Original subtitles

Previously on Independence...

My husband was killed.

Who did that? Who killed him?

The new sheriff.

Tom Davidson must be stopped.

I could use someone like you in the sheriff's office.

I'm the only person who doesn't work for Tom Davidson.

You run this place for him,

Abby's his clerk, Calian's his tracker.

I failed to be there for my people.

- What do you know about sisters? - I have one, too.

For most of our lives we were best friends.

We said things we can't take back.

Did you kill one or two Tongs on your way out?

Pay up, or I'll ride my ass straight to San Francisco

and tell them exactly where you is.

Because we are gonna take down the Davidsons,

and we are gonna set this town straight all by ourselves,

because nobody else is gonna help us.

Help me, Abby.

♪ ♪

You can't stop the rain ♪

It's always coming down ♪

Whoa. Whoa.

Good morning, Manuel.

- Morning, Hoyt. - Here to pick up for Reyes Ranch.

- I got it right here for you. - Ah.

The sweet smell of manure

and grain alcohol.

How I've missed you, Independence.

Anything happen since I've been gone?

- Nothing much. - Oh, come on, Manny.

Only excitement I had the past two weeks

was shooing rabbits out of

Anna Maria's vegetable garden.

You gotta give me something.

A shootout, bank robbery.

Nothing.

Not even a bar fight.

The sheriff should get stabbed more often.

Well, I'll be damned.

It's Farmer Rawlins.

How are the tomatoes this season?

Nice and juicy?

It's a ranch. We don't grow tomatoes.

Not since the cutworms got to 'em.

What's all this?

Still trying to nail down the sheriff?

Well, you didn't think we'd stop

just because he was gone?

Why didn't you come get me? I would've helped.

We wanted to give you time,

and let you settle in at the ranch.

Didn't want to interrupt all your muckin' and hoein'.

- Shh, shh, shh. - Good morning, Augustus.

Morning, ladies.

Oh, hell no. Uh-uh.

I refuse. Him and me, we're natural enemies.

- You did not tell him... - What?

That she's Abigail Collins?

Well, I figured as much when I was out

at Otis's ranch.

Yeah, I found it mighty odd

that Abby came in town right around the same time.

And Gus kept my secret without being asked.

Calian vouched for him, Hoyt.

Fine. Proceed.

Well, we're still trying to discern motive.

Why would Tom be so desperate to be sheriff he'd kill for it?

We ought to look into those fake Davidson companies then.

Oh, we already did.

Kate and I went to the state records office

and found each one.

We got ice cream.

They're buying land in the path of the railroads.

Nothing points to a personal vendetta, let alone murder.

All right. Then we should search every inch

- of that sheriff's office. - I did.

But all I found was this.

- Is that Liam's journal? - I thought so,

but it's actually Tom's sketchbook.

What does that bottom-feeder draw, anyways?

Pictures of dead bodies?

Flowers.

It's a study of Texas native plants.

Somehow that's spookier, and I don't know why.

So this is everything we have?

It's not exactly a smoking gun.

It's too bad Tom Davidson didn't just die.

Abby, help me, please.

Here.

Somebody help!

That might have been easier,

but it wouldn't be justice.

Did you hear anything from the hospital, Gus?

Yeah, he's on the mend.

He'll be back from Austin in a week or two.

So, what, we got nothing?

Well, we don't have evidence or motive,

but we do have one thing.

A witness.

You're saying you want to come forward as his wife?

Abby, I've seen witnesses get exposed.

Not to put too fine a point on it,

but they end up dead.

We just need one person

outside the Davidson web.

Someone with the authority to establish

a real investigation.

I know a judge in Austin. Federal, not state.

My old commander from my military days.

It's-it's worth a shot.

We really gonna risk Abby's life

on Gus's old war buddy?

We won't go unless you feel safe.

I'm ready. I'll testify.

Hello, Gus.

Sheriff. Hello.

I'm feeling fine, thanks for asking.

I just didn't expect to see you back so soon is all.

How was it playing sheriff with Abby as your deputy?

Well, we-we do our best.

The cells are empty, almost like the town

ran better while I was gone.

Eh, Pax Romana.

Which means you didn't catch the man who stabbed me.

Well, Sheriff, there was no evidence, no witnesses.

There was one.

Well, you weren't exactly talking, were you?

Excuse me, I'm looking for Sheriff Davidson.

Yes, ma'am. How can I help you?

You sent a telegram about the death of Liam Collins.

Yes, I did. It was a terrible tragedy.

I'm looking for Mary, his wife.

She's my sister.

When we didn't hear from Mary, we thought that she was

- sick with grief. - That's perfectly natural.

