[theme music]
[dramatic music]
[insects chirping]
[birds cawing]
[wild west music]
[horse snorting]
[snorts]
[intense rattling tone]
[watch clinks]
[suspenseful music]
[horse snorting continues]
[quirky beat]
[suspenseful music continues]
[whimsical tone]
[loud bang]
[Brett] You don't choose. I choose.
[gun loads]
[sighs]
[watch clinks]
Soon.
-[sighs] -[watch clinks]
[man 1] You goin' down to Texas? Yeah, well, it's gonna be a long one. Mm.
-[man 1 murmurs] -[man 2] Come on. Get him over here! Get him over here!
[woman 1 shouts] No!
[man 3 grunts]
-[sighs] -[man 2 grunts]
-[man 2 grunting] -[man 3 groaning]
Stay down, you dang fool little Indian.
[blows landing continue]
-[grunting and groaning continues] -[sighs]
-[laughter] -[chattering]
-[man 2] ...you and me. -[woman 1] No!
[shouting]
[intense music]
-[man 4] Oooh. -[thuds]
Y'all leave them be.
Who's askin'?
I ain't askin'. I'm telllin'.
If y'all don't haul tail outta here,
you'll be sorry you didn't.
Only one's gonna be sorry around here is you.
That so? Now don't make me wop you this foot upside your head.
Go ahead and try, you dumb nigg--
[groans]
I was gonna say nincompoop.
[grunting and groaning]
[dramatic music]
[man 5 screams]
-[gunshot] -Ah!
-[gunshot] -[whimpering]
-[man 6 speaking in Indian dialect] -[in English] No, no, no.
No, no, no, no!
Y'all go git. Git!
-Oh my God. Say something! -Go on.
He killed the sheriff!
-[woman 2 exclaims] -[guns click]
[horse neighs]
Been lookin' for you for quite a while, Johnny.
Now that we can add murder to the sentence,
you're gonna be well worth the wait.
-[horse snorts] -[sighs]
[intense music]
[fuse sparking]
-[explosion] -[wild west music]
[horse neighs]
[gunshots]
[gunshot]
[gun shooting, reloading]
[eagle screeches]
[gun reloads, shoots]
[reloads]
-[horse neighs] -[gunshot]
[gunshots]
[train whistling]
[wild west music continues]
[gunshots]
[gunshot]
[fuse sparking]
[explosion]
[gun shooting, reloading]
[gunshot]
[gunshots]
[gunshot]
[Dan] Well, I was buying some feed when there he was.
Outlaw Johnny Black, plain as day,
heading into the bar lookin' just like his wanted poster!
-Hat wasn't quite right though. -[Bill] Then what'd you do?
Well, that's when I went and fetched the sheriff.
Lotta good that did. He shot the sheriff dead before he could draw.
Poor Cecil!
I reckon his hat must be named Cecil.
Cause that's the only damn thing I shot!
And these wrist irons are too tight!
[Dan] Serves you right for bustin' out
of those shackles back in Amarillo.
Good luck tryin' to bust out of those!
[laughter]
I been tryin' to tell y'all,
Brett Clayton's coming to rob your bank.
And I came to put a bullet in him.
Not a damn hat which is what I done.
-Shut up, goddamn outlaw! -Goddamn?
Well, you must be talking about the goddamned sheriff
'cause he's the only one that God damned with a bad ticker.
Seems like y'all blaming me for doing his work.
You using the Lord's name in vein
is only gonna make it worse for yourself, Outlaw!
Worse? How could it be worse?
Y'all fixin' to hang me for killin' a damn hat.
You're right. I am a goddamn outlaw.
Goddamn, goddamnit!
I warned you about slippin' those off again.
Don't make me use your fancy-ass pistols on you.
If these ain't the slickest colt six shooters
I've ever seen. Get a pretty penny for 'em.
-He ain't gonna need 'em where he's going. Eh? -[door opens]
-[town crier] Come quick! Brett Clayton robbed the bank! -[Bill] What?
Damnit! There's a $5,000 bounty
on Clayton's head, dead or alive.
Let's get 'em!
Come on. Come on, let's go!
Let's go!
[exhales]
[dramatic music]
Sorry, pa.
[presenter] And now what we been waiting for.
Bullseye Black and his family!
Yeah! Yeah! Whoo! Here they come!
-[horses approaching] -Bullseye Black coming right here!
[audience cheering]
-[gunshots] -[plates shatters]
[cheering and applause]
Afternoon, ladies and gentlemen!
Most of you know me as Reverend Black!
I'd like to introduce you to my beautiful wife Vern.
And our handsome son Johnny.
[cheering and applause]
Before this evening is over,
you're gonna know why they call us
the first family of trick shooting!
-[gunshots] -[audience cheering]
-Woo! -[Bullseye] Are you ready, Johnny?
-[gunshots] -[plates shatters]
[cheering and applause]
[woman 3] Yeah!
That's my boy!
[laughs]
Here we go.
Oh, boy.
Oh...
[gun clicks]
[audience exclaims]
[laughs]
Gets 'em every time.
-[gunshots] -[bottles shatters]
[cheering and applause]
As you see here, I've got a normal, average deck of cards.
-Here. -[woman 4] Oh!
Vern,
when you ready, darling, give 'em a toss.
-[woman 5] Whooo! -[gunshots]
[audience] Whoa!
You. Yeah, you. Come on up here.
See if you can find any damage done to these cards.
What you got there?
Well, I'll be doggone.
It's the Jack and the Ace of spades.
-[cheering and applause] -[chanting] Blackjack! Blackjack!
[Bullseye] Alright, ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much.
And don't forget. We're looking to see you at the church revival this evening.
[giggles]
[laughs] I told ya.
Now ain't that the dang crack
shootingest thing ya'ever did see?
[Duke] If I didn't see it, I wouldn't believe it.
That Nigra could out shoot even you Brett. [laughs]
-I think it was trickery! -Trickery or not, that's some dang fine shootin'.
Goose grease quick!
-Hey, Jed? -[gun clicks]
If I hear you praise that Nigra again in my presence,
I'm gonna blow that pea brain of yours out the back of your skull,
do you understand me?
-Yes, boss. -Good.
That goes for the rest of you.
Nigras shouldn't be on White Man's land anyhow.
That's right!
And this here is "Cherokee Flats"
nestled in the Chippewa valley,
just west of the Choctawhatchee River.
I mean, that's White man's land if ever I heard it.
We got us a job to do. We're not here to stand around
and watch a bunch of Nigra card tricks. Let's go.
[door slams]
Listen, everybody, shut up!
[shouting and clamoring]
[tense music]
Alright. Shut up!
Will you people please shut the hell up?
Ladies, those screams, they ain't helping.
-That's all of it Brett. Let's go. -Alright.
Thank you very much.
[gun clicks]
Wait a minute. You.
-[gun clicks] -You a card dealer, ain't you?
You got your cards on ya?
Come over here a minute. I want you to do something for me.
[suspenseful music]
About there.
Take your cards out.
Keep going. Take 'em out.
Make me up a full house. Aces high.
Relax.
Calm down. You're alright. I ain't gonna hurt you.
[laughing hysterically]
You got it. Good. Good.
Show you how it's done.
Now, when I count three,
you're gonna toss 'em up in the air.
Alright?
Good.
One...
[gun clicks]
...two...
...three.
[gunshots]
[hostages screaming]
Damn.
You see what you made me do? Did you see that?
I told you to toss 'em. Not hurl them all over hell,
-you stupid shit! -[gunshot]
Now I got to waste nine more bullets.
[woman 6 whispers] No, no!
[Duke] Alright. Let's git.
-[gunshots] -[hostages scream]
[soft suspenseful music]
[Mayor] Do you have any final words or prayers?
Me and the Lord ain't on the best of terms.
Besides, I wouldn't waste my breath on a town
that would hang a man for killing a hat.
[crowd murmuring]
[Mayor] Father, give him his last rites.
God didn't save Jesus from the likes of fools like you.
Don't reckon he's gonna help me none,
but I do think he's got one hell of a sense of humor.
[Mayor] Johnny Black,
this is a partial list
of the crimes you're accused of.
"Train robbery, horse thievery, improper
-White women eye contact..." -Bill,
please tell me y'all caught Brett Clayton
and put a bullet in him.
No luck. He had too much of a head start on us.
Cleaned out the vault and killed four of the bank tellers
-One hell of a sense of humor! [scoffs, laughs] -[Mayor] "Kung Fu treachery.
-Bilking the Bishop." -[exclaims]
It's okay. Go on.
Come on.
[applause]
[gallows' door opens]
[horse whinnies]
[western dramatic music]
[man 6 speaking in Indian dialect]
[in English] He said he stole from jailhouse.
He didn't happen to steal this money out of the saddlebag, did he?
[speaking in Indian dialect]
Ah.
[horse snorting]
[in English] I think he stole it, too.
Well, no matter.
You didn't have to save my wretched hide no way.
