- When Nathan's long-lost father, a former slave, is accused of murdering a white man, the Seven protect him from bloodthirsty mob demanding vengeance.
- Nathan's father Obediah is put on trial for murdering his former overseer, and Josiah defends Obediah while Nathan discovers what happened to his parents 19 years ago. Meanwhile, the townspeople where Obediah allegedly committed the murder to Four Corners to make sure Obediah hangs one way or another.—Gislef
- Ezra finds his mother Maude Standish's old admirer's diamond cuff-links theft accusation true, hence arrest her, but Mary arranges to turn her cell into a boudoir and the old fool agrees to drop the charge as part of a leaky prenuptial. The seven stop a man from being lynched in a neighboring town with the sheriff's blessing, finding the accused is Nathan's father Obediah Jackson, missing since the civil war, swearing his innocence of murdering the hated overseer who whipped him as plantation slave. Judge Oren Travis agrees to preside a fairer trial, but must allow an official form the other town to act as prosecutor and even admit some of their citizens to the jury.—KGF Vissers
- At the saloon, Ezra is complaining to J.D. about his mother Maude's deviousness, and how she came back to town and she sold her saloon to the new owners. Maude is at a nearby table playing poker with the two owners. Mary comes in and talks to Ezra privately, explaining that she just got a telegram from a nearby town about Maude.
Ezra goes over to Maude and asks her if she know the man named in the telegram, Preston Wingo. She remembers a "weasel" named Preston, and Ezra tells her that Preston has slandered her claiming that she stole a pair of diamond cufflinks from him. Preston wants Maude to be jailed until he arrives. Maude insists that she's no thief and her son sarcastically agrees, but suggests that Maude have Mary checks her satchel for the cufflinks. Maude agrees and Mary doesn't find them. Reading from the telegram, Ezra says that the satchel has a false lid.
The cufflinks are there, and Maude claims that someone put them there and she is innocent. Ezra smugly asks J.D. to escort Maude to the jail. They lock her in a cell and Ezra tells his mother that she should know better than to steal. Maude insists that Preston put the cufflinks in her satchel and is blackmailing her, but refuses to tell Ezra why Preston would want to do that.
Oren calls for the Seven to ride out, and Ezra joins them. Chris says that Oren is at Eagle Bend and their trying a colored man for murder, and they want the Seven to bring the prisoner to Four Corners for a fair trial. When Chris reads the telegram and says that the prisoner's name is Obediah Jackson, Nathan says that Obediah is his father and rides off with the others.
The Seven ride to Eagle Bend and sends Vin and Nathan ahead to scout before they ride in. A mob is preparing to string up Obediah, led by Sheriff Stone. Some of the mob hold back an objecting Oren, Vin and Nathan spot them through Vin's telescope, and Vin spots a nearby corral of horses and tells Nathan that they have to have a plan.
Going back for the others, the Seven then ride to the corral. Meanwhile, Stone leads the mob to hang Obediah, and prosecuting attorney James Litefoot tells Oren that he did his best to stop them. Oren knows better. As the mob tie Obediah's hands up, put him on a horse, and toss a noose over a sign to hang him, Buck sneaks up, while the other Seven start a stampede of the horses in the corral.
Buck pistol-whips Stone from behind, then gets on Obediah's horse and rides out of Eagle Bend with him. J.D. and Chris fire their guns in the air, driving the horses through town, while Josiah and Ezra knock out the men holding Oren and lead him away. Stone yells that he knows who the Seven are and they won't get away with rescuing Obediah.
Outside of the town, the Seven meet with Oren and Obediah, and ride back to Four Corners.
In Four Corners at Maude's request, Mary has men bring all of Maude's furnishings to Maude's cell. Mary asks Maude why Preston would put his cufflinks in her bag, and she says that Preston like all men is a desperate creature. He didn't get what he wanted so he did something foolish.
The Seven stop at a stream, and a weakened Obediah goes over to get a drink. Nathan goes over to help his father, and Obediah hugs Nathan in relief and joy. After saying that he went looking for Obediah after the war, Nathan wonders where Obediah went and what he was doing in Eagle Bend. Obediah tells Nathan that he was coming to find him.
Oren tells Chris that a white man was found beaten to death, after having an altercation with Obediah in front of witnesses. They stopped Obediah when he was riding out of Eagle Bend, after they found the body, and Oren realized how mad the townsmen were, decided to move the trial out of town, and call for the Seven.
Nathan tells Obediah that they should ride to Mexico, and Oren, overhearing him, says that Obediah is a territorial prisoner waiting for trial. Oren promises a fair trial, but Nathan isn't convinced. Obediah tells Nathan that's enough and there's nothing more important to him than being a free man, He wants his day in court, and Nathan reluctantly agrees.
Later when the group returns to Four Corners, Litefoot rides up to them and introduces himself. He says that nobody but the Seven could have stopped the lynch mob. Oren insists that every man in the territory has a right to a free trial, and Litefoot says that the people of Eagle Bent have retained him to prosecute Obediah. Vin isn't happy, but Oren doesn't have any choice but to follow the law. Litefoot tells them that a lot of citizens from Eagle Bend will come to attend the trial, and he advises Oren to appoint some of them to the jury because it would be "fair".