But the more time passed, the more concerned I became.

She and I have been quarreling in recent years,

and I worried she might never come home.

So I got on a train.

It's good that you did.

You don't think that she's...

Let's not get too ahead of ourselves.

I mean, she could have made her way to another town,

or she could have been too scared to come forward.

The previous sheriff didn't know Liam was killed,

so he never made a proper search.

Deputy,

we owe this woman our full attention.

I was just gonna head to the Western Union office,

you know, and see if there are any records

of a telegram to or from a Mary Collins.

Was there anyone else that knew

your sister was traveling to Texas?

Miss McKenzie, is everything all right?

Yeah, just my eyes playing tricks.

Hey, Kai.

Hoyt, welcome. I have wonton soup today.

Almost ready.

No time for lunch, I'm afraid.

Just here on ranch business.

Lucia said you had some alterations for her.

- Yes. All ready to go. - Mmm.

Maybe some of these almond cookies, too.

You know, for the ladies.

It is your lucky day, Kai.

Someone left you a hell of a tip.

I was expecting more of a celebration.

This is, uh, fake money. Hell money.

Hell money in a red envelope is a threat.

- Someone wants me dead. - Who?

The snake oil salesman from Founders Day.

- Uh-huh. - He knew my past in San Francisco.

There was a woman I love.

Lily.

I was trying to help her escape

from Chinese organized crime, the Tong.

But they found her and, uh, kill her.

That is a dangerous enemy

you got there.

I knew a one-armed man in Omaha.

Said the Tong took the other.

Why let you know they're coming?

Waiting is its own form of torture.

My father was at the Alamo.

- So you're telling me to stay and fight? - No.

Staying and fighting might have been brave,

but it also got my pa killed.

So you gotta ask yourself

is there anything in this world

you love more than your own life?

Yes.

Well, then, take it from a son

who never knew his father.

Run.

Just be sure to let me know where you end up.

All right?

- You got a horse? - No.

Say no more.

One getaway horse coming right up.

Come on.

You have my word that I will do everything in my power

to find your sister.

In the meantime, this is my establishment.

Please make yourself at home.

We got a problem. Did Abby mention...

Absolutely she did. I've got it.

- Well, Sheriff Davidson. - Miss Carver.

You know, the last time I saw you,

you were on death's door. Look about the same.

And who is this enchanting creature?

Well, we have a distinguished guest.

You've got her standing around in the lobby

like she's a common ranch hand.

Darling, you deserve somewhere to rest.

I would very much like that.

Yes, of course.

Please see that Miss McKenzie is put up

in our finest suite.

Thank you.

- He's a peach. Come with me. - Okay.

Mary! You're all right.

You're not Mary.

Abigail is my middle name,

and a nickname Liam had for me.

Thank God for that.

You shouldn't be here, Charlie.

What have you been thinking?

First you leave Boston with barely any warning.

You send no news from the road,

and then we get word that Liam is dead.

Murdered.

What?

Liam didn't just die, he was murdered.

Right in front of me.

Abby was shot, too.

Oh...

The man who shot Liam, who did this,

is Tom Davidson, the sheriff,

from whom I've been trying to hide my identity

until you arrived.

How...

How was I to know?

Mary, you don't have to stay here.

Let me telegram Father.

We can get you to safety,

or he can send someone to help.

No, no. Charlotte, if you really want to help me,

just stay in this room.

- Kate. - I've got her.

Where are you going?

To clean up your mess.

All right, folks...

...most of the wagons they traveled with...

Gus, what's all this?

Search party for Mary.

What does Tom know?

Nothing yet.

Luckily your sister didn't bring a photograph.

Mm. We need to get out of here.

Go to Austin, see your judge.

We could leave now.

- Understood? - Yeah!

Search party should distract Tom, buy us some time.

Miss Walker?

Just the woman I was looking for.

Sheriff. Welcome back.

You certainly made a speedy recovery.

Yes, I did.

I'm sure by now you've heard all about

Liam Collins' missing wife Mary.

- A bit. - A few hunters saw

the remains of a burned-out wagon

just over the ridge.

Might be the spot where it all happened.

Mary's sister is staying at Hagan's.

Can you fetch her for me, please?

I want to see the scene from her perspective.

Well, there's no need to disturb her.

- It's already been such a distressing day. - Agreed.

I can join you. I'll be your woman's perspective.

- You know what? And I'll come. - Mm.

An extra set of eyes should help.

I have a different job for you, Gus.

I should have told you about the stabbing

when it happened.

It was my pride is all.

No hard feelings, but he's probably long gone...

Or he might be back to finish the job.

