking for you
for a long time, Colonel.
I know who you are
and I'm no daughter of yours.
I didn't know
you had a daughter.
I wish it didn't
have to be this way.
Doesn't have to be.
What are you thinking?
We could just live
happily ever after?
No, I was thinking
instead of you killing me,
I'd be killing you.
She certainly sounds
like your daughter.
Shut up, Frank.
What to do with you?
I oughta just
have him shoot you and
feed the both
of you to the pigs.
You could at least tell me
the whole story first,
before you kill me.
You wanna know
the whole story.
Why did you kill my husband?
I killed your husband
because he knew
you were my daughter.
And he and his cohorts
knew too much
about what I'd done
during the war.
They were trying
to blackmail me.
What? Lawrence, Kansas?
It was war.
You don't know my husband.
I'm sorry to be the bearer
of bad news.
What about my mother?
Your mother was my chamber maid
and she was my mistress.
Soon after my wife passed,
your mother came to me and
she told me she was pregnant
and I couldn't have
anyone knowing that.
So I moved her to the cabin
on the far side of the property.
That tiny little
slave quarters?
Yes.
You can find your pal,
Zeke, there.
Men like him are a dime a dozen.
Your mother died
giving you birth.
-You bastard!
-Hey!
Now, you sit down!
Sit down.
Kill her.
You're not man enough
to do it yourself?
Oh, I believe I'll let
Frank have that pleasure.
You're a coward.
Just like Scobell said you were.
I don't believe I'm gonna
have to worry about
what Scobell says or doesn't
say to anyone anymore.
You gonna shoot
an unarmed woman?
No.
'Cause you
don't even deserve a bullet.
Hah!
You ain't gonna do it.
You ain't got what it takes.
Scobell. Scobell.
No.
Sit down.
No remorse for
killing your friend?
You really are a chip
off the old block.
I like that.
I'm ashamed and disgusted
that your blood
runs in my veins.
Well, let's not
forget about your child.
Frank told me the good news,
You won't ever know him
and he will never
know who you are.
This doesn't have
to be like this.
So what are you thinking?
We all live happily ever after?
I am your father.
You are not my father!
My father was a good,
respectable, God-fearing man
that pulled me out of that
orphanage that you put me in.
I did what I had to do.
It was kill or be killed.
But you wouldn't
understand that.
Are you a God-fearing man,
Colonel?
I'm gonna stand up
and walk outta here
and then you're gonna leave
as though you were never here.
You're not gonna shoot
your father in the back.
I don't care
where I shoot you.
"Vengeance is mine,"
saith the Lord.
That was for Caleb.
And this is from my mother.
Nice shooting, son.
Your daddy would
be proud of you.
I wish Daddy was
here to watch me.
He's always watching, honey.
Give me that.
You state your business!
I got a telegram for
Mrs. Katherine Atherton.
All right.
All right, keep practicing.
Keep your shoulders down.
Hey, Dad.