Besides, I get to live to kill Brett Clayton another day.
[man 6 speaking in Indian dialect]
[in English] Bye-bye.
[woman 7] Bye-bye.
[clicks tongue]
[soft music]
[music intensifies]
-[bullet clinks] -Huh?
-[action music] -[horse neighs]
-Hyah! -[whipping]
Hyah!
[whipping]
[horse neighs]
-What kind of rocks are these here? -Well, these are
flint rocks, sure as day.
-That's what I thought. -[gun clicks]
-[gunshot] -[fuse sparking]
Haul ass!
[lively action music]
[explosion]
[soft dramatic music]
[Brett] You don't choose. I choose.
I choose.
[Bullseye] Now how many of you is still holding on...
-...to wrongdoings done unto you? -[man 7] Yeah?
How many want to get even? Huh?
How many don't have any forgiveness in your heart?
-[woman 8] Yes, Lord! -I'm talking about forgiveness
in your heart. What is forgiveness?
Hmm?
Forgiveness is a choice.
-[man 8] Yes. -[woman 8] Oh, yes.
It's a decision.
A decision to release a person
of their obligations, of their bondage,
of their wrongdoing to you.
-[woman 8] Oh, yes! -Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free.
[man 9] Yeah. Preach it.
Only to discover...
...that prisoner was you.
-[congregation agreeing] -[applause]
-Amen. -[woman 9] Amen.
[woman 10] Hallelujah.
Thank you for staying
into the wee hours of the evening.
Got a little carried away, I guess.
[laughter]
See you next week.
That was some mighty fine preaching, pa.
Oh, well, thank you, Johnny.
[chuckles]
Put those down for a minute.
I want to ask you something.
Tell me, son.
Tell me what you got from the sermon in your own words.
I reckon that forgiveness suits the forgiver.
-Mm. -But... what about justice?
If'n we keep forgivin' the wicked,
won't they just keep being wicked?
Hmm. That's a good question, son.
But some things we just have to leave to the lord.
You know, I, I wasn't always a righteous man,
but thank God he left me with one good eye.
[both chuckle]
So that, so that I could see the good in others.
See that he had a plan for all of us.
Just like he's got a plan for you, Johnny.
Oh, yeah, he's got a plan for you, but you just can't see it yet.
I want you to always trust what's in your heart, son.
No matter how tough things get, no matter how rough it seems... you follow your heart,
and it won't steer you wrong.
-You understand? -I think so.
[Brett] Make room, we're coming through to find that preacher.
-Where is he? -You stay here.
[Brett] Bring him out.
[horse neighs]
[tense music]
Well, ain't you just full of tricks?
First, you're a gunslinger,
now you're a Bible thumper?
Well, I assure you, sir, I'm just a child of the lord like yourself.
[laughs] A child of God,
-you hear that? -[laughter]
He don't know me at all.
But I know you.
You might can fool these folks, but you can't fool me.
Uh... you, you, you look a bit parched.
How about some water, huh?
Gen, Gen... [stutters]
bring some water for these men.
[Brett] You can keep your Nigra water...
and tell me how you tricked these folks into thinking you can shoot
the spade out of an ace and a jack.
Oh, I assure you that's no trick, sir.
Just, just a lot of time from practicing,
shooting, you know, junk that ain't fit for nobody.
Well, good, then you won't mind
obliging me with a personal demonstration.
[Bullseye] Well, sir...
I'm sorry, the show is over. You missed it!
[chuckles]
Besides, I'm not in the habit
of bringing cards and pistols to church.
Well, it's a good thing... I am.
[muffled bang]
Took the liberty of fetching 'em from your ranch.
Colt 44 Whitneyvilles!
Fancy guns. Might wanna lock up sometimes
'case folks happen by and are not as civilized as us.
Yeah.
On your count, preacher man.
Sir, in the name of Jesus, please,
-let us be. -[Brett] I don't answer to no Jesus.
And I damn sure don't answer to no nigra.
So strap those on, or start digging some graves.
-[guns click] -Al-- Alright, alright, alright.
[stutters] Sure.
There you go.
Sweetie.
[mouth] I love you.
James...
Johnny, you mind your mom, and don't waiver from your faith
no matter what happens here.
-Daddy, no, just-- -No.
Do as you're told.
The rest of you folks, go on home now.
What's the point of a show, preacher, without an audience?
Ain't gonna be much of a show.
It's pitch black out here.
I couldn't do that on my best day.
You're probably right.
Well, here, let me make it easy on you.
Let's see if you can shoot something...
...that shoots back.
Oh, no, sir.
Had enough of that in the war.
Promised the Lord never again.
Oh, that's real sweet.
So you're saying you're choosin' to spare me, is that it?
Listen here.
You don't choose. I choose.
[dramatic beat tone]
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil.
[dramatic beat tone]
-[gunshot] -[woman 11 gasps]
-[Bullseye] My God. -[gasps]
[crowd clamoring]
-[body thuds] -James. [gasps]
[somber music]
[crying]
[heartbeats]
[music intensifies]
[horse neighs]
[Johnny] Hang in there, boy.
We better find some water.
[clicks tongue]
[eagle screeches]
[somber music]
[Brett] You don't choose. I choose.
Whoa.
Water. You stay right there.
[bright music]
Fill up this bucket, and then we gonna be on our way.
-[horse neighs and thuds] -Huh?
[somber music]
Brett Clayton... I'm gonna... I'm gonna kill you.
[Brett] You don't choose.
I choose.
[Johnny breathing heavily]
[birds cawing]
[Brett] You don't choose. I choose.
[Johnny] I'm gonna kill you.
Well, I guess the Lord didn't see fit to take you home just yet.
-[grunts softly] -The Lord forgot about me a long time ago.
Then why did he save you?
[soft music]
Where's my manners?
Name is Percy.
Reverend Percy Fairman, Jr., to be exact.
And yours?
Johnny.
Well, Johnny, seems a might strange you out here
on foot without a horse.
If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were on the run.
That's nothing to be ashamed of.
We've all had our past,
but as long as your path is directed
and anointed in the direction of God,
your salvation is assured.
I was on my way to Hope Springs, Oklahoma.
Gonna pastor a little church there.
The pastor up and died, and uh, I was happening through when I saw you.
And it's a good thing too, because you were
babbling on about some man named Clayton.
Seemed like you were living just to spite the man.
You know, John 2:11 says, "If a man hate in darkness,
he doesn't know where he goes because the darkness has blinded his eyes."
-You know, the bible teaches that-- -Listen, listen, preacher man,
now I don't care what you, John 2:11, or the bible says.
Now you can save all that snake oil talk for your sheep.
Well, then I guess you're a wolf.
'Cause only a wolf would bite the hand that saves it.
Well, I ain't ask you to.
A minute ago, you said it was the "Lord" saved me according to you, right?
See, the problem with you preachers is
you seem to use God as you see fit.
[scoffs]
I'll leave you be.
Bessie Lee Price.
Give me that!
"My dearest, dearest Percival.
[laughs] These years of longing for you
are worth the joy that it brings.
'Cause I know we'll both be happy here in Hope Springs."
[laughs] And, and it rhymes too!
Well, I might be a, a wolf, but pastor, you a dirty dog!
[laughs] Oh.
Uh, "I feel we are destined to be--"
[grunts]
[groans]
You know, for a preacher man,
you, uh, you pack a pretty mean wallop.
Wasn't always a preacher.
Back in my secular days I was a prize fighter.
Kinda convenient, you taking up with a woman from Hope Springs
right after the Pastor dies, huh?
So you're just gonna go in there and take his place, huh?
No.
Bessie and me been writing for two years.
She is supposed to meet me in Leesville, Georgia.
When the Pastor died, it seemed only right
I'd... help out the congregation in Hope Springs.
-Uh, now you know, Bessie is a fat woman name. -[laughs] Is that right?
-Mm-hmm. -Well, here is Bessie.
Take a look here.
Ooh! Well, color me corrected.
-[laughs] -Ain't you the lucky man.
Yes, sir!
Gonna ask her to marry me
as soon as I get there.
So, uh, you send her a picture of yourself?
Well, no, not rightfully so.
It figures.
If I was ugly as you, I wouldn't send her one either.
[both laughs]
-Something's wrong. We gotta git. -What are you talking about?
It's too quiet.
Animals don't lie.
-I don't see anything. -[arrow whooshes]
How about now?
Duck!
-[gunshot] -No!
-Percy! Move, fool!
-[natives yelling] -No! We come in peace!
We come in peace! [groans]
[gunshots]
-[natives' yelling continues] -[gunshot]
[horse neighs]
[yelling in Indian dialect]
[suspenseful music]
Ugh.
[horse neighs]
[soft tribal music]
[birds chirping]
[whimsical music]
[groaning]
[giggles]
-Ho! -[yelling in Indian dialect]
Huh? Huh?
[screams]
[yelling continues]
Oh, hell no!
