Trail of Vengeance (2025)

[bunniefuu]

Come on.

Come on.

You're not done yet.

We're not done yet!

That's enough.

Daniel, there's no need

for all this brutality.

Just tell me the code names

and the whereabouts

of the remaining Woods

and this will all be over.

I told you everything I know.

As you know,

I'm running for the Senate

and once I'm in office,

well, you will be

rewarded handsomely.

I'm sure you can appreciate

my dilemma.

I can't have this

information out there.

So please, Daniel,

let us put an end to all this

and just tell me

what I need to know.

You're nothing but

a murdering b*stard.

I need you to find

the rest of those Woods.

We know where they are, sir.

Well, then what the

hell are you doing here?

Want cornbread?

Oh, yeah. You make

the best cornbread.

That I do.

I gotta run down to town,

trading post.

Shovel handle broke.

Gotta get a new one.

That was my daddy's shovel.

Sorry about that.

You want me to

get you something?

Well, now that the cabin's

almost finished,

I'd like to plant

a vegetable garden.

- Okay.

- Do you mind

picking up some seeds?

Not at all. Be happy to.

I gotta tell you something.

Okay. Tell me what?

There's gonna be a new

addition to the family.

What do you mean?

We're gonna have a baby.

I'm gonna be a daddy?

Yeah.

- You serious?

- Yes.

We're gonna have a baby.

I'm gonna be a dad.

-Yeah.

-Well, why didn't you--

- Is this too tight?

- No, no. It's all right.

I'm gonna be a--

I'm gonna be a daddy?

Yes.

Howdy, Hoko.

Oh, Caleb.

Little early in the month for

you coming into town, isn't it?

Ah, well, my damn shovel broke.

Okay.

Need a new one and a little

something for the missus.

Oh? What's the special occasion?

Well, Katherine's having a baby.

Well, congratulations.

Thank you.

You know, I, uh,

I think I got just the thing.

-Here you are.

-Okay.

Nothing like

a nice piece of hickory.

That'll do.

Somebody ordered that

and didn't bother

to come pick it up.

Looks fancy.

It's imported

all the way from Paris.

I think it's perfect.

Uh, how much do I owe you

for the shovel?

$3.50 for the shovel.

All right, well how

much do I owe you for--

for the music box?

Ah, it's on the house.

No, you can't be giving

something away like this.

Get the heck outta here

before I change my mind.

And you can square up

for the shovel

at the end of the month.

Thank you, Hoko.

Oh, uh, you got some seeds?

Katherine wanted me to get her

some vegetable seeds

for a garden

Seeds. Oh, I just

got in a fresh batch.

They're in the back.

I'll get them,

I'll bring them out to you.

I hope your friends

caught up with you.

What friends?

Oh, there's three guys

were in here

and said you used

to ride with them.

Did one of them have a scar?

Yeah.

You forgot your seeds.

Might be a good

idea to drop your g*n.

Good boy. Kick it

towards the window.

And I want you to

walk over real slow,

sit down next to the missus

and put both your

hands on the table.

You okay?

Ah-ah-ah! Hands.

We don't have much,

but we'll give you

anything you want.

What are you

doing here, Frank?

You know these men, Caleb?

Katherine, please.

Caleb?

No, no.

More like code name

William Kirkwood.

Why don't you tell

her who we are, Caleb?

My name's Frank.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

That's Zeke and

this here's Harry.

Oh, nice place you have here.

And you, I feel like

we've met before.

I don't associate with trash.

That's ironic,

ain't it, Caleb?

Tell her.

Caleb?

These boys and I used to work

together a few years back.

In the w*r?

Yeah, we worked

for the Pinkertons.

The Pinkertons.

You didn't tell me that.

Seems old Caleb here hasn't

told you lots of things.

Uh-oh.

All right, let's get down

to business, shall we?

I need a code name

and a location.

You're not getting sh*t.

Get him up here.

Keep those hands on the table.

Why are you doing this, Frank?

Let's try this one

more time, shall we?

Come on.

Caleb, please just

give him what he wants.

I can't.

You Woods are hard to crack.

