TUNNEL DWELLER'S
PREACHER'S PULPIT
Josiah Sanchez

Though he is occasionally given to making speeches that are extremely strange, Josiah usually exhibits a strong sense of humor and a live-and-let-live philosophy of life.  He’s a man who has done things he is not proud of and has lost his way spiritually.  His association with the rest of the Seven and the people they protect is apparently viewed as something of a second chance and while he does what he can to find his way again and welcomes others to come along on the journey, Josiah is not interested in forcing anyone down the path he walks.   He is open and willing to offer advice to anyone in need – a notable exception being Ezra in the episode “Serpents” – but he approaches his role as spiritual guide somewhat reluctantly.

Josiah’s speech style is sprinkled with literary or biblical references.  He is well spoken and apparently well read, but with his regular dialogue it's often the tone and inflection he uses, as much as the words themselves, that make it interesting.   And of course, that smooth baritone voice doesn’t hurt either!

It should be noted that, contrary to popular fanon belief, not once in the entire series did Josiah Sanchez ever refer to Ezra by the nickname “son” nor did he ever exhibit any particularly affectionate or father-like behavior towards him.

Ghosts of the Confederacy

Josiah’s dialogue in the pilot is not quite like it is anywhere else in the series.  He is cryptic, pessimistic and at times just plain monosyllabic!

NATHAN:
The Seminoles are the dispossessed of the earth, Josiah. Ain't saving lives a part of saving souls?
JOSIAH:
Seems to me a man ought to put his own house in order first.
VIN:
We can promise you a hell of a fight.
JOSIAH:
Hell... I've already been there.

NATHAN:
Why'd you change your mind?
JOSIAH:
Crows.
NATHAN:
What crows?
JOSIAH:
Sign.
NATHAN:
What does that mean?
JOSIAH:
Death.
NATHAN:
Whose?
JOSIAH:
Probably mine.
EZRA:
Well, well, a sense of humor. I look forward to many lively conversations.
NATHAN:
What about all this?
JOSIAH:
Oh... these stones will still be here if I get back.
VIN:
We can use another good man.
JOSIAH:
Not so good... but I can fight.

EZRA:
Why'd you sign on, Josiah? What is it you expect to gain?
JOSIAH:
I saw the birds of darkness in a dream. When I woke up, a crow was sitting on my windowsill staring at me like the devil himself.
EZRA:
Why come here?
JOSIAH:
If death's coming, I'd just as soon meet it head on.
EZRA:
And get your reward in the hereafter?
JOSIAH:
No. No, I was, uh... I was a priest once, but, uh... had a little trouble turning the other cheek.
EZRA:
I did a turn preaching the Word myself.
JOSIAH:
Is that right?
EZRA:
The best swindle I ever knew. Just stand up there under that tent terrify the congregation with avision of hellfire and pass the collection plate.
JOSIAH:
Yeah.
EZRA:
Did fine, too until I attempted to save the soul of the mayor's daughter.
JOSIAH:
Yup. Saving souls has its hazards.

JOSIAH:
[Referring to injured Seminole]  Whoever your God is... you can go to him in peace.
IMALA:
Leave him.
JOSIAH:
[gasps in pain from wound the others hadn't seen]
IMALA:
We don't believe in your white man's religion.
JOSIAH:
Nor do I, my friend.
 

JOSIAH:
Scoot on over there, Buck. I'm a spiritual man. Sometimes I turn to the wrong kinds of spirits.

NATHAN:
Where you going? Get down off that horse. You lost too much blood. You'll die out there.
JOSIAH:
If that's what's meant to be.
NATHAN:
The damn birds will get you soon enough. You don't have to go chasing after them.
JOSIAH:
You're a good man, Nathan.
 