He had a circular tattoo on his knife hand,

and one silver spur on his boot.

Sheriff, that's not much to go on.

I know. But I trust you're up for the challenge.

Shall we?

Did you find anything?

No, it's nothing.

I see Mary played the piano.

She's got a lot of books, was an educated woman.

Almost like you two are cut from the same cloth.

Clever women are far more common than you think, Sheriff.

You can see Independence from that ridge.

Think she would have headed there?

- No. - You sure?

She was probably scared and alone.

I don't think Mary would have felt safe

in a town full of strangers.

Good point.

After all, never know where the killer might've went.

What did Charlotte say about her?

- She was a fighter. - Huh.

Opinionated, passionate.

There really doesn't seem to be much of anything here.

Should we head back to town, uh,

reconvene with the search parties?

Not quite yet.

There's one thing still weighing on me.

I wanted to thank you.

Thank me for... for what?

That night you found me bleeding out,

you saved my life.

Anyone would have done the same.

Not anyone.

My own family didn't

check on me in the hospital.

They don't care if I live or die.

But you do.

You're welcome.

You're right, there's nothing here.

But I will find her,

wherever she is.

And so it turns out Calian never shot the arrow.

Francis's son set the entire thing up to frame him.

- No. - Mm-hmm.

If Abby hadn't defended him,

I don't know what he would have done.

It's hard to reconcile that woman with the little girl who,

whose biggest act of defiance was an unchaperoned walk.

Mm. That sounds so quaint.

When Abby talks about Boston, she makes it sound like this...

A den of cruelty and sin.

Something like that, yeah.

She's not wrong.

Our father is an oil magnate.

He built his fortune by destroying other people's.

The American way.

Mary vowed that she would never

take another penny from him.

That's a principled stance. It sounds like Abby.

She wanted me to...

renounce our father, too,

but I... I couldn't.

Mary and I were best friends,

but that broke something between us.

I try to use our money for good, but it's...

it's cold comfort to her.

Well, I can't say that I don't know what it feels like

playing both sides.

Here I am working with the sheriff.

Your job sounds fascinating.

You're a dancer and you run this place.

Is that why you moved to Independence?

No, no.

It's not, no.

I, uh, I tend to move around a lot,

and, uh, wherever I go,

it seems like there's a part for me to play,

and a way that people need to see me.

Or rather that, uh, the people want to see me.

I know that dance.

It's easy to lose track of what you really desire.

It is.

But... here I feel like

I finally have room to start deciding for myself.

My future is as wide as that prairie out there.

No frontiers in Boston, sadly,

but we make do

with... discreet parlors.

Charlotte McKenzie...

...you are not how your sister described.

My friends call me Charlie.

You two and your nicknames.

I'm here to save your life.

If you're gonna make a quick escape,

you can't be waiting around for a stagecoach.

The Tong rely on hand-to-hand combat.

Any horse is an advantage.

He ain't just any horse.

Cordell there is the best I ever knew.

Hey, Cordell, come here. Come on, boy.

God.

He must've forgot what it's like

to run free. Damn.

Come on, Cordell.

You can do what you want. They can't keep you.

Come on, run!

Afternoon, Deputy.

Just taking in the sights here

with my good pal Kai.

Well, afternoon, Kai.

Would you mind giving us a minute?

Thank you.

So, what?

Old Molly misplace her pocketbook?

You come here to hassle me about it?

No, we got bigger problems.

Abby's sister showed up,

now Tom's looking for Liam Collins' wife.

- Does he know it's Abby? - No.

But he's out at the old wagon site with her now.

You ought to go help her.

You don't think I tried?

Tom got suspicious.

All of a sudden it's real important

I find the man who stabbed him.

Going on about a tattoo on a hand,

and one silver spur.

I saw a fella at the Side Step this morning

had ink on his hand.

Recognized me from Fight Night.

Don't you think this stabber might have

a little dirt on Tom?

Fine. I'll check it out.

But stick close to town. Abby needs us.

All right, Kai, let's get you a horse.

I'll be damned.

Cordell.

Hey, buddy.

- You sure? You got 17. - Hit me.

- That's 21! - You're a genius.

You're a savant.

We should take you on the road.

You're back early.

Did you talk to the judge?

No. Tom stopped Gus and I before we could leave.

He's made it his personal life's mission

to find Mary Collins.

- We need a plan, fast. - I have one.

Come back to Boston with me.

Father's money can help you investigate,

and Liam would want you to be safe.

You don't know what Liam would want.

Yes, I do.

Even if it's easier for you to pretend otherwise.

Say, could we, could we fill in

some of the blanks here?