Caleb, please, just tell him.

I won't do it.

If he gives you what you want,

will you leave us alone?

You have my word, little lady.

Sorry.

Hey, now.

Hey, now what's

going on in that pocket?

Take it out. Let's see.

What do we have here?

A music box.

I'm sorry.

May I?

What are you doing?

I gotta piss.

- What?

- I gotta go.

It's true, Frankie.

-He keeps pissing--

-Both of you shut up.

Help me, Frank.

You look me in the eyes

right now or I'll k*ll you!

Take care of my baby

while I'm gone.

No!

You better k*ll me

or I will hunt you down

and I will k*ll you myself!

Before we k*ll her, what do

you say we have a little fun?

Leave her be.

That's enough.

I said leave her be!

Get up.

Hey!

Put the g*n down. Now.

She's seen us. We can't just

let her walk outta here.

You afraid of a little woman?

She's with child.

Let's go.

You son of a b*tch!

Dear Lord, please accept

Caleb into your kingdom.

He was a good man.

Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

I love you.

Dear Katherine,

if you're reading this

letter, I've passed on.

Hopefully it was

from natural causes,

but if not, I'd like you

to send a telegram

to an old friend of mine.

John Scobell

in Cades Cove, Tennessee.

Sign the telegram

William Kirkwood,

he'll know who you are

and he'll know what to do.

He's a good man.

There should be

enough money there

for you to live comfortably

for the rest of your life.

Please also know that whatever

you may hear about me,

that I love you

very, very much.

And my wish is for your

safety and happiness.

Your loving husband, Caleb.

Can I help you, sir?

Hey, Hoko.

Oh, Katherine,

I, I'm so sorry. I...

I understand.

You all right? Where's Caleb?

Caleb's dead.

I need to send a telegram.

Who's there?

I've got a g*n.

You're fine,

you're fine, you're fine.

You...you a woman.

Yes, ma'am. I'd like

a room and a hot bath

and I need to check my r*fle.

Room two, top of the stairs.

Thank you.

Ain't seen a woman

dressed like that.

Okay, thank you ma'am.

How can I help you ma'am?

I sent a telegram

to a Mr. John Scobell.

Just like to know

if he received it.

Let me, uh,

let me check. Scobell.

Yes, it says here it,

it was delivered.

Could you kindly tell me

where I can find him?

Little cabin just

on the edge of town.

- Much obliged.

- Uh-huh.

Go away!

sh*t.

I said go away!

Oh!

Caleb...

William Kirkwood was my husband.

He said that you would know

what to do.

Well?

Well, what?

Can you help me?

Look around.

Does it look like

I'm in any shape to help you?

If Caleb trusts you,

then I trust you.

What happened?

Three men broke into our house

and they roughed me up.

When Caleb came home,

they wanted some

sort of information

but he...he wouldn't give it

so they shot him.

I'm really sorry, ma'am.

Caleb was a good friend.

But I don't see

how I can help you.

Caleb thought that you could.

When you find them,

what do you intend to do?

I'm gonna k*ll the men

who k*lled my husband.

That's why I can't help you.

Now, please go away.

Lady, I can't help you!

The man who shot

my husband's name is Frank.

Did he have

a scar on his face?

Yes.

I know Caleb used to

work with the Pinkertons.

That was a long time ago.

You know these men?

I do.

And?

They're K*llers.

No good will come

from your pursuit.

Where can I find them?

They work for an old and

bitter colonel, William Davis.

The Davis Plantation?

That's right.

Why would he wanna k*ll Caleb?

I don't know.

Help me find them.

I have money, I can pay you.

Ma'am, you don't have

enough money

to get me to help you find them.

Is $300 enough?

They'll k*ll us both. I'm sorry.

I guess you're not the man

that Caleb thought you were.

You're never gonna make it.

Then I will die trying.

- Yes, sir.

- Wine.

Anything else, sir?

What is it?

I'm sorry, sir.

It's about the fundraiser.

It better be good news.

Well sir, the Governor

has a previous engagement.

What did you say?

He can't do this to me.

I'm the one that got

that Union-sympathizing,

a*s-kissing

son of a b*tch elected.