One Day Out West
A couple of production goofs happen here.  In the real world, we know that several months passed between the filming of “Ghosts of the Confederacy” and the filming of ODOW, but cinematically it’s amusing to note that between the time he left the Seminole village and the time he reaches town, Josiah’s hair has managed to grow an inch and a half.  Must be a heck of a long journey!  Also, while his leg is still injured, the bullet wound he took to his right side seems to have disappeared.  Buck also seems to have made such a miraculous recovery from his near mortal saber wound that he can help Josiah up to Nathan's clinic.

JOSIAH:
I knew it, Nathan. I knew with absolute certainty that I was going to meet my maker in that Indian village.
NATHAN:
If we don't take care of that wound you're going to get your wish.
JOSIAH:
Look around you, Nathan. What do you see?
NATHAN:
I see people drinking.
JOSIAH:
Lost souls, everyone. You know what they need, don't you? They need me, damn it.

JOSIAH:
Nice gun. Can I have it?
[This is a prime example of a line that has to be heard, and his expression seen, to be fully appreciated.]
 

Working Girls

This is the first episode where we see a couple of examples of Josiah’s sense of humor: teasing JD about his crush on a working girl, chasing goons out of the church, and joining Buck in sneaking up to spy on JD and the working girl.

JOSIAH:
What I don't know about women ain't worth knowing. Anyway-- the important thing to remember is the act of love should be a truly spiritual experience.
JD:
"Spiritual"?
JOSIAH:
Mm-hmm. See... Adam and Eve, they got thrown out of paradise for doing it. So when we do it, it better be right so their loss was not in vain.

JOSIAH:
God, I hope. Join me in prayer, my brothers. Lord, forgive these sinners who enter your house with instruments of death. Please do not send them into a fiery... agonizing grave where a thousand flames eat away at their flesh for all of eternity.
Though thou art mighty and these men are lowly do not smite them, Lord!
[This is the one and only time we see Josiah exhibiting the mode of a Hellfire-and-Brimstone preacher and he does it very well, but the payoff is the final line.  When the bad guys run out of the church, Josiah looks behind the pulpit where a girl is hiding and asks: “How was that?”  to which she giggles, showing that he was only playing a part. ]

JOSIAH:
Not too sure how I feel about spying on the boy.
BUCK:
We're not spying on him! We're just checking up on him making sure he's doing all right.
JOSIAH:
Oh…well, that's different.

WICKES' MAN:
Ain't you the...?
JOSIAH – [cold-cocking one of the guys from the earlier church scene]:
You should have prayed when you had the chance.
 

Safecracker

Josiah really isn’t in this episode a whole lot, but we do get our first chance to see him interact with one of the people the team is helping as he takes his turn babysitting Olivia Greer.   This is also Josiah’s first use of a non-biblical parable or story to make a point.

JOSIAH:
Hmm. Where is your father, Olivia?
OLIVIA:
I never knew my father.
JOSIAH:
But your father knows you.
OLIVIA:
How?
JOSIAH:
Because... he lives right here. (Points to her heart)
OLIVIA:
Where's India?
JOSIAH:
Oh, about a million miles from here. And in that place there lived a most beautiful woman.
OLIVIA:
Like my mama?
JOSIAH:
Well... maybe not quite that beautiful. [yawning] anyway... this woman was so beautiful that she was chosen by five different gods to bear them their sons. One day they would grow up... to be great warriors... who would cleanse the earth... of all that was evil.
 

Witness

Here we see the first example of Josiah’s interest in women.  Given that he usually seems very discerning, it is amusing to note that Josiah seems unable to perceive much beyond the appeal of a pretty face when it comes to the ladies.

[Upon getting his first glimpse of Maude coming off the stagecoach]
JOSIAH:
Now, that, my friends, is proof there is a God.

[On learning that the beautiful lady from the coach is Ezra Standish’s mother]
JOSIAH:
Mother! I always thought Ezra was raised by wolves.

[Discussing the man threatening Billy Travis, calling himself the Devil]
JOSIAH:
Satan's up to his old tricks again, eh?
VIN:
Yep. And apparently, he's using a .44 these days.
JOSIAH:
Except this time Satan ain't no all-powerful demon. If he was, he'd know Billy couldn't finger him.
 