[tense music]
[natives yelling]
[singing in Indian dialect]
[soft music]
-Hiyah! -[whips]
[chattering]
[Maw Belle, in English] Drink up, fellas.
You ain't no good if you sober,
and you still ain't no good if you drunk!
[laughter]
Maw Belle, you just too much!
Ah, sugar, I ain't too much. You just ain't enough!
Aww!
You sure know how to hurt a fellow.
Oh! And I know where to hurt 'em too!
-[laughter] -[piano playing]
♪ You ain't shit! And you ain't shit! ♪
♪ And you ain't shit at all ♪
♪ Winter, summertime ♪
♪ Spring and the fall ♪
♪ You ain't shit! And you ain't shit ♪
♪ Ain't no doubt about none of it ♪
-♪ You ain't shit! ♪ -[laughter]
♪ And he ain't shit And you ain't shit ♪
[laughter]
[door opens]
[music stops]
I'll have a--
[chuckles]
Believe me, I am no...
...stranger to the Lord, Jesus and whatnot.
What's your name, Preacher man?
[mimicking Percy] Percy Freeman. I mean, Reverend Percival Fairman, Jr.
Where you from?
Leesville, Georgia. Where I was a pastor.
Why you keep changing your voice?
[in own voice] A question we must all ask ourselves from time to time.
You didn't happen to see an outlaw by the name of Johnny Black
in your traveling, did you?
[deputy] That do look like him.
Hat's different.
What kind of preacher carries two Colt Whitneyvilles?
Well, we got snakes, wolves and Indians out there.
Six shooter's a little more effective than a bible.
You know, being a God-fearing man myself,
I know my share of the good book.
Why don't you give me one of your favorite psalms or... passages then.
Bessie Price!
Looking exactly like the picture that you sent me in that letter.
Percival Fairman Junior!
Why on earth would you choose this God-forsaken place
as your first stop in town?
We've been waiting for you to show up at the church all day.
Well, I wanted to see where the sinners were,
so I know how many souls to pray for and... whatnot.
Oh!
Well, I must say you are far more rugged than I imagined.
My word, you're as hard as a horse!
-Well, now. Shall we go to the... church? -Yeah.
Hold on a second. I ain't done with the good Reverend yet.
Bessie, do you know this man?
Never seen him in person, but we've been writing each other for two years.
How you know it's him?
-Well, I-- He-- Um... -Because...
Bessie, your, your words
in your letter,
are etched in my heart.
And it goes,
"My dearest, dearest Percival.
These years of longing for you are worth the joy that it brings...
[both] ...because I know we'll both be happy here in Hope Springs!"
-Oh! -[customers] Aww!
[Bessie] Oh!
[chuckles]
-So now, shall we then go to the church? -Mm-hmm.
You don't mind if I tag along, do you?
Be my guest, Marshall.
I was beginning to think I lost you to another woman.
[natives yelling]
If I could just have a little food and water.
I, I'll be on my way.
Listen. It, it's a mistake. Look-- I--
You're very lovely, but I'm supposed to marry someone else.
Anybody understand English?
It's been a mistake!
No!
Put me down!
I said it's been a mistake!
-[gentle music] -He's here, he's here!
He's here! He's here!
Here! Here!
Get it up.
It was a...
[members] Surprise!
[guns click]
[members] Oh!
Now, if we would only raise our hands that fast
unto the Lord...
-...we would be... -Delivered?
Delivered is good.
[Fry] And led unto him with...
-With? -[Fry] An anointed...
An anointed what?
With an anointed heart which will lead us unto him.
Exactly!
-Preach! Preach! -[Fry] Yes!
-And also, we would... -[Fry] We would
-praise his holy name with... -[members] Amen!
With? Everybody, say it together.
[members] With music to him with timbrel and harp.
Okay, how come you didn't know the tremble part?
-Timbrel. -Timbrel.
-[Fry] Timbrel. Timbrel. -[Bessie] Timbrel.
-It's a verse. -It's a verse.
And it is a verse, a verse--
-No, it isn't. -It's not what it is.
-It's... it's a psalm. -It's... it's a psalm.
Which is music...
It's a psalm.
-Psalm 149:3. -Which is music to my ears!
[members] Oh!
And it goes...
Let them praise
his name with dancing
and make music to him with timbrel
-and harp! -Hallelujah!
[members] Hallelujah!
Praise him! Let him use you! Let him use the preacher!
-Preacher! -[Betty] He's just tired.
-[tense music] -[owl hooting]
Lord, I know you work in mysterious ways, your wonders to perform.
But what gives?
Maybe I did something I don't remember,
but whatever it was, I promise never to do it again
if you just get me outta here.
Lord, just send me a sign.
-[man 10 groans] -[thuds]
[suspenseful music]
Thank you, Jesus!
[soft music]
Alright. Packed you some extra blankets.
You can stay here for the time being until we get matters sorted
with the late Reverend Tharrington's home.
God rest his soul.
Well, how did he die?
Killed by that evil land baron Tom Shealy's men.
Now Clancy, we don't know that for sure.
Everybody in here who got a good set of eyes
and common sense knows
that he killed the Reverend
and stole his property.
Every time a Black man builds up a town of value,
White folks come in,
take it from us, and paint the town white.
Whitetrification. That's what it's called.
-Whitetrification! -Mm.
That's right.
Now the Reverend bought that house
and willed it to the church,
okay? And you'd be there right now
if it wasn't for Tom Shealy trying to steal it.
If it wasn't for Jessie Lee, it would've gone already.
Well, who's Jessie Lee?
Ah. Town Counsil president.
Knows the law too. Mm-hmm.
Jessie Lee has been saving us
from Tom Shealy's trickery
for the past three years. [chuckles]
Ought to become Mayor.
Well, as Jessie Lee's sister,
you are preaching to the choir.
[Clancy] Tell you what we need to do,
we need to pull that turd
out of office
and make Jessie Lee the Mayor--
Alright, Clancy. That's enough of that.
The Reverend doesn't need to hear all that.
He needs to get settled in and prepare for Sunday.
Prepare?
Well, we got five congregations
coming to hear you preach your inaugural sermon on Sunday.
We got folks coming from as far as Cook County!
-Mm-hmm! -Yes, indeed!
Give you all of tomorrow to prepare for Sunday.
Been a long time since I've heard
some good old fashioned, down home preachin'.
-Come on, boys. -[Clancy] Can't wait to hear some word
-from the good book now. -Mm.
[Fry] Let Him use you!
[Clancy] Pretty stout fella, ain't he?
[Fry] Uh-huh.
You know, I could stay here a piece.
Make sure you get settled in alright.
Nah, nah, you, you go on. I'll be fine.
Well, it was nice to finally meet you.
I'm getting the hell outta here!
Reverend, I forgot to give you the key to the--
What are you doing?
I'm hanging my feet out the window like Jesus.
What?
If you wanna go to heaven, you wanna go feet first, right?
Yeah. Yeah, okay, I guess so.
I know Jesus had Mary wash his feet,
I just never done it by the window.
This is... Ooh, Lord.
[groans] Get my feet up here.
[groans]
Um... Here's your key.
-What's the key to? -Safe deposit box.
Safe deposit box?
Yeah. The one at the bank.
Hmm.
-How much is in there? -Huh,
roughly $5,000 of the church's money
which you're now in control of.
Is it still open?
No.
It's not open till Monday.
Hmm. Well, I guess I can wait that long.
-Huh? -Huh?
-What? -What?
[stutters] You-- Okay.
Reverend, how long we supposed to keep our feet out this window?
When the time is right, we'll know.
We'll know.
I wanna know now. My feet's cold.
-[western suspenseful music] -You know,
there's something not right about this new preacher.
I'm gonna find out what.
[gentle trumpet music]
[earth crunches]
-[dramatic music] -[eagle screeches]
[screaming]
[soft wild west music]
[Tom] Damn, that Jessie Lee!
I offered twice what this whole town is worth!
Yeah, you, you certainly did. May, may I call you Tom?
I'll, I'll take your cold stare as a no.
-Do not call him Tom. -Nah.
[stammers] Uh, Mr. Shealy, uh,
Jessie Lee and the rest of the townfolk
feel that since they cultivated the land
long before you ever showed up here,
they feel like this is their rightful home,
and, uh, hmm, well, I got to agree--
You got to agree what?
It's so refreshing to have somebody
to ask me how I feel.
Well, sir, I have to agree that
they should take your offer!
I mean, you and those pretty blue eyes,
you, you offered them twice what that land is worth!
And I keep telling them--
Then why are they listening
to Jessie?
You're the goddamned mayor!
Well, see, Jessie's got that book learnin'
and that intangible quality
where you just know...
I don't know why
I have you two around.
You're about as useful to me as Reverend Tharrington.
Well, he, he's dead.
That's right.
Oh. Oh, he's saying that we as useless as a dead man.
-[cross-talk] -[door slam opens]
-[intriguing music] -What, uh, what time is it?
