An Incident at Creede
| directed by: Scott Frank | air date: November 22, 2017 |
Marshal John Cook discovers a train wreck in Creede, Colorado, where all aboard were killed. Cook believes this to be the work of Frank Griffin, a notorious outlaw, in response to his son-figure, Roy Goode, betraying him. Roy winds up at the ranch of Alice Fletcher outside La Belle, New Mexico. Alice shoots Roy, but nurses him back to health with the help of Iyovi, her Paiute mother-in-law, and Truckee, Alice’s mixed-race son. Cook arrives in La Belle, a town of mostly women after most men were killed in a mining accident. He alerts Sheriff Bill McNue of the incident at Creede. Bill goes to Alice’s ranch, where he meets Roy who explains the event; Roy stole the money Frank and his gang stole from the train, drew the gang away, then faced them down in a canyon where Roy shot off Frank’s left arm. Roy surrenders to Bill who takes him into custody.
The Ladies of La Belle
| directed by: Scott Frank | air date: November 22, 2017 |
The Quicksilver Mining Company, led by J.J. Valentine and accompanied by head of security Ed Logan, arrive in La Belle to discuss the future of the mine. Quicksilver proposes a deal to get La Belle back on its feet. While Mary Agnes McNue, Bill’s sister and the widow of the town mayor, believes the deal to be suspicious, she is overruled and the town takes the deal. Frank confronts A.T. Grigg, a newspaper editor, and forces him to write an article enhancing Frank’s image. Bill and Roy discuss finding Frank before he tracks Roy to La Belle. Bill goes off in search of Frank, leaving his deputy Whitey Winn in charge of Roy. However, Alice breaks Roy out. Alice strikes a deal with Roy, giving him food, a place to sleep, and teaching him to read in exchange for him breaking her horses. Bill hears a story from a cafe patron about a gang of 25 men (the size of Frank’s gang). Bill then schedules a meeting with Cook.
Wisdom of the Horse
| directed by: Scott Frank | air date: November 22, 2017 |
Bill rides to the canyon where Roy stood down Frank’s gang. Bill meets a Native American on a horse, who points out Bill’s deteriorating eyesight and tells him he’s “lost his shadow”. Cook meets with Valentine, and Cook urges Quicksilver to get down to La Belle and protect the town against Frank Griffin. At Alice’s ranch, Whitey, Mary Agnes, and other townsfolk arrive, asking for Roy back; however, they do not know it is really Roy Goode, as Bill told Whitey and others his name was “Mr. Ward”. Alice strikes a deal, agreeing to sell her surplus of horses to the town if Roy can stay and break them. Bill stumbles upon a family traumatized by a run-in with Frank and his gang, and the family urges Bill to find and kill Frank. Meanwhile, Whitey goes to Blackdom, a small village near La Belle made up of Buffalo Soldiers, to take violin lessons from Louise, a girl he has a crush on; however, the village does not take kindly to him. Mary Agnes shares a moment with Callie, her lover and the town teacher. Grigg publishes Frank’s story, saying the gang is coming for Roy and will kill Roy and anyone who protects him. Logan arrives at La Belle with his security men and declares himself “the law” with Bill’s absence. Whitey is warned to be wary of the Buffalo Soldiers. Cook arrives at his meeting place with Bill. However, Cook is surprised by the appearance of the Griffin Gang, who shoot and kill Cook.
Fathers & Sons
| directed by: Scott Frank | air date: November 22, 2017 |
Bill arrives at the meeting place and finds Cook’s dead body. After noticing the local law’s lack of interest in doing anything, and seeing that a Griffin gang member stole Cook’s badge, Bill becomes more motivated to find Frank. The Griffin Gang finds a sick house, where Frank decides to help the sick; he is unafraid to do so as he’s “seen his death” and “this ain’t it” (a recurring phrase throughout the series). Roy goes hunting with Truckee and Iyovi, where he finds a box of mail in a crashed stage coach. Logan goes to Blackdom and tells the Buffalo Soldiers if they keep to themselves, Quicksilver will divert a river to the village. Grigg, believing Roy to be in La Belle, goes there, but the townsfolk (not knowing Roy is “Mr. Ward”) tell him he is being fooled. A flashback introduces Lucy Cole, a nun who cared for Roy and his brother Jim as children. Whitey is told by Louise’s father to stay away. After seeing Louise’s father beating her, Whitey nearly shoots him, but stops after seeing Roy; Whitey talks to Roy and realizes Roy is a good man. Bill encounters Frank and his gang. After initially trying to fool Frank, Bill admits he is the law. Frank, however, leaves with his gang, as he’s not afraid of Bill.