Liam and I were engaged,

and he left me for Mary.

And you never thought this was pertinent to bring up?

It was six months. At best.

You picked a poor police officer

just so you could control him with your money.

You don't know what I wanted.

You wrote me off long before I ever even met Liam.

You picked your side.

Playing the obedient daughter,

going to balls and tea parties with all those people.

And what choice do I have?

I am an unmarried woman because of you.

Should I have moved to the middle of nowhere

and start over with nothing?

That's what I did.

Right.

Well...

I could never be so perfect as you.

But that doesn't mean I don't love you.

Abby, she came all the way out to Texas.

Do you really want to help me?

Yes. Of course I do.

Then I need you to kill Mary Collins.

Well, we could always plant some kind of story.

A kindly rancher took Mary in.

She was too weak, she died of a broken heart. Something...

No, it wouldn't work. Tom would want proof.

Yeah, he will.

He is committed to finding this woman.

The only thing that's going to stop him is a body.

A body? How would we even get one?

Well, I've bunked at the undertaker's

enough times to know he keeps a Jane Doe or two

down in the cellar.

I shudder to ask, but why?

He sells the skeletons to a medical school in Waco.

Geez, get your mind out of the gutter.

You know, Hoyt's right.

It's unconventional but...

hell, we need an outlaw to fool a murderer.

Dang, if Gus is in, then I am.

It's my plan.

Charlie, you'll have to identify the body.

I can do it, but how, exactly?

You can use this.

Is that my wedding ring?

Well, I doubled back to Liam's grave

after you left it up there.

You had no right to take this.

I know.

Tom dug up the body before I could put it back.

Under the circumstances, you did a good thing.

All right, when Tom gets back from the search party,

we're gonna have to distract him

- to buy ourselves some time. - Mm-hmm.

We'll handle the cover story. You don't kill him.

I might.

We could use that tattooed fella.

- The one who stabbed Tom. - Mm.

I bet Tom would be real keen to interrogate him.

You know, I went to the Side Step,

and there was no man with no hand tattoo.

You just lie to lie, don't you?

This again? I wasn't lying.

Maybe he crossed the street for time with a White Dove.

- Hell... - Okay.

There's a faro game starting right now.

I bet you he'll be there.

Well, why don't you come with me,

- and you can point him out. - Fine.

I'll arrest him myself if you don't feel up for it.

The worst of Independence.

It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

There's your barrel.

Just point him out and stay out of my way.

Players, place your bets.

Players, place your bets.

Last chance. Loser, seven.

Winner, queen. No winner.

Gentlemen, move your bets.

- You got a problem? - No.

Just some questions.

Starting with where you were two weeks ago.

You know what? No more questions.

You're under arrest for the attempted murder

of Tom Davidson.

I told you he'd be here.

♪ ♪

Golly, howdy, cowboy.

You look good up there.

- New delivery system? - No.

I have, uh, business. Out of town.

All right.

Well, you hurry back 'cause I'm working on a new show,

and it's gonna need your special...

...special touch.

And then maybe, maybe we can go riding.

Although I will probably need some lessons on one of these...

these things.

Where were you the morning after Fight Night?

I was with my mother, at church.

Church on a Wednesday?

What you got behind your back there?

Why don't you step up here and show me that ink.

It's not the man.

Now, now, wait, Sheriff.

He got the one spur.

The man who stabbed me was taller.

You are free to go.

Now, how can I help you, Miss Walker, Miss McKenzie?

You were right earlier.

Charlotte does have some valuable insight.

After all, who knows Mary better than her own sister?

I've been thinking, I might know

where Mary would have gone.

Okay, let's go find our missing widow.

Wagon train moved west. Independence is south.

Doesn't make any sense that she would come east.

If Mary were in pain, she would have gone east.

Toward Boston. Toward the people that care about her.

He's gonna miss it. Should we peel off?

No. Stay the course.

We can't draw too much suspicion.

Well, if we don't draw attention to it,

how we gonna find the body, then?

We won't. Tom will.

Otherwise he won't believe it, trust me.

Lawman can fool a murderer, too.

- The arroyo. - Do you see something?

No, but if she did come this way

she would be looking for water.

What is that?

Down here.

Are you all right?

Some poor woman.

It's hard to tell how long she's been here.

It looks like animals got to the body.

There's no way to identify her.

It feels like she's really dead.

Not dead.

Reborn.

Check for a ring.

Mary never took off her ring.

There's an inscription.

"For eternity. Liam."

It's her.

Well, it ain't a proper wake,

but we still ought to raise a glass.

To freedom, however we find it.

To wild plans and wilder people.