Oh! It's time to be anywhere else except here.
-Well, how about that. -Good day.
How about that. Alright. Let me just cut--
I'm gonna cut in. Yeah.
-Read that. -[Yarbrough] Excuse me.
[door closes]
Out loud! Here. Let me help you.
See, "We, the federal litigation bureau have come to a ruling
as to the authenticity of Reverend Tharrington's signature, stop.
It is our assessment that the signature Mr. Shealy obtained
is a forgery, stop.
We advise those responsible
to be brought to justice immediately
and for the forgery to stop." Stop.
Well, I don't know how this happened.
Now did he or did he not sign that signature in front of you?
Oh, no. I believe one of my men went and collected it from Reverend Tharrington.
That's not what you stated earlier.
-Well, I think-- -You know what I think?
I think Jessie Lee was right to bring me down here.
I believe you're trying steal land from a dead man
and I'm beginning to believe you may even had something to do with his death.
And if you did, by God,
all the money you got is not gonna keep me
from watching you hang for it.
Now, you listen here!
-[guns click] -No. You look here.
I'm watching you, Shealy, and if I find out
you got something to do with this,
I'm gonna tie you to the back of my horse
and parade your ass through town.
Just before I throw your long ass in jail.
Come on, boys.
Have a good day.
That Jessie Lee is a thorn in my side, and I need it removed.
You tell Crackshot
to earn his keep!
-We're on it, Boss. -[dramatic music]
[paper rustles]
[groans]
[insects chirping]
[goats bleating]
[quirky music]
-[adventurous music] -[goat bleating]
[gentle music]
Good morning!
[Johnny] What the hell are you doing in here?
Now that is no way to speak
to your future wife.
I am here because I thought
I would join you for break--
Hallelujah.
[exhales sharply]
I brought you something for you to put in your mouth on this morning.
Everybody loves my hot buns.
So I thought I'd come over here and give you some.
Figured it's been a long time since you had any.
I, uh-- I covered them up
to keep them hot, steamy, firm, moist. Just the way a man likes them.
I've also got warm honey, and warm cream you can...
...pour on, lick off, drench and splatter all over everything.
If you'd like.
Believe me, I don't mind.
-Now... -[chuckles] Well--
I hope you don't mind, I just
feel obliged to bless the food, I...
-Something just, uh, come over me. -Oh.
Just come over me too.
Let me sit these buns down, and I'll get right down on my knees.
No, no, no, Bessie. You just stay on up
and, uh, you just go on and start without me.
Well, you don't know my appetite!
I'll have that whole thing down my throat,
cream and all before you can even--
Bessie, Bessie, Bessie,
could you just start without me
and, and stop talking?
-Oh! -[gunshots in the distance]
-[glass shatters] -Oh.
[gunshots]
-[gunshots] -[bottles shatter]
[Cove] Bob!
Bob, hold your fire.
It's Marshall Cove!
-What in the hell's going on? -Crackshot Bob.
He demanded to see Jessie Lee or he said
-he gonna keep target shooting. -Where's the Marshall?
[whimsical music]
[gun clicks]
[Marshall] I'm gonna have to ask you for your guns, Bob.
You're scaring the women and children.
You're free to ask as I'm free to keep shooting.
No town ordinance says I can't shoot targets as I please.
You as a lawdog should know that.
I mean, I, I mean, come on, Bob. What if, what if you hit someone?
I only hit what I'm aiming at.
You wanna draw on me?
Go on, make a move.
Or turn tail and go and fetch me Jessie Lee.
-[gunshots] -[bottles shatter]
-Reverend, what the hell are you doing? -Target shooting.
And clearly you don't mind.
-[dramatic music] -[Bob] That's far enough.
I said stop!
Stop me.
-[gunshot] -[bullet clinks]
-[gunshot] -[groaning]
You just shot Crackshot Bob!
Well, he drew on me first.
Well, he tried to.
You do that shit again, I'm gonna shoot your nuts off alphabetically.
But I'm Crackshot Bob.
Well, now you just shot.
Look, uh...
I'm sorry y'all had to see that.
I just can't stand bullying sons of bitches.
I mean the Lord can't stand bullying sons of bitches.
What the hell kind of preacher are you?
Well, what kind of lawman are you?
-Now you listen here-- -Hiding behind them--
-I'm here to enforce U.S. Law. -You could've waited--
[cross-talk]
-[whistling] -And you're gonna tell me what?
Jessie Lee's coming!
[horse neighs]
[suspenseful wild west music]
Whoa!
A storm is a'comin!
Men... women... children...
All we have is our hands,
and our feet to walk.
Rain comes down, and it ain't gonna go back up.
Uh-uh.
And all the while we know that the bolwevil
don't change.
But we can.
Can you?
Are you... a bolwevil?
[crowd mutters]
That's right!
And it don't matter what the book says.
It's not about what you have in your pocket.
Uh-uh!
It's what your pocket
has in you!
It ain't the man who milks the cow. Uh-uh!
But the cow that milks the man!
And what's that cow gonna tell me?
-[man 11] Moo? -That's right!
But we know that the answer
is deeper than that.
Oh I gotta pee.
Yep, yep, yep. I gotta pee this very instant.
[woman 12] Margie, Cheryl, would you tend to my brother, please?
That's Jessie Lee?
Sure is. Best thing that ever happened to this town.
Pretty and smart as a whip.
The Lord worked overtime when he made her.
-[chuckles] -Her?
Yeah!
[soft intriguing music]
Thank you. Thank you.
Who-- Well, who's the--
[neighbor] Uh, that's her brother Elmer.
He got kicked in the head by a mule.
Ain't been right ever since.
So Jessie Lee's a girl.
[neighbor] Jessica Lee Price is more than a girl.
She's a woman,
and a whole lot of woman at that! [giggles]
-You sure right about that. -Yeah.
Excuse me, Mr. Preacher.
Reverend, or whatever you call yourselves. [exhales]
So, you're the new Reverend, huh?
I guess.
Well, the old Reverend never carried a gun.
Well, if he had maybe there wouldn't be any call for a new one.
I'm not sure what you think you've done here,
but I can assure you that you have set us back a good two years.
Well, how so?
The last thing we need is someone
starting a physical war with the white man.
We must arm ourselves with legal knowledge
and change our circumstances
through those means, Mr. Fairman.
I'm not sure if you know, but the pen is mightier than the sword.
Not when you need a sword, it ain't.
All that's gonna happen is Shealy is going to send more men in.
Well, until that happens, we don't have to worry about
one of these children or women
catching one of that jackass's stray bullets.
Yes.
Then we all have to worry.
Didn't the Biblesay to turn the other cheek?
I don't know. I mean, probably. Y-- Yeah.
But it also said you can hit a bully with a slingshot.
And this here is mine.
[scoffs] White folks have an army,
in case you haven't noticed.
Well, I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees.
But maybe that's me.
Well, y'all suit yourselves.
[Cove] You know what I think?
I think you ain't no preacher at all.
Bessie Lee, you sure this is the man been courting you through the mail?
He knew what I said in my letters.
You know what the Biblesays about false prophets, Mr. Fairman?
Peter 1, verses 1-22, "But false Prophets..."
Please, continue.
I don't like to be put on the spot.
I know it,
-but-- -[Percy] "But false prophets...
...also
rose among the people.
Just as false teachers secretly bring
destructive heresies even denying
that the master brought 'em, bringin' s... destruction
upon themselves."
[goat bleats]
I need some water!
Do you know this vile man,
Reverend Fairman?
[screaming]
Hurtest him not for he is one of the Lord's children.
He smells more like one of the Lord's dead possums!
You ain't no Reverend Fairman!
I'm Reverend Percy Fairman, Jr!
-Your name-- -Hush that man!
He knows not what he sayeth or who he iseth.
Honey, I'm scared. That man looks depraved.
-[gags] -Bessie Lee.
[Percy] Oh, Jesus.
You are my little sister,
and I love you,
but that-- man is not what he portends to be.
And what is that?
He's a man, ain't he?
If he, if he's a lil' different.
Hell, if he even made up being a preacher, he's a man,
and he is mine!
You are so damned rigid!
You say you don't need a man. Well, I ain't you.
So you leave me be to make my mistakes.
And I plan to make 'em over and over with that man tonight
and every night after that!
[Percy gagging] Let me go!
[crowd chattering]
I'm going to write a telegram.
To send to the authorities to clear up this matter
before it festers into something
we can't close up.
Elmer, stop!
Come on, Elmer.
Mr. Fairman, I sincerely hope
that I'm wrong about you.
I look forward to hearing your sermon tomorrow.
[somber music]
Me too.
[sighs]
Now if the savage
would just promise to calm himself
we can get him some water,
and I can have a private conversation with him
-to show him the err of his ways. -[gagging]
Uh-huh.
Are you calm yet?
You took my name, my church,
and possibly my future bride,
and you expect me to be calm?
