- Durant attempts to end ongoing negotiations with the Cheyenne by challenging them to a competition.
- Thomas Durant (Colm Meaney) prepares the towns makeshift depot for Senator Jordan Crane's arrival via train. Crane (James D. Hopkin) arrives and announces to all that he has come to discuss peace with the Cheyenne people. However, he threatens battle if the natives decline. Over a meal served outside under a tent, Crane, Durant and Lily Bell (Dominique McElligott) discuss the issues with payroll and the Union Pacific Railroads finances. Durant tells the Senator things are fine. Lily comments about her husband Roberts missing survey maps and the path to the Rocky Mountains. Crane lets Durant know that the rival Central Pacific Railroad has already laid its 40 miles of track, pushing east from California.
Cullen (Anson Mount) is put in charge of security for the peace talks while the Cheyenne are here. He asks Elam (Common) to keep his crew civil during their visit. Elam speaks of their recent fisticuffs and Cullen accuses him of cheating. Elam seems shocked at the mention of his peppered hand wraps and denies cheating.
Out of view from Durants coach, The Swede (Christopher Heyerdahl) informs Crane that Durant used $147,000 of Union Pacific cash to speculate on railroad stock. Crane wonders about The Swedes interest in the matter. The Swede then requests information about Frank Harper, who is Cullens current objective in revenge for his wifes death.
Chief Many Horses (Wes Studi) and his tribe arrive at Hell on Wheels. At the negotiations, the chief scoffs at Durant's opinion that Crane is offering the Cheyenne a better way of life. After debating who really owns the land they're discussing, the Cheyenne or the U.S. government, Durant storms off. The chief has rejected the discussion of his people living on a Indian reservation. Crane warns Chief Many Horses that his people will be killed if he doesn't accept the U.S. government's deal. The chief threatens slaughter for Crane's people in return.
After Durant returns to the table, Chief Many Horses describes Pawnee Killer's vision of defeating the train. On a whim, Durant offers the chief's son a chance to make his vision a reality. As Cheyenne and townsfolk watch, Pawnee Killer (Gerald Auger) races on horseback against a locomotive, taking the early lead as the train crew stokes the fire to increase speed. The locomotive eventually bests Pawnee Killer. Durant boasts over his victory later to Crane, who congratulates him but again vows to ruin him over the embezzlement. To prove he's not bluffing, Crane reports that he's sold his landholdings and Crédit Mobilier stock. Durant no longer has a figurative hold on Crane.
At the church tent, Ruth (Kasha Kropinski) and Joseph (Eddie Spears) attempt to explain Christian theology to the Cheyenne. Outside, Cullen stands guard. Lily approaches him to inform that she is taking his advice and leaving town. She notices a Cheyenne woman wearing her dead husbands hat. Lily tries to snatch it from the squaw, but Cullen wrestles her away. She accuses Joseph of lying to her that it wasnt his tribe that attacked her camp. She intends to tell Durant that Robert's killers are in town. Cullen warns her that the price of her revenge will be the death of innocent women and children. The squaw with Robert's hat later offers it to Lily, stating her husband was killed in the massacre as well, with his own arrow. Lily awkwardly realizes that she killed the squaw's husband. After placing the hat on her husbands grave marker, Lily digs up the missing maps from his grave and gives them to Durant, urging him to complete the railroad.
Chief Many Horses leaves town, warning Joseph about the people with whom he now resides. Meanwhile, at the saloon, Toole (Duncan Ollerenshaw) and his gang attempt to incite the townsfolk against the natives. Although outnumbered, Cullen moves to stop him. The Swede also intervenes, reminding everyone that Durant does not want the natives harmed. The Swede suggests the men find some amusement here in town. Toole heads with his men to the cathouse, demanding to see Eva but is told that she's not around. Eva (Eddie Spears) and Elam are dressing in his tent, when Toole and his men storm in to beat Elam and drag him away.
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