Take a letter!

Yes, sir.

Don't ever let

anyone sneak up on you.

What the hell are you doing?

Teaching you a lesson.

What? You change your mind?

You wanna tell me where

to find these men?

No, I'm not gonna

help you find these men.

I told you that.

I'm here 'cause I told

your husband I'd help you

if something happened to him.

Help me how?

Let's talk about it

in the morning.

Why in the morning?

'Cause I'm tired.

I make you nervous, ma'am?

It's Katherine

and no, Mr. Scobell,

you do not make me nervous.

Just Scobell.

Excuse me?

Call me Scobell.

Why'd you do that for?

'Cause fire's an

invitation to the party.

How you think I found you?

I'm gonna go get my bedroll.

Try not to die while I'm gone.

Time's a-wasting, let's go.

What the hell you doing, lady?

Where'd you learn

to sh**t like that?

My daddy taught me.

Well, next time you see your

daddy, you thank him for me.

He's dead.

Sorry.

What?

That's all you brought with you?

That's all I need

for a few days.

You think we're gonna find

these men in a few days?

I'm not looking for those men.

I said I would just go on--

I told you I'd give you $300.

If you're not here for that,

then what you here for?

I don't want your money.

I said I would help you

'cause your husband asked me.

All right.

Where we going?

-Can't say.

-Can't say?

Caleb asked me

to take you,

but not to tell you.

Well, that doesn't

sound like Caleb.

Thought you wouldn't go

if you knew.

Well, that just

doesn't make sense.

Look, lady, none

of this makes sense.

So either you go on by yourself

and leave me to my business

or we can go see what your

husband wanted us to see.

Lead the way.

You always

were a good shot.

That sound like Frank Cooper.

That's me.

Wondering who's

been following me.

Looky here.

Last of the Starwoods.

Actually, it's the last

of all the Woods.

Toughest one to find, too.

Mm-hm.

You done fell out the ugly tree?

That's a decent right hook.

But you're still uglier

than a dog's a*s.

Oh, come on, buddy. Come on.

That's enough.

I said that's enough.

I suppose you aim

to k*ll me here.

You suppose right.

The question is

am I gonna have to t*rture you

to get what I want?

What do you want?

I just want to know

who else knows.

I don't know what

you're talking about.

That jog your memory?

Actually,

that made it kinda worse.

You've been

the toughest one yet.

Last time I ask

before I filet you

like a baby calf.

Okay.

You wanna know if I told anyone

that the Colonel

massacred innocent

children and women, hmm?

Yeah.

Did you?

I guess

you'll never know.

Let's go.

So how did

you first meet Caleb?

Well now, that's a funny story.

I was working a case

down in St. Louis

and I came across Caleb

fighting three men in an alley.

But Caleb,

he almost whipped them.

That sounds like my husband.

But since he was outnumbered,

I figured I might

give him a hand.

Then what?

I got him hired at the

Pinkerton's just before the w*r.

Whoa.

It's getting dark.

Let's start looking for

a place to camp down.

Already?

We gonna have to keep going if

we're gonna catch these men.

Look, let's get this straight.

I'm taking you someplace

'cause your husband asked me to

and that's as far as I'm going.

And when we get there,

we're gonna find out why.

There's a place up top

looks good.

When was the last

time you saw Caleb?

Before the two of you got

hitched he came to see me.

Said he met the love of his life

and if anything ever

happened to him,

I should bring her here.

Do you believe

in God, Scobell?

Depends on your

definition of God.

The God of the Bible?

Seem to me like

a lot of people

who believe in God

don't live like they do.

I suppose that's true.

You believe?

I do.

I just wish I knew why bad

things happen to good people

and good things

happen to bad people.

It is a fallen world.

Ain't nothing perfect

this side of heaven.

So you do believe?

My mama used to read to us

from this Ethiopian Bible

when the master wasn't around.

We hid it in her mattress.

I'm sorry.

Don't be.

Things were hard, sure.

But we were a family.

Can I ask what

happened to your mother?

She, uh, she passed

away when I was 12.

