Nighttime. Mouthharp tones set the score (enjoyable it was, all episode long) as a torch-bearing posse approaches the hangin' tree with a doomed "Skag," bound and recalcitrant. No children's television this, the lynching proceeds - even though Skags don't believe in hell we've obviously come across some wide-brimmed corner of it. (If they don't bury their dead, um, what do they do with them? And why does the title never reference the "Fortunate Son" tragedy?)

Daytime. An implausibly inconspicuous landing party under washed-out lighting moves through the streets of Old Westville. Trip swaps a harmonica, a gun (pretty fancy replication!), and a big heaping pile of T'Poo to secure an equine to go exploring. (A sly tongue-in-cheek, hands-on-breasts - whatever - mounting scene ensues.) Archer sips gratis coffee and parlays the bartender. Deputy Bennings arrives and starts harassing the Skag sweeping boy. Archer intervenes but before he's shot dead Sheriff MacReady arrives, ordering him out of town. He visits the local teacher Bethany; they wagon out to a starshipwrecked campsite to meet up with T'Pol and Trip, who return wreckage data to Enterprise.

Archer learns Skagaran ancestors enslaved nineteenth century humans but observes they "kidnapped the wrong people." Bennings arrives to arrest the teacher and drops Archer with one punch. Back in town a freshly-shaved hence civilized Sheriff presents himself as protector against re-enslavement; Archer unnerves him noting he's "protecting" them from children. Confused but cognizant of injustice, MacReady orders him out of town again. Archer instead remembers a smack to Benning's face as he jailbreaks Bethany, since she doesn't resemble a Cogenitor. Before they get away, Bennings shoots her in the back.

Archer orders an emergency beam-up (we don't need no steenkin' Directive!). Phlox heals Bethany, all safe and naked. Meanwhile a spooked Bennings quits over MacReady's blooming humanity (good acting all around, displaying many deep convictions). A shpod lands, sharks pile out, and firearms point in every direction. Archer tells MacReady how Earth's moved past intolerance and prejudice; MacReady tries to disarm Bennings but gets shot for the trouble. Excellent marksman that Deputy!

A brief standoff offers hope for peace, then Reed fires first! A laughable fight ensues with phasered trap doors (no fire?) and a terribly-injured Archer fighting against a weapon under a horse. T'Pol is taken hostage and trigger-happy Stinky stuns her without hesitation. The Earthers win and I couldn't care less. Bethany gets an orbital eyeful and takes back The Padd Of History to help awaken her world to the human capacity to overcome a long angry memory.