Derailed

"Derailed" is the eighth episode of the first season of the American television drama series Hell On Wheels, which aired on January 1, 2012 on AMC. It is written by Mark Richard, and directed by David Von Ancken. In the episode, a train is derailed by the Cheyenne and Durant (Colm Meaney) orders Cullen (Anson Mount) to lead a team to track them; Lily (Dominique McElligott) moves out of Durant's coach and into her own tent beside the brothel, which allows her to become fast friends with Eva (Robin McLeavy); and tension mounts for Cullen's team in the pursuit of the renegade Indian tribe. Plot Durant and Lily's train returns from Chicago, only to stop for a derailment ahead of it. Lily attends to the wounded, while Durant surveys the train damage. The Swede (Christopher Heyerdahl) arrives and Durant orders him to have Cullen lead a team to respond to the attack. The Swede tells him that Cullen and Elam are considered wanted after the hanging incident. Durant scoffs at the idea of The Swede's vengeance. Moments later, Cullen and Elam (Common) arrive at the scene on horseback. The Swede and Cullen both pull guns, with Cullen the faster draw. The Swede kneels, pleading for mercy. Cullen smacks The Swede's face with his gun, then whips him with a leather strap until Lily and Durant intervene. In his coach car, Durant orders Cullen and Lieutenant Griggs (Ty Olsson), the lead U.S. cavalry officer, to track down the Cheyenne attackers. Griggs does not want to team up with an ex-Confederate but Durant threatens to contact his commanding general. Joseph (Eddie Spears) will accompany the mission to lead them to the Cheyenne camp and negotiate with Chief Many Horses. Alone with Cullen, Durant calls Griggs a hothead. They can't risk him starting a war, but the attacks must cease. He tells Cullen to kill the renegade Indians. Outside the cathouse, Cullen asks Elam to join the Indian pursuit. Cullen doesn't trust the Union soldiers to not take revenge on a Confederate. Joseph, Elam, and Cullen meet up with Griggs, who sneers that his eight-man contingent now includes the three men. In Cheyenne country, Joseph tells Griggs that Chief Many Horses will know where Pawnee Killer is. Alone with Joseph, Elam questions the Griggs's pledge not to harm the Indian women and children. Cullen notices the Confederate sabre on Griggs's belt. "Spoils of victory" from the Battle of Antietam, boasts Griggs.