The work was too much for her.

And the master, uh,

he'd come to see her at night.

And so...

just all just too much for her.

I am sorry that happened

to her and to you.

My mama used to tell me,

"'Vengeance is mine,'

saith the Lord."

I gotta believe

if there is a God,

he'll repay evil men for

the evil that they do.

I hope you're right.

Goodnight, Scobell.

Enter. Report.

We got them all.

Don't you dare sit down.

You're filthy.

-No witnesses?

-No.

There was one witness.

It was a woman.

Kirkwood's wife. She seen us.

I tried to k*ll her,

but Frank here wouldn't let me.

That b*stard tries

to blackmail me

and you let his wife live?

She was with child.

I don't care if she's

the Virgin Mother herself!

Go back there and k*ll her!

We ain't slept in three days.

You leave at sunrise. Dismissed.

What the hell you doing?

You step outta line again

in front of the Colonel,

I'll k*ll you.

I should've k*lled her

when I had the chance.

What? You wanna

be the boss now?

Well, if I was,

we wouldn't be

running around in circles

looking for this b*tch.

Enough. Enough.

I've been with the Colonel

since before the w*r.

So if you're gonna take my job,

you better be willing

to die for it.

You okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Yeah, you sound fine.

I'm fine.

Left that poor son of a b*tch

rotting in the sun.

Damn. Come on.

Was a good shot

if nothing else.

Shut up.

You all right?

Just feeling a little

queasy, that's all.

Mm.

If I didn't know better,

I'd say you're with child.

I was married once.

Do tell.

I got married in 1859

to my lovely wife,

Fanny Woodrow.

One of the greatest

days of my life.

She got pregnant right away.

Gave birth to a

beautiful baby girl,

Sesmarie Armstrong.

Armstrong was

my father's surname.

Second greatest day of my life.

She, uh,

she died later that year,

our daughter.

k*lled us both.

I have a son, John Armstrong,

named after my father.

My wife and my son they, uh,

left a while back.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Ain't nothing fret about.

She wanted a life

I couldn't give her.

Hey!

All right, all right.

Keep your shirt on. I'm coming.

Yeah.

You're them fellows that was

looking for Caleb

the other day, aren't you?

That's right.

Where's the, there was three.

Where's the other guy?

Dead.

Dead? D-dead?

Just tell us

what we wanna know.

Where is she?

Where, where, where's who?

The wife.

What? Katherine?

I don't know.

Last time, old man.

She,

she was, she was in here

and she sent a, a,

a telegram to a fella

in, in, in, in, uh, Cades Cove.

Name?

I, I don't know.

I can't, I-I can't

remember his name.

It was...

-Name.

-John Scobell.

So how did

you meet the Pinkertons?

Long story.

Seems like we've got all night.

Mr. Pinkerton debriefed

runaways and freed sl*ves.

Then personally

recruited some of them

to send back South as

secret service agents.

I was one of them.

I was educated and freed by

the man who owned my family.

'Bout a year later I was

sent on a long-term mission

with two other agents, Lawton,

Webster, were their names.

Seems like a noble thing.

Come back to the South to help.

Nothing noble in what I did.

Did Caleb ever k*ll anyone?

A lot of men died.

That was w*r.

But your husband was a good man.

He was.

You are too, Scobell.

You're a good man.

Whoa.

Scobell?

You all right?

Seems like back then

certain folks didn't feel other

people were fit for a headstone.

So much death.

On both sides.

A damn shame.

My father lost

his only son in the w*r.

Tell me about your father.

Hm.

He was a Union soldier

at the start of

the Reconstruction.

He was never the same

after his son died.

Came upon an orphanage

one day, found me.

I knew the second I saw him.

He took me home, raised me.

He was a good man;

honest,

hardworking, very loving.

Taught me how to ride,

how to sh**t.

I think all the best parts

of me come from him.

And Caleb?

Hmm, he had business

with my father.

I loved that fool from

the second I saw him.

Uh-huh. He old me

the same about you.

You set that boy on fire.

I miss him.

We're gonna be there soon.

I recognize this place.

This is the orphanage

where I grew up.