Well, the last time I saw you,
you had an arrow sticking out of your chest.
I thought you was dead.
And robbing the dead
makes it that much better?
[stutters] What took you so long anyway?
And why do you look all like that?
I don't even want to talk about it.
Right now, I just want my life back.
And you can go on with your heathenish way
-of robbing and stealing. -Not just yet.
I've got to be you for few more days.
What?
I'll be Reverend Fairman,
and you'll be my Deacon
from back in Georgia, come to follow me to my new parish.
Yeah. We'll say that
the long journey got you all squirrely.
I know.
I will claim to have
lost my voice
from begging the Lord into saving you
from being such a heathen,
and you, you can do my sermon on Sunday.
Come Monday, once the bank opens,
I can make my withdrawal,
and I'll be gone.
And leave you to the life of your intention.
Now why in God's name would I agree to do something like that?
Because you're a survivor and so am I.
And I got a purpose to achieve,
and if you hinder me from that purpose,
I will shoot you deader than beef jerky.
Nice to meet you, Reverend Fairman.
-[flesh squelches] -[groans]
Yup, that's a 44 slug
from a Colt Whitneyville alright.
-[thuds] -[bullet clatters]
What kind of preacher carries
a goddamned Colt Whitneyville?
And how did you let him outshoot you?
[Eddie] Hell, he don't know.
We had to explain it to him 11 times already
and he was the one looking straight at him.
-What happened? -[Eddie] You see?
He shot your gun out before you could draw.
Then he plugged you in your leg and left you laying in the dirt,
crying like a dang schoolgirl!
What'd you do?
What did any of you half-assed idiots do? Huh?
I want you to find out who this
preacher man is and send him to his maker.
Now remember everything I said.
It'd be sad to shoot you.
But I'd get over it faster than you might imagine.
[whimsical music]
[members chatter]
[members] Oh...
Healing that man... [coughs]
...took a lot out of me. [coughs]
But no matter what the cost is to me,
-I think it's worth it to save a man's soul. -Oh.
That journey sure put the devil in him,
but now he's back and better than ever.
Y'all, get ready for
Deacon.
[woman 13] Oh, praise the Lord! Hallelujah.
Here he is.
What is his name?
Deacon.
We know.
What is his name?
That's his name too.
[Betty] Uh... first or last?
-First -Last.
It's his first
and his last name.
So he's Deacon Deacon.
He's actually Deacon Deacon Deacon,
the third.
From a longline of Deacons...
...named Deacon... who were...
[members exclaiming softly]
-...Deacons. -Deacons. [giggles]
-[chattering] -[member] Alright.
Oh. Oh!
Oh!
Reverend Fairman said
that the Lord has taken his voice
as a price for healing me,
and tomorrow, Sunday morning,
I, Deacon
Deacon Deacon
will preach in his place.
-Oh. -[neighbor] Well, who wants to hear
a Deacon who just stepped out
of the stone age an hour ago?
We have congregations coming as far as Hogswaddle.
Now how we gonna explain a cave man preacher?
-John 7:24. -[gentle music]
"Judge not by appearance, but judge a right judgment."
"For we walk by faith, and not by sight,"
Corinthians 5:7.
Matthew 7:1.
"Judge not, lest the be judged.
For God has not brought his son into the world
to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him."
John 3:17,
"And therefore do not pass judgment
before the time, before the Lord has come
who will shed light on all things that are in darkness
and expose the purposes of the heart.
And everyone shall receive their commendation."
Corinthians 4:5.
-Oh. That was beautiful, Deacon Deacon Deacon. -[man 12] Amen.
Why thank you. Not as beautiful as--
You go on take the bed.
It's too soft for me.
Besides, it's gonna be yours permanently after Monday.
You mean after you steal the church's money from the bank?
And where'd they steal it from, huh?
Folks trying to buy "salvation?"
Tithing is not a purchase,
but of course, you wouldn't know that.
They need a special outhouse in Hell for you
for stealing from a church.
Ain't nothing sacred about a damned man-made building.
Then why are you whispering?
Shut up!
People donating all this money for what?
So the, so the preacher can have a,
a fancy chair like this?
Ain't nothing but a chair. Keep my butt from hitting the floor.
And what, this maple desk? I guess the Lord need
a preacher to have a desk like this to keep the weight of a bible.
Or this fancy jewel-crusted inkwell.
Now you gonna tell me that the Lord--
[suspenseful music]
What is it?
It's from the late Reverend Tharrington.
What does it say?
[Tharrington] In the event of my demise, please find this map
which leads to the hidden treasure that's on my property.
-Well? -Nothing.
You get some rest.
You got a big day tomorrow.
[insects chirping]
[soft dramatic music]
[Percy snoring]
-[soft grunt] -[shushes]
I know you lost your voice, so don't even bother trying to speak.
Bessie's gonna do all the speaking for us.
I know where I am, and I know what I'm doing.
Last time, you wanted me.
And your friend here,
ooh,
tells me you want me right now.
Am I right?
[giggles]
[both moaning softly]
[gun clicks]
Oh, it's you.
[soft music]
So, what brings you out here at, uh, 12 midnight?
I see you got your voice back.
Comes and goes.
So, what brings you?
Mine is the next house over.
I saw some lights and wanted to make sure
it wasn't Shealy's men out here snooping around.
By yourself?
At least I'm hoping you brought your pencil.
And my eraser.
[grunts softly]
And you? What are you doing out here?
Well, since this is supposed to be my property eventually,
I figured I'd come out here
and see the view.
What do you think?
It's beautiful.
Probably the most beautiful thing I ever did see.
The stars, the scenery,
it's amazing, isn't it?
I was beginning to believe nothing like this really existed.
[scoffs] Me too.
Life is full of surprises.
You never know what's in store.
Well, I sure am looking forward to what comes next.
[Elmer] Jessie!
-Dammit! -[Elmer] Jessie!
No, Elmer, I'm fine!
[Elmer] I'm, I'm caught in the bed trap again!
-[sighs] Look, I, um, I have to... -Yeah.
[Elmer] It, it burns! Yeah. It hurts!
Trapped again. It's, it's on the butt!
It's on the butt! Yeah.
[Percy snoring]
[sniffs]
Perfume?
[quirky music]
-[chatter] -[bell tolling]
You sure woke up on the right side of the bed this morning.
Every day you wake up is the right side.
Had a great night, Praise Jesus!
Me too.
[clears throat]
You know there's some things I'm gonna be missing about this town.
In time, you'll get over it.
Yeah. I suppose you're right.
Besides, I got to continue on my road to vengeance.
Happy hunting.
Yep, and,
shame I'm gonna have to leave with...
-...the church's money like that. -Lord will forgive you.
Church won't even know it's gone.
Hey, what's gotten into you?
The holy spirit.
And the fruit of the spirit is,
love, joy, peace, patience, self-control...
Well, self-control most of the time...
But come on. And faithfulness.
Against such things there are no laws.
See you in the pulpit.
Good Sunday, Sister Jessie.
[whimsical music]
Oh. I understand.
Listen, uh,
last night, I really don't know what came over me.
I haven't been with anyone in a--
Well, honestly, I've just never been with anyone.
And I might've been out of my place. I,
I realize you've been courting my sister, and...
[soft music]
[chuckles softly] Well...
Well, Bessie has agreed to watch Elmer tonight,
so if you are so inclined...
I'd sure like to continue where we left off last night.
Until tonight then.
[softly] Mm.
There's my friend. He misses me.
[laughs seductively] Yeah. Yeah. Oh!
Oh, yes! You close that door, sugar. And you help me out of this dress.
We can get a quick one in before the--
As we all know now,
the right Reverend Percival Fairman, Jr.,
is suffering from laryngitis.
[members muttering]
Oh, and he won't
be able to perform his inaugural
sermon this morning.
-[members] Oh! -[Betty] Oh,
can I get an amen? Can I get an amen?
-[members] Amen. -[Betty] Because
it is due to his exorcism
of the lost soul of our newly beloved
Deacon Deacon Deacon.
-Whoo-whoo! -[members] Whoo!
Who is going to preach in his place.
-[members cheer] -[Betty] Alright, alright, that's enough! That's enough!
Alright. Now the choir is gonna give us a rendition
of "Lord my eyes."
Perfume?
Had a great night. Praise Jesus!
There's my friend. He misses me!
Self-control... Well, self-control most of the time,
but come on.
Percy. What the hell did you do?
What do you mean?
Did you take liberties
with Miss Bessie
and have her thinking it was me?
It was more like she was takin'
-liberties with me. -What?
The flesh is weak, but that woman's love is strong!
Man, you should've been there.
Well, I guess you kinda were,
but I didn't mind being you last night.
Well, I say, maybe I didn't mind being me.
I guess I just couldn't help myself,
-but to help myself. -What the hell?
You're supposed to be all Jesus Christ,
and you're gonna do something like this?