Vin points out that some of the townsmen were going to hang Obediah without a trial. Oren tells Litefoot that he's appointed prosecutor, and he'll pick some people for the jury from Eagle Bend. Chris tells Litefoot to tell Stone that the Seven are on the job. He figures that Stone will understand, and Litefoot agrees and departs.
Nathan check son Obediah in jail. When he comes out, Chris is waiting for Nathan and asks how Obediah is holding up. Irritated, Nathan says that his father is just saying "yes sir", and being obedient and letting everyone laugh at him as he lets himself be tried. Chris wonders what the matter is with Nathan for disrespecting Nathan. Nathan sits down and explains that when he was 7, Obediah let his owner sell his children to an owner in a different state. His wife stayed with Obediah in Georgia, and Nathan eventually got word that she died. Obediah never did anything to keep his family together, and didn't argue or beg.
In his cell, Obediah wraps a piece of rope around his hand. Maude looks over from his cell and asks what he's doing, and Obediah says that he's keeping his mind busy. She says that her son locked her up, and Obediah tells her that children don't always appreciate what their parents do for them.
Ezra comes in and offers to be Maude's advocate, and admits that he doesn't believe her story. Maude insists that she's innocent, and Ezra, not believing her, tells her to let him know when she changes her mind.
Nathan tells the others that Oren wants one of them to represent Obediah in court, and Nathan doesn't think it should be him. Vin suggests Josiah because he has a suit, and Josiah agrees.
That night, Preston arrives in a fancy carriage. He introduces himself to Buck and Ezra, who are out on the boardwalk, and he goes in to see Maude. Preston gushes over her romantically, and he drop the charges if she agrees to marry him. Maude refuses, and Ezra, smirking, listens on as Preston recites a poem to Maude even though she can't stand it. When she throws a pillow at him, Preston chuckles, calls her hot-blooded, and leaves.
The next morning in Eagle Bend, Stone tells the townsmen that Litefoot will look out for their interests during the trial. Litefoot guarantees that Obediah will get convicted or the townsmen will get their money back. Stone and the townsmen ride to Four Corners.
Josiah comes to see Obediah in his cell, and they talk about the Biblical origins of the name "Obediah". Obediah says that he has nothing to tell Josiah, and he just wants his day in court. As Josiah goes, Maude overhears and tells Josiah that if he speaks like that in court, he'll do just fine. Ezra enters the sheriff's office and asks Josiah if he has any verses for "unrepentant grifters".
Realizing that Ezra is needling Maude, Josiah quickly leaves. Oren comes in after Ezra and introduces himself to Maude, who says that Mary believes Preston's charges may be false. The judge wants to know why Preston would frame Maude, and Maude insists that the charges aren't true. Oren isn't interested in "horse play" and wants to know the truth. Ezra refuses to help his mother as long as she leaves him in the dark. Oren says that he has the murder trial to handle, and Maude turns on the charm with him. Oren doesn't fall for it and Ezra chuckles at his mother's failure.
Stone and two townsmen arrive and confront Chris, who is outside the jail. Stone asks Chris why he's protecting Obediah, and says that his family spent all of their money on a plantation in South Carolina. When Stone came home from the war, he found that freed slaves had taken over his land. Chris says that he doesn't care about Stone's past, because he's in Four Corner. Stone considers a gunfight with Chris, saying that he's heard that Chris is fast. Chris says that he's heard that as well.
Ezra bring Maude out of her cell, brings Preston into the sheriff's office, and says that they're all going to sit down and work things out. Maude accuses Preston of trying to blackmail her into marrying him, and says that she doesn't want to marry Preston because she doesn't want to be tied town. Preston says that he will treat her like an equal if she marries him, and at Ezra's suggestion agrees to put it in writing.
Stone and his men go to the grain exchange that Oren is using as a courthouse, and Chris and Vin are outside. Chris tells Stone that Oren doesn't allow firearms in his courtroom, and Stone says that if Chris is going to wear his gun, so is he. Chris, smiling, removes his gun belt, and Stone does likewise.
Oren calls the trial to order, and Josiah enters a plea for Obediah of "not guilty". Litefoot makes his opening statement, saying that any Godfearing man must find Obediah guilty of the "depraved " crime that he is accused of. The attorney says that he'll prove that Obediah beat a man to death with foresight, and that justice requires they do an eye for an eye.
Josiah gives his brief statement, and the first witnesses says that the victim, Jonah, dragged Obediah off his horse and then Obediah followed Jonah down the street and killed him. He testifies that he didn't actually see Obediah kill Jonah. Other witnesses testify, and none of them saw Obediah actually kill Jonah. Litefoot tells the jury to consider the facts, and insists that Obediah is a murder because he was covered in Jonah's blood.