Caleb wanted me

to bring you here.

Let's go inside

and find out why.

Hello.

Mrs. Francis?

Katherine?

Oh, my dear, oh.

Oh my.

You were just a baby

when you were brought here.

Oh, look at you.

I remember being here.

It's very nice to

see you Mrs. Francis.

So nice to see you.

Do you still have her file?

We keep all of our records.

We're not actually supposed to

show anyone these documents,

but your husband came to see us.

It's been a long time, dear,

but I, I know they're

here somewhere.

Oh, here it is.

Thank you.

Caleb, he wanted you to know

who your real father is.

I appreciate you

taking the time.

Katherine,

for your travels, dear.

Thank you,

Mrs. Francis, for everything.

Hey, kid, water

these horses, will you?

You know Colonel Davis?

I knew him once.

He's a bad man, Katherine.

I need to see this through.

I figured you might.

Caleb knew you would.

-Let's get this done with.

-Mm-hm.

Appreciate you.

That son of a b*tch.

Ain't nobody here.

No sh*t!

Look through everything.

Gotta find out who

she's been talking to...

and I mean everything!

Come on.

Drawers. Let's go.

sh*t!

What have we got here?

What?

He's a Wood.

Damn it!

How do you know

about this place?

I hid out here years ago

after that failed mission.

-Colonel?

-Uh-huh.

Is it safe?

We'll find out.

I'll put up the horses

for the night.

We got a problem.

Seems you're becoming

my problem, Frank.

It's the wife.

She better be dead.

She met with a Wood

in Cades Cove.

I thought

you k*lled all the Woods.

We didn't know about him.

Now I pay you a lot of money

to take care of these problems.

We think she's on

her way here right now.

And why in God's name

would she be coming here?

Because the Wood's real name

is John Scobell.

Son of a b*tch.

Horses are settled

for the night.

-Thank you.

-Mm-hm.

Are you hungry?

Starving.

Mrs. Francis packed us

some biscuits and stew.

Okay.

So what's the plan?

Tomorrow's Sunday,

most of the servants

have the day off.

How can you be sure?

I used to be one.

I humbly accept the office

of the great state of Kentucky.

I humbly accept

the office of the Senate

of the great state of Ken...

I humbly, I humbly

accept the office

of the Senate of

the great state of Kentucky.

Yeah, h*-h*-h*.

How do you know the Colonel?

I assumed the cover of

an illiterate servant to him.

Our mission was cut short

when we were arrested

and tried for being spies.

Webster was sentenced to death.

Lawton was sentenced

to a year in prison

and they released me.

Confederates couldn't believe

a sl*ve could be a spy.

Why did he k*ll my husband?

The Colonel had

Quantrill m*ssacre

men, women, children

in Lawrence, Kansas.

The Woods knew about it.

So Caleb and the others,

he had them k*lled

so he could cover up

all the blood he spilled?

You were right, Scobell.

He's a very bad man.

That's beautiful.

Caleb gave it to me

the day he died.

Scobell, I just

want you to know if,

if I don't make it, it's been--

You're gonna make it.

The feeling's mutual.

Goodnight, Katherine.

Goodnight, Scobell.

There'll be hired

g*ns all around the house.

What about Frank and Zeke?

They'll be there.

How do we get in?

Follow me.

That's them. Those are

the men who k*lled Caleb.

Not yet. Need a plan.

No matter what,

you stick to the plan.

I'm gonna go in

through the side door.

You stay here and cover me.

I'm gonna bring them to you.

Hey, be careful.

You got a child to raise.

Something happen to me in there,

you hightail it back to the

shack and you get outta here.

You hear me?

You ready?

Oh, I've been waiting for

this day.

John Scobell

or would you prefer I called

you by your code name?

James Howard, the servant

who became a spy.

-Colonel.

-Soon to be a senator.

Keep your hands

where I can see them.

And what brings

you out this way?

I come to do something

I shoulda done a long time ago.

Hmm, well, I don't imagine

that was to k*ll me,

otherwise, you woulda

shot me by now.

There's someone who wants

to meet you before I do.