[raising voice] Now you gonna have me looking like I'm--
-It's a miracle! -[members cheering]
The Lord has seen fit
to restore Reverend Fairman's voice
just in time for him to preach his inaugural sermon himself!
Praise the Lord!
[members] Amen! Whoo!
-Thank you, Jesus! -[members chattering]
[man 13] Come on now, Reverend.
Y'all, uh...
Now...
...I never been much on apologizing, and...
...y'all seem to be very good folks,
and so I hope you...
...find it in your hearts...
...for a little forgiveness.
[Bullseye] Forgiveness.
-Forgiveness. -Forgiveness.
-What is forgiveness? -What is forgiveness?
-Forgiveness is a choice. -Forgiveness is a choice.
[members] Mm-hmm.
-[Bullseye] It's a decision. -A decision...
...to release...
...someone of their obligation, their bondage...
-[members] Yes. -...to you.
Of their wrongdoing...
-[members] Yeah. -[Bullseye] ...to you.
...to you.
-Matthew 6:14. -Matthew 6:14.
If he forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly father
shall forgive you.
[member] That's right.
-How many of us... -[woman 14] It's the Lord's word.
-[Bullseye] ...hold on... -...hold on to the pain
others have inflicted upon us?
[soft wild west music]
To forgive is to set a prisoner free.
[members chattering in agreement]
Only to realize...
...that prisoner was you!
...that prisoner...
[cell door closes]
...was you!
[members exclaim]
[exhales]
Always trust what's in your heart.
And it won't steer you wrong.
Huh.
We must heal from the hurt of our past.
[members] Yes.
It seems to me the only path to that healing is love.
[murmur in agreement]
We must love ourselves enough to forgive our enemies.
[murmur in agreement]
For us to move forward,
we must forgive their transgressions,
so we can live our righteous lives...
-[members] Yes! -...without hate.
-[members] Amen! Yes! -Amen!
-Say turn it loose! -[members] Turn it loose!
-Turn it loose! -[members] Turn it loose!
Forgive us our trespasses as...
[members] We forgive those who trespass against us!
Blessed are the merciful for...
[members] ...they shall receive mercy!
[Johnny] Unforgiving people are...
[members] Unforgiving people!
Let the church say, turn it loose!
-[members] Turn it loose! -Turn it loose!
[members] Turn it loose!
Marshall, if you would be so kind
as to shackle my hands behind me.
[members mutters]
[somber music]
Lord, please give me the strength...
-[woman 14] Yes. -...to free myself
from the shackles I wear of my own doing.
[Fry] Free yourself!
Now folks, we've known shackles better than anyone.
[members] Yes, Lord. Amen!
If you have unforgiveness in your heart,
then you are shackled to your past.
[member] Mm-mmm. Amen. Amen.
-To your history. -[member] Yes! Mm-hmm.
And if you are shackled to your history, you are not free
to possess your future.
[members murmurs in agreement]
Your destiny.
[member] Yes!
-Say turn it loose. -[members] Turn it loose!
-Turn it loose! -Turn it loose!
-Now we can't change the past. -[members murmur in agreement]
-[Fry] We can't change that. -And our spirits ain't built to carry it with us.
[Fry] Mm-hmm. Talk to 'em about it.
Now forgiveness
doesn't change your past neither.
[member] Okay. Okay.
But it sure can change your future.
[members] That's right! Amen!
[murmurs in agreement]
What God has before us
-is much greater than what's left behind us. -[members] Yes!
Leave your shackles behind you!
-[clatters] -[members cheer]
And raise your hands to see what God has
in store for you. Turn it loose!
-[members] Turn it loose! -[Johnny] Turn it loose!
Turn it loose! Turn it loose!
Turn it loose!
[shouting in agreement and praising]
[crowd chattering]
[woman 15] Now how did he get them shackles off?
[dramatic music]
-Percy! -Yelling your own name ain't gonna help you.
Deacon Deacon Deacon!
[Bessie] You have the nerve
to spend last night doing what we were doing,
and then go after my sister?
I am surprised you still had the strength.
Now that wasn't me.
It sure looks like you.
No. I, I mean with her.
I mean, that wasn't me.
I mean, it was, it was dark, remember?
-Oh, so you do remember? -No, no, no!
I wasn't with who--
I wasn't who you was with.
Are you saying I don't know who I'm sleeping with in the house of the Lord?
Exactly.
Oh!
So who has been writing me
for the past two years?
Uh... me?
And last night, who was that
who met me under the stars
and made plans to continue tonight?
-Well, that would be me, but I can explain! -[cries loudly]
-I can't even look at you! -You just did.
Yes, I can, but not for long 'cause it hurts.
Do me a favor
and stay far away from me
and my sister from now on.
-You hear me? -[crying continues]
Jessie, please, you-- Oh.
-[sobbing] Oh, my God... -Don't you ever touch me
or my sister ever again
for as long as you live, Mr. Preacher man.
[screaming]
[screaming and crying]
[Jessie] Bessie Lee!
I'm coming.
[sobbing and muttering]
-Bessie Lee! -Don't even-- I don't know!
I do know! I do...
Percy, where are you?
-[crickets chirping] -[soft music]
[Tom] I don't care how much it costs.
I don't care how long it takes.
I just want those Ruff Riders to come here
and burn this town to the ground
if they have to.
I will not be denied.
Get out!
[piano playing bright music]
[pub chatter]
-Percy. -Oh, hello, Satan.
I bet you didn't think I knew who you were, did you?
Barkeep, don't give him any water.
I gave him water and he made my life a living hell.
Percy. You got to tell Bessie
she was with you the other night, or--
Or what? You're gonna shoot me.
I know you don't care.
Because come Monday,
you'll be gone with the church's money.
No, no, no, listen. I'm gonna stay on for longer.
Now this town is about to come into a whole heap of money,
and I want to make sure Tom Shealy
and his men don't try to steal it.
So you can steal it yourself.
Uh.
Percy, you got me wrong.
Thus sayeth Satan.
You know, Satan was an angel too.
-That's why you knew the bible. [chuckles] -No. No.
My daddy was a preacher, and I just remembered some of the mumbo jumbo.
Mumbo jumbo?
Oh, you really are Satan, aren't you?
You know there's a special outhouse in hell
reserved just for you.
Now get out of my face,
and get thee behind me, Satan,
before I knock you one more time.
You're drunk.
I'm drunk.
But not too drunk to do this!
-[blow lands] -[thud]
[tense music]
[piano music stops]
[crowd murmurs]
[plays lively piano music]
[utensils shattering]
[customers grunting and groaning]
[lively piano music playing continues]
[screaming]
[screams]
-[gunshot] -[piano music stops]
Preacher, I need a word with you outside.
[intriguing music]
You boys stay inside and oversee the cleanup.
Wanna tell me about this?
I got this off the press yesterday.
Johnny Black carries two custom Colt 44 Whitneyvilles.
Sound like anybody you know?
Now what I need to tell you is more important than me.
[sighs] Now I'll surrender myself,
but I need you to listen.
I know why Tom Shealy had the Reverend killed
and wants his property so bad.
I'm listening.
I need to show you something that the late Reverend drew up
that'll answer everything.
But I want your word
that you'll uphold the law as it pertains to the rights of ownership.
By my oath to God!
I will say, after hearing your sermon today...
...you got me.
I'll go get it and be right back,
unless you wanna come with me.
No, I trust you, Reverend Fairman.
It's Johnny.
You know that my authority extends to granting pardons as well.
Now you're a born-again man, there's no doubt about that.
And in addition to the idea of locking up that scoundrel Shealy,
I'll see to it
that your past stays in the past.
I'll be right back.
-[gun clicks] -[Eddie] Evening Marshall.
[dramatic music]
Hand me those guns.
[gunshot in the distance]
[deputy] We left him with the preacher!
[insects chirping]
[shotgun clicks]
How'd you get passed my boobytraps?
Practice.
I thought I told you never to come near me again.
This ain't about me and you.
[Jessie] So this is what Shealy was up to?
Oil on church property?
Do you know what this means?
Yeah, and so does Shealy,
which means he'll do anything in his power to get it,
including killing everybody in his path.
So, you gotta make sure your government folks
protect this town from what's coming.
Where are you going, Preacher?
Might as well tell ya. You gonna find out anyway.
I'm meeting up with my gang in Beaumont.
My name is Johnny Black.
I am no gentleman, and I am no preacher.
I'm on the run from the law, and they're probably gonna try
to pin the murder of Marshall Cove on my head as well...
...but I'm innocent.
So, everything you said to me was a lie.
Not everything.
I swear you're the most beautiful thing I ever did see.
[Tom] Great work, Eddie.
Two birds with one bullet!
No one in the way to stop us now.
Except Jessie Lee.
Oh, I got plans for her.
Bring in those two bottom feeders.
[door opens]
[intriguing music]
Mr. Shealy.
Tell Jessie I prepared my final offer.
If she doesn't give me the deed to that Tharrington property
in the next 24 hours...