To Mary, gone but not forgotten.

Cheers.

- Ah. - Ah.

There it is.

Might make a Texan of you yet.

No, thank you.

I am counting the hours until I'm back to peace

and quiet and indoor plumbing.

I bet you prefer the company of

proper Boston gentlemen over us Texas rogues.

No. They're both too arrogant.

That's good.

You got yourself another drink.

You know, not-not to agree with Hoyt about...

anything for the rest of my life,

you do seem like you're enjoying yourself here.

Oh, aside from the murderer and the skeleton

and being prisoner in a bedroom...

That last part wasn't so bad.

So, about Liam...

An arrangement.

I had money. He could keep a secret,

but then he fell in love.

- You never told Abby? - No.

I have my own private life. I like it that way.

And...

I suppose she's right.

I was using my family's money to try and control him.

I mean... I wouldn't feel too poorly about it.

When he gave up McKenzie money,

he went looking for more in a lot of the wrong places.

And Mary's still fighting for him?

I think she's discovering that

the bad doesn't cancel out the good.

Hmm. Thank you for protecting her.

It's good to know she has a friend

who's seen a bit more of the world.

I don't know. I wouldn't sell yourself short.

I know a lot of first-rate con men who couldn't pull off

what you did today. Were those real tears?

Yes.

Underneath this buttoned-up exterior

is a reservoir of emotion.

Never thought the day ♪

Would come ♪

When I would find ♪

Someone ♪

To love me only... ♪

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

I'd try to settle ♪

Down ♪

I'd stay close to the ♪

Ground ♪

I'd spend the hours ♪

Counting ♪

All the flowers... ♪

Here you are.

Mary Collins is officially dead

in the state of Texas.

Congrats.

Or, wait, should I say, "Condolences"?

Uh, both, I think.

Thank you, Gus.

For killing me and, uh, for saving me.

Coming to Hagan's?

No, no. Tom is back at his cabin, and,

you know what, I deserve a night of quiet.

- Mm. - Good night... Mary.

Sheriff Davidson?

Evening, ma'am.

Take more than a knife to the gut to kill me.

You are a stranger,

so somebody put you up to this.

And all I need is a name.

No?

Okay.

Who wants me dead?

I wouldn't know.

Ah!

Before I go...

a small token of my affection.

It belongs with you.

Thank you.

When Liam proposed to me with that ring,

there was no inscription.

The way he loved you,

we never had anything like that.

This still doesn't excuse what I did.

That wasn't you. That was...

that was Mary.

Last chance to come back home.

Save me from having to break the bad news to Mother and Father.

I love you...

...but I have to stay.

I have to find the truth.

Miss McKenzie,

your coach is ready.

Thank you, Sheriff.

Very much appreciate you giving my family peace.

Goodbye, Abby Walker.

- Very glad to have met you. - Wait!

Wait, hold on. She-she forgot a-- It was up in the...

- Hi. - Hi.

Don't be a stranger.

I can't help but notice you're standing with an outlaw

instead of the lawman. You switching sides?

Nope. Got a full agenda.

You know, someone stole a horse

from the corral near the sheriff's office.

Huh.

I wouldn't know anything about that.

Too busy helping catch dangerous criminals.

Speaking of,

Tom said it was the wrong guy.

- Let him go. - Really?

- Mm-hmm. - Well, that description was spot-on.

Yup. Sure was.

I mean, we did all right in there.

Yeah, I guess.

Calian might've been right about you.

Wish I could say the same.

You need allies, Calian,

wherever you can find them.

Thought you two were riding off into the sunset.

I thought about what you asked.

If there is anything I love

more than my life.

And there's not?

No, there is.

I love this town.

- What I've built here. - Well...

Sounds like running is not your answer.

And since I have no need for a

getaway horse...

Yeah?

Hey.

Tell you what,

why don't you dish up some soup,

tell me about the Tong.

We're gonna need a plan.

Hey, bud.

Howdy.

Y'all got a meeting today?

- I brought cookies. - We do.

We figured you'd be with the Reyeses by now.

I'm gonna...

run free for a little bit,

- I think. - What about Lucia?

Look, she knows I gave it a fair try,

but if I drove another fence post,

- I was gonna drive us both mad. - Very mature of you, Hoyt.

Rawlins. Well, I didn't expect to be seeing you so soon.

He quit. You owe me two bits.

The hell?

I'm trying to be a better man, y'all are taking bets.

Pay up, Deputy.

Thank you.

Abby?

What's wrong?

I... I need to talk to you

about something that happened yesterday.

Abby, what's going on?

Well, um...

I'm not sure Tom is the killer.

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