Sit back down.

May I offer you a refreshment

or perhaps a nice

glass of bourbon?

Yeah.

Now it's

your turn to sit down.

Sit down. Go on.

What did you think

I was gonna do,

just let you waltz

in here like this?

I shoulda k*lled you when

I had the opportunity.

Yeah, I guess you should have.

What did you tell the wife?

She knows everything.

That's unfortunate.

And where is she now?

Don't know.

Well, why don't we find out.

Stand him over there

by that window.

Get up. Now!

Come on.

Oh, come on, you son of a b*tch.

What happened?

sh*t!

She shot my, the--

the b*tch shot my ear off!

Well, go get her!

Well, looky here.

Now I'm gonna do what

I shoulda done from the start.

A fighter, I like that.

You got more sand

than your husband.

You shot my ear off.

That's right.

I let you go once 'cause

you're with child.

That was a big mistake.

Let's go. Move.

Good thing you're a bad shot.

You moved, otherwise,

you'd be dead.

You got a lot of nerve

thinking that you

and this half-assed spy

could just walk into

my home and k*ll me.

I've been looking for you

for a long time, Colonel.

I know who you are

and I'm no daughter of yours.

I didn't know

you had a daughter.

I wish it didn't

have to be this way.

Doesn't have to be.

What are you thinking?

We could just live

happily ever after?

No, I was thinking

instead of you k*lling me,

I'd be k*lling you.

She certainly sounds

like your daughter.

Shut up, Frank.

What to do with you?

I oughta just

have him sh**t you and

feed the both

of you to the pigs.

You could at least tell me

the whole story first,

before you k*ll me.

You wanna know

the whole story.

Why did you k*ll my husband?

I k*lled your husband

because he knew

you were my daughter.

And he and his cohorts

knew too much

about what I'd done

during the w*r.

They were trying

to blackmail me.

What? Lawrence, Kansas?

It was w*r.

You don't know my husband.

I'm sorry to be the bearer

of bad news.

What about my mother?

Your mother was my chamber maid

and she was my mistress.

Soon after my wife passed,

your mother came to me and

she told me she was pregnant

and I couldn't have

anyone knowing that.

So I moved her to the cabin

on the far side of the property.

That tiny little

sl*ve quarters?

Yes.

You can find your pal,

Zeke, there.

Men like him are a dime a dozen.

Your mother died

giving you birth.

-You b*stard!

-Hey!

Now, you sit down!

Sit down.

k*ll her.

You're not man enough

to do it yourself?

Oh, I believe I'll let

Frank have that pleasure.

You're a coward.

Just like Scobell said you were.

I don't believe I'm gonna

have to worry about

what Scobell says or doesn't

say to anyone anymore.

You gonna sh**t

an unarmed woman?

No.

'Cause you

don't even deserve a b*llet.

Hah!

You ain't gonna do it.

You ain't got what it takes.

Scobell. Scobell.

No.

Sit down.

No remorse for

k*lling your friend?

You really are a chip

off the old block.

I like that.

I'm ashamed and disgusted

that your blood

runs in my veins.

Well, let's not

forget about your child.

Frank told me the good news,

You won't ever know him

and he will never

know who you are.

This doesn't have

to be like this.

So what are you thinking?

We all live happily ever after?

I am your father.

You are not my father!

My father was a good,

respectable, God-fearing man

that pulled me out of that

orphanage that you put me in.

I did what I had to do.

It was k*ll or be k*lled.

But you wouldn't

understand that.

Are you a God-fearing man,

Colonel?

I'm gonna stand up

and walk outta here

and then you're gonna leave

as though you were never here.

You're not gonna sh**t

your father in the back.

I don't care

where I sh**t you.

"Vengeance is mine,"

saith the Lord.

That was for Caleb.

And this is from my mother.

Nice sh**ting, son.

Your daddy would

be proud of you.

I wish Daddy was

here to watch me.

He's always watching, honey.

Give me that.

You state your business!

I got a telegram for

Mrs. Katherine Atherton.

All right.

All right, keep practicing.

Keep your shoulders down.

Hey, Dad.