...I got the Ruff Riders coming to burn this town to the ground.
The word'll be...
...White women raped by Black men.
-M-- Mr. Shealy-- -No, no, no, no,
no one will care past that. Not even the government.
So, if, uh, if, if we get this deed signed then you can
turn them Ruff Riders around?
Absolutely!
And then you two can enjoy the prominence
of being the elected leaders of this town.
Right.
But make sure that deed is signed.
The fate of this town rests in your hands.
[chuckles]
-[door opens] -Make sure phase two goes off without a hitch.
[door closes]
[Fry] Outlaw Johnny Black.
I mean, it's in writing right there!
Wanted Dead or Alive! Enough! Enough! Enough!
It's right here. It says it on the poster. The Outlaw Johnny Black!
Hush! Hush! Hush! Hush! Hush!
Everybody just hush and let me explain.
That's right let Deacon Deacon Deacon have the floor.
My name is not Deac--
My name is Reverend Fairman.
But, it--
Johnny and me met in the desert
before we came here.
We got attacked by Injuns,
he thought I was killed, and he took
my name to duck the law.
Ducked the law alright.
-[door opens] -Put a bullet in his back!
[cross-talk]
[Jessie] Oh, ye of little faith!
Johnny may be a man of questionable past
but a cold-blooded murderer
he is not.
He brought me this last night.
-It will clear up a whole lot. -[Percy] Hey,
this the note he found on Saturday
'fore he rode out at midnight.
Hmm.
So, who was here
at midnight?
[chuckles]
I'm a whore.
[Fry] Oh! Oh. Oh, no.
There's oil been found on the property.
-[gasps] -Enough
to keep this town
in prosperity for a century.
Ooh! Hallelujah!
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
And enough reason for Tom Shealy
to kill the late Reverend and to bury the facts with us.
And that is why we must arm ourselves
and prepare for the worst!
Violence? Ain't you the one
-that said the pen was mightier than the sword? -[door opens]
Not when you need a sword it ain't.
[door slams]
[dramatic music]
Here come Shealy's lap dogs now.
Hang your pitiful self, Clancy. Skit!
-Scram! Skit! Scram! -Skit! Scram!
Jessie,
I'm afraid that if you don't
get that deed signed,
Shealy's gonna level this town.
-Evoking the dreaded WWRBBM! -[congregation gasps]
White woman raped by Black men?
I'm afraid so.
That is a flat out lie!
It doesn't have to be true.
It's unwritten, and it seems
to supersede all constitutional laws.
Hell! It even works when there are
no White women living in the damn town.
Just the mention of it, and it's...
-[choking] -[gunshots]
That is why we must--
-[choking and groaning] -Hiya!
That is why we must--
Not in front of my kids!
[Jessie, raised voice] That is why...
[in normal voice] ...we must decide
if we are going to live on our knees
or die on our feet.
I say, a life worth living
is a life worth defending.
Hallelujah!
-[quirky music] -Who's with me?
-[Mayor Williams clears throat] -[Bessie] Who's with me?
I, I'm still trying to find a man. I ain't had no man in--
Now, when you say who is with me...
-Yeah. -...does that refer to who?
Gotta milk a cow...
You probably don't know this,
but I have brittle bones like a bird.
-If I throw a punch, I could crack my spine. -Oh.
-And my knees... -I ain't had no children.
I still got good children bearing years left.
-My knees is shot! -They'll buckle.
They'll, they'll, they'll bend backwards also like a bird.
Ever seen a bird walk with backward knees?
I was thinking about going to the saloon and...
I suggest the lighter skinned ones of us...
...go first.
[faintly] Oh...
What happened?
You fainted.
Oh, Deacon, you must think the worst of me.
-Me think the worst of my Buttercup? -[romantic music]
"The wind's of change shall not heed the path of my sail."
Percy? It is you!
-[door opens and closes] -Oh!
Everyone! Everyone! I think they found Johnny!
I think they found him. Come on!
[Fry] Found Johnny? Come on!
[dramatic music]
[Betty] Oh, my Jesus.
Almost made it to Beaumont, didn't you?
Hope you like your new home, Johnny.
Your bounty oughta triple on account of killin' the Marshall.
We'll work three man shifts until the federal Marshall gets here with our bounty money.
I'll take those cell keys.
Not that I don't trust you, Sheriff, but I don't trust you.
[crowd murmuring]
Y'all best just go on home.
You can see him tomorrow when he's on his way to his hanging
after I get my money.
Go on! Get outta here.
As a man of God, would I be permitted to offer him some resolution?
Hello there, Reverend.
[groans]
[sighs]
Well, I guess this is the end of the line, I...
It's only right I, I say I'm sorry.
Make sure these people do right by this town now.
You know, you might be right...
there might just be a special outhouse in hell just waitin' on me.
Oh, I didn't mean that.
Look, uh, I'm sorry.
No, Percy, you stop.
The only person put me in here is me.
Now this was my destiny
long before I met you.
My only regret is I didn't get a chance
to do what I feel I was meant to do.
Kill Brett Clayton?
No, Percy.
You see, these past few days I had what you might call a, a revelation.
See, uh, I been living with all this hatred.
This hatred in my heart. Hatred for my Daddy's killers,
hatred for my Daddy for not shooting them down.
I... I've been livin' with all this hatred because...
...it's the only thing I had.
And when I heard my Daddy's words coming out of my mouth,
I dunno, something...
...something stuck!
I finally understood why he did what he did.
And... and it freed me.
I spent my whole life...
walking around holding onto hot coals that was burning nobody but me.
Once I turned them loose, seemed kinda silly to wanna pick 'em back up.
What was it that you thought you were meant to do?
I reckon I wasn't meant to live this life alone,
you know, just me and my hatred.
Least with Jessie Lee, I, I got to feel something...
different before shipping off.
Well, it ain't over.
The Lord ain't through with you yet.
Now who you fooling?
I'd be dead already except they didn't
set the bounty for Marshall Cove's death yet.
Look here...
This here is my first Bible.
Funny story about this thing.
Back in my fighting days, a group of White fighters came to town.
They said they wanted to challenge the champion.
That was me at the time.
Now any dark fellow knows that if a White man challenges you,
you better lay down as soon as he hits you good.
That's if you don't want any trouble.
Well, I did as expected, and that cracker stood over me
laughing and waving his arms,
and right then I got to thinkin'...
about all our people...
-[groans] -...who had to sit there and look at the same thing
but didn't have the strength to do anything about it.
And right then and there I made up my mind enough was enough.
So I got up, I dusted off my britches,
and I commenced to whippin tail!
[both laughs]
Boy, I turned that Toubab every whicha way but loose.
White folks was sittin' with their mouths wide open.
It was so quiet,
you could hear a boll weevil
peeing on cotton five miles away.
[both laugh]
-Black folks just cheered! -Mm.
-What'd them White folks do? -Well, you know they did.
They hung my Black tail from the highest tree.
I still have the scar on my neck.
Well, they rode off and left me hangin' there.
And I said to myself, Lord, please don't let me die like this.
I said, Lord, if you save me, I'll serve you for the rest of my life.
[chuckles]
And right then, that branch snapped.
-I hit the ground. -Hmm.
Who knows how long I laid there.
But I woke up and untied myself, and, uh...
-...this here book was right there next to me. -Hmm.
One of them men that hung me must have left it behind.
Anyway, I picked it up
and began my journey.
And I been preaching freedom in Christ ever since.
Well,
I don't think this branch is going to break, Reverend.
Well, you never know.
[soft music]
Read John 8:31-32.
I think you might find some comfort in it.
I gotta go.
Percy, where you going?
[tense music]
-[door opens] -[Bessie] I'm here to see Johnny Black.
Now I came here to see him, and I mean to talk to him!
-Excuse me! -Bessie!
Y'all mind?
Where in blazes did Percy go?
He left yesterday and hasn't been back all night.
Bessie, I don't know.
[sighs]
He didn't say where he was going, and I'm just...
I'm so worried about him.
Well, how are you? How, how are they treatin' you in here?
About as well as expected I suppose.
How's Jessie?
She's alright.
Hmm.
You know, I never seen my sister Jessie
look at anybody the way she does you.
-When she comes to visit, please-- -No!
Now, I want you to promise me you'll keep her away from here.
I don't want that woman holding onto no ghost!
Now you know I'm right.
And did she, uh, contact the authorities about that piece of business?
She's sending the telegram right now.
By herself?
No. Elmer's with her.
What?
This is to be sent
immediately please.
-Not so fast. You're coming with us. -[gun clicks]
[suspenseful music]
Mm.
[door opens]
[chuckles] Mr. Shealy. Always a pleasure.
-Uh-- Oh, right. -No.
Right, right. Uh, sir, we, uh... [clears throat]
...we gave them townpeople
and, uh, Jessie 24 hours.
-Just like you said. -Exactly like you said, sir.
Exactly. And I just don't think that they ready to comply.