Shot the Head off a Snake
| directed by: Scott Frank | air date: November 22, 2017 |
Flashbacks show Roy’s relationship with Frank and Frank’s focus on the gang being family, as well as Roy meeting Frank after leaving Lucy. In the present, Grigg speaks with Charlotte, a calm, religious La Belle resident. Grigg learns of the man at the Fletcher ranch, which he hypothesizes is Roy. Mary Agnes sees Callie with another woman, leading to an argument in the street; she and Whitey wallow in their heartbreak together. Roy and Alice read some of the mail he found, showing his quick learning. Frank and the gang come upon the last known location of Lucy, but she is gone, but know she bought a nearby saloon. Roy shares a moment with Alice, telling her that he became his own father and no longer needed Frank as a surrogate. Grigg sees “Mr. Ward” and knows it to be Roy, and rides off to report his sighting.
Dear Roy…
| directed by: Scott Frank | air date: November 22, 2017 |
Grigg begins a special edition of his paper which will report Roy being in La Belle. Instead of warning the people, Grigg wants a shootout so he has a story to report. Mary Agnes reunites with Callie. Roy prepares to leave the ranch, and finally reads the letter from his brother Jim (which he received from Lucy in a flashback), revealing him to be in California. Truckee learns Roy plans to leave and becomes furious, lashing out at him, making Roy emotional. Alice approaches Roy and they have sex. The next morning, Roy rides off, but leaves the letter for Alice to read, which she does. Frank reads Grigg’s article, and rides off to La Belle.
Homecoming
| directed by: Scott Frank | air date: November 22, 2017 |
Callie, Mary Agnes, and a few other women read Grigg’s paper, where they realize that “Mr. Ward” was actually Roy Goode and has led the Griffin Gang to La Belle. The women go to Alice’s ranch, but Roy has already left. Mary Agnes suggests riding to the hills and making Frank believe La Belle is deserted, but find Logan and his men have stolen the horses and fled. Truckee runs away, searching for Roy. Grigg returns to La Belle to report the impending battle. Whitey goes to Blackdom and tries to get the buffalo soldiers to fight with La Belle. Roy and Bill both stumble upon Logan and his men with the horses; they incapacitate the men, take the horses, and ride to La Belle. Frank and his men go to Blackdom, where he attempts to get them to stay out of the fight; however, the people have history with Frank, which leads to a shootout where nearly all of Blackdom are killed. Whitey, however, arrives and saves Louise. Mary Agnes and the women arm themselves and enter the hotel (the only building not made of wood). Alice goes looking for Truckee, but upon seeing the Griffin Gang, goes to La Belle and joins the fight. As the gang arrives, Whitey goes out to confront the gang, but is killed by a thrown knife. A large shootout begins. Soon after, Roy and Bill arrive and join the fight. Many citizens of La Belle and all of the Griffin Gang are killed, but Frank flees. Roy gives pursuit. Frank finds Truckee, who share a brief encounter over Truckee’s now-injured horse. Roy then confronts Frank, and shoots Frank in the chest. Frank says “I’ve seen my death, this ain’t it.” Roy coldly tells Frank “you’ve seen wrong” before shooting him in the head, killing him. The survivors hold a funeral for the fallen, when the long awaited preacher finally arrives and gives an eulogy for Whitey. Roy says goodbye to Alice and Truckee, and tells Bill to take care of them. Roy recovers from his wound and rides to California. Later, Alice finds a satchel of money left for her by Roy. Roy arrives at the coast as the screen fades to black.