Josiah calls Obediah to the stand, and Obediah thanks Oren for giving him time in court, and Josiah for representing him., He testifies that he beat Jonah to death when they were alone, The court goes into an uproar, and Oren calls it to order.
Obediah then says that he wanted to tell everyone how he knew Jonah, particularly so Nathan would know. Jonah was the overseer on the plantation in Georgia where he slaved with his wife and children, 19 years ago. Obediah says that they got whipped and sold, and when Nathan's mother refuse to let Jonah have carnal relations with her, Jonah threatened to sell old Nathan away in revenge. Obediah's wife couldn't bear it and went to Jonah's bed, and ended up pregnant. She killed herself rather than bear his child.
Nathan breaks into tears, and Jonah divided Obediah's family and sold them off. Obediah admits that it took a lot of spirit out of him, and he hopes that Nathan understands. When Obediah had a chance to kill Jonah 19 years later, he says that he had to do it and he'll find out if God holds him to judgment. Obediah says that he's glad he did it.
That night, Mary meets with Ezra, Maude, and Preston to draw up the "pre-martial stipulation." Preston says that Maude will have access to the household account because she has to do all the cooking and shopping for him. Despite the fact that they argue over the conditions, eventually they both sign as long as Maude marries Preston the next day and Preston drops the charges. Once Preston goes, Maude tells Ezra that she's proud to be his mother, thanks Mary, and leaves.
Nathan visits Obediah in his cell and asks why he never told him. Obediah says that he tried but couldn't, because Nathan had enough burdens without carrying another. Then he admits that he didn't tell Nathan because he didn't have the courage, and didn't want Nathan to think bad of his mother, who Obediah insists was a brave woman. Nathan agrees and admits that he thought bad of Obediah. Obediah tells his son that he wanted Nathan to know the truth and that's why he came looking for him.
The next day in the courtroom, Oren dismisses the jury since Obediah confessed his guilt. Litefoot speaks, saying that they can't allow one former slave to kill their former overseer, for fear of creating a precedent. The attorney says that they need to send a message that no man has the right to murder another man.
Josiah gets up and asks everyone to consider Obediah's position, and how he felt when his wife was raped and Obediah was powerless to stop it. Josiah admits that he would have killed the man responsible if he was in the same position, and figures that Litefoot and the others would do the same. However, he points out that Obediah didn't do it until he met Jonah 19 years later. Josiah insists that Jonah deserved to die, and he believes that Jonah doesn't deserve as much as he believes in God's eternal love.
Turning to Obediah, Josiah begs Oren to search his heart and do what is just, and let Obediah live. Everyone applauds, and Oren declares a recess until the court is orde4r.
Oren goes to Mary's office with his daughter-in-law, Mary figures that it's a justified murder, but Oren disagrees and points out that the law doesn't allow Obediah to kill a man to protect his family 19 years after the fact. She tells Oren that Obediah has consumption and will die soon, having learned it from Nathan, and Oren reconsiders.
Back in the courtroom, Oren says that he feels sympathy for Obediah but he has to carry out the law so he has no choice but to declare Obediah guilty and sentence to hang. However, Oren says that he will carry out the execution when he deems it necessary, since Obediah poses no threat to the community and he'll remain under house arrest in Chris' custody.
The Seven take Obediah outside and collect their guns. In the courtroom, Stone tells his fellow townsmen that if Oren won't hang Obediah, they'll do it for him. Nathan takes Obediah to his clinic, while Stone and the others get their gun. The Seven are waiting and Chris tells the lynch mob to go home. Stone discovers that the bullets are missing from his gun, as well as the others. Stone asks if they'd be interested in a fair fight, and Chris says that they can manage it.
A fistfight breaks out, and Stone wrestles with Chris and grabs his revolver. Nathan comes back down and tackles Stone, and Obediah comes out on the balcony with Nathan's rifle and fires a warning shot into the air. Everyone stops fighting, and Obediah tells Stone to leave Nathan alone. He says that Stone wants to kill him, but he doesn't want to kill Stone because it ain't right and they both know it.
Chris tells Stone that justice has been done, and tells him and his people to go home. Stone and the townspeople do so.
Later, Nathan brings Obediah a herbal broth for his consumption. They both say that they're proud of each other, and Obediah gives Nathan the bridal he's been making out of the string. When Obediah says that he came all that way to bring his son a present, Nathan tells him that he already has and they take each other's hand.
Preston goes to the church with Ezra, and waits for Maude to arrive. Maude takes Preston's carriage out of town, and Ezra runs after her. He takes reins and asks where she thinks she's going, and reminds her that she signed a contract. Maude doesn't are now that Preston has dropped the charges, and tells Ezra to give Preston a letter of explanation that she's written for him. She continues out of town, laughing, and Preston runs out to join Ezra. Ezra gives Preston the letter, which has a poem on it saying that she'll never have to set eyes on Preston again and he's a "bloated wood tick". As a P.S., she thanks Preston for the carriage. Preston watches Maude go and says, "What a woman."
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