Why don't you just focus on another piece of land, Mr. Shealy?
Because that's the land I want.
-And it's the land I shall have. -[horses approaching]
The man knows what he wants, Mr. Shealy.
But these townpeople, you don't understand.
I mean, they just ain't gon budge.
-And Lord knows, you know Jessie. -[door opens]
She ain't gon budge neither.
Well, let's just see if Jessie has budged.
-[muffled screams] -Let's see if Jessie
-has budged at all. -Jessie!
Eh, struggle all you want.
You didn't get that deed signed
when you had the chance, and you forced my hand.
[sighs]
So you tell the townsfolk
that if they don't give me a signed deed
for the Tharrington property by sunset today,
I'm gonna shoot ol' Jessie Lee
and feed her to the coyotes for a nighttime snack.
-You get me? -Yes, sir.
[stutters] And, and once that deed is signed, then the land is legally yours.
I mean, you'll stop them Ruff Riders from destroying the town, right?
Just get it signed.
Yes, sir.
[Tom] Hmm.
I'm sorry, Jessie.
I had no choice.
Clancy, let--
Let's go.
-[dramatic music] -[horses neighing]
[chuckles]
Lot of good that's gonna do
where you're going, Outlaw.
Couldn't agree more, Bill.
You gentlemen watch ol' Johnny here a piece.
I'm gonna go check out that wire and see how much he's worth.
Don't you hurt a hair on his head.
They may offer us more for him alive
just so they can have the pleasure.
-Ready? -[muffled speech]
There we are.
You filthy bastard!
You'll never get away with this!
Ooh, I already have.
Have you seen yourself lately?
It's a shame.
I've always admired you, Jessie.
Really. For your, for your courage, your intelligence...
...among other assets.
Call.
[Johnny] Any chance I can get some water back here?
[sighs] Shut up, boy,
I'd be quiet if I were you.
[Johnny] Ain't no boys here. Now you heard what Bill said.
Now if I die of thirst,
y'all might not get all your money.
[man 14] I don't give a hot damn what Bi--
[tense music]
[gun clicks]
[groans]
[gun clicks]
Alright. All of you, get up!
Take off them gun belts.
Slowly.
[gunshot]
-[gun clicks] -Back up.
What the hell is goin on--
Kinda wish you would.
[cell door closes]
I would sooner bed Lucifer.
Oh, no, no. You've got me wrong, dear.
In this whole town,
the two of us have the most in common.
No. We, we are the most educated, determined,
leaders of our various flocks.
[laughs mockingly] That sounds like a flock alright!
Don't tempt me, woman! I can strip you bare
and take you right here if I so choose,
so you just watch
-how you address me. -You could never take me.
I am a devout child of the Lord, Mr. Shealy,
and I fear no evil.
Mm.
What about the rest of the townfolk?
You know, I have got the riders
coming here to level this town
along with your precious little flock.
Now, you wanna save them?
Stop being so stubborn.
[laughs]
If you think I'd take the word of a jackal like you,
you truly take me for a fool.
Eddie! Ride out
ahead of the Ruff Riders
and tell 'em to go right to work.
[sighs]
Take her to the maid's closet.
Uh,
I'm gonna give you a little more time to think about this.
Now, I'd use that time wisely
because your time left on Earth may be measured in minutes.
Something tells me I'll see you punished well before that happens.
Hmm.
Alright.
[groans]
[birds chirping]
I see you saved me the trouble?
[Johnny] What the hell are you talking about?
It's Shealy, he's got Jessie Lee.
-You've got to go save her. -If this is a trap,
you're gonna be my first target.
Who do you think slipped Percy
the jailhouse key?
And I got you these.
[gun clicks]
[intriguing wild west music]
Hmm.
Let's go.
Get Shealy out here!
What's with you, Sheriff?
Get your ass up here with that deed!
[Yarbrough] Nah.
If you wanna see this deed,
you're gonna have to listen to me and do as I say.
What?
[laughter]
[Yarbrough] The tables have turned now.
And when you turn the tables,
you get a whole new meal out here.
The shoe is on the other foot.
See, I was your boots before. [laughs]
-But now I'm not even in your wardrobe closet, yeah. -[floor creaking]
[muffled] Johnny! Help me!
[Yarbrough speaking inaudibly outside]
[light tense music]
[Yarbrough] Matter of fact, listen.
When I hand this over to you,
you will agree to stop the marauding horde.
I mean, if you can't, I understand, you know.
'Cause stopping marauding hordes ain't that easy. You know?
But you know what? All you cracker ass bastards is under arrest!
[Johnny] I don't know if you recognize my voice,
but if you don't drop your guns by the end of this sentence--
[gunshots]
That wasn't a complete sentence!
[dramatic music]
So you're the Outlaw Johnny Black.
And you're the bastard I'm gonna enjoy watching dangle from a rope.
Guess who's house I'm gonna wind up owning?
Well, you might be too late 'cause the Ruff Riders will be here any moment.
-Ruff Riders? -Yeah. He hired them to destroy the town so he can get the oil.
White women raped by a Black man accusation?
Every goddamn time.
And Brett Clayton's their new leader.
[spits]
You tie these men up
and take Tom Shealy into town.
I'm gonna ride ahead and mount an offensive.
-Jessie, where you going? -Where you think?
Where the hell you going?
[horse neighs]
-[dramatic music] -[horses neigh]
Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[Brett] Well.
Wow. Look at that, boys.
About the cutest thing I ever saw.
I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna start by killing the young'uns
-so you can see how compassionate I am. -[gun clicks]
Now, hold on.
Hold on.
This town is gonna be rich.
Whatever Shealy was paying you,
we'll pay double.
He gonna double it.
[spits] So what you're not getting,
is that sometimes, it ain't about the money.
Sometimes it really is just about the pure enjoyment of it all.
[gunshot]
[yells]
[dramatic music]
-[laughs] -Yeah. Now see, I enjoyed that.
Seeing the look on a Nigra's face
when you show him his rightful place.
[Johnny] Brett Clayton!
[crowd murmuring]
-And who the hell are you? -[Johnny] You know,
I've had a bullet with your name on it for over 20 years.
And I've been dreaming of the day I'd give it to you.
But now, I know you ain't worth the gun powder.
You see, I learned something these past few days.
I know that killing you will never bring back my daddy.
Or cleanse the hurt that you caused.
The only way to cleanse that is by forgiving you.
That way, I'm rid of you for the rest of my life.
So on behalf of my father, myself,
and in the name of Jesus, I forgive you, Brett Clayton.
-[man 15] That's right. -Now,
if you and your men will just turn and leave,
there won't be any bloodshed.
Oh.
Won't be any bloodshed.
Look around.
We're 30 guns to your five.
[Percy] Think again!
I brought some reinforcements.
How in the hell did he hear me?
-Acoustics. -[Brett] A what?
What's a coustic?
Well, still ain't enough.
How about now?
Aw, come on.
Thanks to the Doc for taking that slug out my back
that I can repay the favor, Eddie.
I've absolved you of your crimes.
You're a free man.
But you, Brett Clayton are worth $10,000 dead or alive.
Don't matter. We're still at about a seven gun advantage.
Does it now?
Oh, son of a bitch!
Missed you up in Beaumont.
Heard you got rustled up out here.
[guns clicking]
[horse neighs]
[groaning]
There's your big boss now.
Good luck getting your money.
You know, some things ain't about the money.
Like I said.
-[gun clicks] -[creaking]
-[crowd gasps] -[groaning]
Seriously?
[gunshots]
[dramatic wild west music]
[yelling]
[men grunting and groaning]
[gunshots continue]
[yelling]
[battle cry]
[empty gun click]
[screaming]
[Marshall] Hey, Eddie!
[laughs]
[music stops]
[man 16] Here we go!
[slow dramatic wild west music]
Do the right thing now.
[gunshot]
[Bullseye] I fear no evil.
You don't choose. I choose.
-[Vern sobbing] -[Percy] Johnny! Johnny!
You don't have to do this! Vengeance is mine,
sayeth the Lord!
[gunshots]
Well, justice is mine today.
[applause and cheering]
[triumphant music]
[Bill] Take ol' Brett to Border Town
and split that bounty 60/40
favoring your end of course.
He's all yours, Bill.
I ain't going nowhere
I mean, I'll be right here
to collect my 60%, just so we clear.
And there's a lot more money coming to this town that we'll know what to do with.
Well, I think I know what we'll do.
This is gonna be a town of the future.
A place where Black, White, Mexican, Indian, Chinese, and Chinese lookin'
can raise families in a healthy environment
that celebrates our cultural differences
and uses them to enhance our overall community and way of life.
To Hope Springs!
[crowd] To Hope Springs!
And our new sheriff, Johnny Black!
[crowd] Johnny Black!
[upbeat western music]
[crowd] Whoo!
Boy done good.
Sho did!
[chuckles]
[upbeat western music continues]
[upbeat music continues]
[gentle piano music]
[soft piano music stops]