The Duel

We got them agitated, didn't we?

You ride with God today.

You know I ain't got no religion.

Do you not fear the eternal hell that awaits you?

I ain't planning to see it just yet.

Good people of Helena.

Good people of Helena! I am saddened

because today Helena loses one of her true sons.

Now we've cleansed the Mexican filth from our city,

but the disease left behind has infected our civility.

That's right! You hear that?

These brown heathens pushed their carts through our land.

And instead of uniting against these indignations,

we stand here divided.

Watch yourself, Jesse.

Abraham is trickier than the devil in the shade.

And so, on the challenge given

to Abraham Brant from Jesse Kingston,

in the way of a Helena duel, are we now assembled?

Take care of my boy if I fall.

We will.

Gentlemen, come forward.

God made this world, Jesse, and it pains me little to send you from it.

You shall pour out each other's blood and we will cover it with dust.

Whomever bleeds the dirt red the most today,

his deeds shall not be forgotten.

You distinguished yourself honorably against the Cheyenne.

It was the Comanche in my day.

Either or, the most contemptible breed of people, don't you agree?

Perhaps.

Or perhaps they're misunderstood, Your Honor.

I understand you have a problem with a dead Mexican.

Not "a" dead Mexican, Mr. Kingston. Dozens.

The latest one is the nephew of a Mexican general, Ernesto Calderon.

He went missing along with his sister some time ago.

The general, kicking up quite a fuss about it.

He's threatening to bring a battalion of Mexican soldiers

across the border to look for his niece

and the man who killed his nephew.

Now, I don't need to tell you, wars have started over less.

Now, all the bodies are turning up in the same strainer in the river...

...about here.

It's roughly 12 miles from Mount Hermon.

I take it you've heard the name Abraham Brant.

Foolhardy stories, tales from the war, mostly.

They call him the Preacher, I believe.

I saw him once in Kansas just before the war.

The ranchers near Wichita were offering 50¢

for every red scalp that was turned in,

and Brant showed up with 1,000 of them.

Red, Mexican, negro, it didn't matter,

as long as they had dark hair and dark skin.

And later, I saw him preaching to half the town

with a spirit that I have neither seen before nor since.

And as God as my witness,

I saw him lay his huge hand

on this gimpy teenage girl.

And he cured her with a touch, like Christ himself.

Pardon me, Your Honor, but...

...but you'll have me believe he simply touched the girl and she walked?

All the way to the church. Married her the next day.

I'm assuming he resides in Mount Hermon.

He is Mount Hermon, Captain.

Now you'll travel alone under an assumed name and profession.

Time is of the essence. Calderon's blood is up.

Why not send me with a company?

There's too much at stake.

You simply find out if Brant is at the root of these killings

and wire me from Fort McIntosh.

Once certain, I will commit in force.

How long?

I'm not sure.

I think it's best not to presume this time.

You've only just now returned.

What is it?

David?

The man I'm inquiring upon...

Abraham Brant is his name.

He may or may not be responsible for some terrible things.

It's my job to determine which.

Go on.

By some...

...strange twist of fate,

Brant happens to be the same man that killed my father 20 years ago.

Now, I know what you're thinking,

but truth is, men like Brant have orphaned hundreds of boys like me.

And it was my father's challenge.

David, you know as well as I, you will go there

and you will kill this man.

You don't know that. You can't know that.

Why else would you be sharing this?

I've never once heard you speak like this.

I'm curious, that's all.

They say he's been touched by God.

Marisol, I'll go where they send me.

It's not as if I've been chasing this man my entire life.

I can ride as well as you. You taught me to track--

It's crazy talk. We should change the subject.

You're gone more than you're ever here.

What happened to the Tompkins woman,

only a month ago, was south of Austin.

And not just some rogue straggler we've somehow missed,

but a band of Cheyenne and Comanchero.

Would you like me to describe to you

exactly what they did to that poor woman?

This is coming from the governor himself.

At least here, we both know you're safe.

Since you took me, you come and you go.

I'm left here with nothing to do.

There's the Sheltons. Donahues are less than a mile.

Marisol, this is a job. It's my work.

You can't expect me to put you in that kind of danger.

Then perhaps this time when you return,

I will have left.

Excuse me.

You kill it, you clean it.

You've never spoken about him.

Do you miss him?

From all accounts, Jesse Kingston was recalcitrant and headstrong

and got what he deserved.

I figure he picked the wrong fight.

What about you? You ever miss old Javier?

You changed the subject.

It's impossible to love someone who hates their self that much.

I miss nothing.

Morning, gentlemen.

Saw smoke. Thought we'd see to some lodgings, rest our horses.

What brings y'all this way?

We're on our way to Ciudad Victoria.

The map at Fort McIntosh showed a town.

Mount Hermon, I believe.

Someone had the good sense to chart it.

We figured we'd practice the same good sense to stop and make use.

She family or help?

My apologies. My name is David Locke.

This is my wife Marisol.

Of course, if there's some trouble in town,

we could return to Fort McIntosh and pass on word for you.

You need to see the preacher.

Put that down.

We have new guests.

They're asking for lodgings.

And they shall have it.

Welcome to Mount Hermon.

From where is it that you come?

Houston, sir, by way of Fort McIntosh.

My name is David Locke. This is my wife Marisol.

I'm Abraham Brant.

You've met my son Isaac.

He says welcome.

I am Mount Hermon's mayor and law when there's need,

but I am unfailingly the town's ethereal counselor.

Marisol, are you religious?

I'm spiritual, but I do not like religion, sir.

Me neither. And you, David?

My wife and I are one and the same, sir.

Please, we are not formal here. "Abraham" works just fine.

- Morning. - Morning, Abraham.

Here we are. Make yourself at home.

Thank you, Abraham.

All we need now is some rest.

I'll leave you to it.

Buenas noches, Marisol.

Mr. Locke.

We'll be here only as long as we need to.

Just stick to the story, let me do my job

and we can leave this place,

just as easy as we came in.

Okay?

Okay.

Morning, gentlemen.

What are you doing out here?

I never let the sun catch me sleeping.

And I enjoy acquainting myself with any new place.

How'd you find your cabin?

It was fine, Abraham. Thank you.

- And Marisol? - She's tired, resting.

If she's unsatisfied, I could drop off another blanket,

keep her warm.

Well, it's a large bed. I doubt you'd have a blanket big enough.

Isaac, you go on without me today.

Mr. Locke is going to join me for breakfast.

Well, I... I thought we was going to go down--

Do I need to hold your hand, boy?

Forgive my friends, David.

Their charming qualities don't shine through at the outset.

You strike me as an educated man.

I've managed to fool you.

You hide it from your eyes well,

but it sits on your shoulders plain as day.

You are a man in search of something.

Perhaps absolution.

You don't strike me as the type to hide his meaning in vocabulary.

Indeed.

We don't get a lot of uninvited guests this way.