Nemesis

More spiritual reference and some very sarcastic tones highlight Josiah’s dialogue in this episode.

STEELE:
May I ask how long you guys been riding with Larabee?
JOSIAH:
You mean with his killer outlaw gang?
STEELE:
Yes, yes, that's it. I've heard Larabee's a very formidable man.
JOSIAH:
Formidable? That don't tell it by half.
NATHAN:
Chris asked me and Josiah to ride along because it's good to have backup especially when lead starts flying.
STEELE:
Oh. What do you do when you're not helping Larabee?
JOSIAH:
I look and I listen.
STEELE:
Uh-huh. For, uh... what?
JOSIAH:
Daily confirmation of the hand of God in all things.
NATHAN:
Josiah's been fixing up that church here in town.
STEELE:
Well, I've never seen a "man of the cloth" carrying a gun before.
NATHAN:
Josiah can get very "Old Testament" on occasion.

CHRIS:
The son of a bitch is close enough to kill a man in my hotel room. Why are we sitting here eating breakfast?
JOSIAH:
It's the most important meal of the day.

STEELE:
Howdy, boys. Be with you in a minute.
EZRA:
He said he that he was a writer who was willing to pay for anyone's story as long as it was about murder and mayhem.
JOSIAH:
Of course, that appealed to the congregation. After that, the only fight was to see who was going to be first in line.
 

The Collector

We see the goofy romantic side of Josiah’s personality here as he avidly pursues the love of his youth.

[Seeing Josiah stop to stare fixedly at a flyer tacked to a building.]
NATHAN:
What's wrong with you?
JOSIAH:
Yahweh has answered my prayers.
NATHAN:
Who's Yahweh?
JOSIAH:
God... to you.
 NATHAN:
You been praying for... Getting Gertie's Garter to come into town?
[Josiah does not answer but instead gives a huge toothy smile]
VIN:
You ready now?
JOSIAH:
For whatever comes, but I ain't doing nothing that's going to keep me out of town on Saturday the 14th.
BUCK:
And why is that, Josiah?
JOSIAH:
I'm just telling you... just telling you. And I don't aim to be killed before then, either.

[An interesting hint to Josiah’s physical strength here, something not seen since his work on the old abandoned mission in the pilot, particularly given that Nathan is bigger than Josiah.]
NATHAN:
Josiah, there's something I been wondering about. In a place like this if a man get himself a tailcoat and a boiled shirt... what exactly do that mean?
JOSIAH:
I'll tell you, Nathan, but... you tell anybody else I'm going to have to break your back. You know I could do it, too.
NATHAN:
Yeah. I know that.
JOSIAH:
[Shows him a picture of a young woman] Carried this next to my heart for half a lifetime.
NATHAN:
She's awful pretty. Who is she?
JOSIAH:
Emma Dubonnet.
NATHAN:
In that show coming to town?
JOSIAH:
Mm-hmm. "Getting Gertie's Garter." Same one I saw in San Francisco when I was young and foolish. Introduced myself to her afterwards. It was true love. Saw her four times after that always with a chaperone.
NATHAN:
Why didn't you marry her?
JOSIAH:
Oh, I asked her. She accepted. Then I told her there'd be a short delay that I couldn't see her for two years 'cause I was going to pursue a course of spiritual study with a Cherokee Holy man. I often wonder if that wasn't a mistake.
NATHAN:
Well, I don't guess a lady wants to hear that from a suitor.
JOSIAH:
Maybe you're right. Anyway... fate is a capricious beast. Now I got a chance to win her again and I'm a happy man.
 

Manhunt

A lot of interesting stuff about Josiah’s upbringing is mentioned or hinted at in this one and we get more clarification of his spiritual side and the fact that he’s accepting of different disciplines.

JD:
That one's trouble, Josiah. Heard his daddy's had to pull him out of scrapes from here to Kansas territory.
JOSIAH:
Sounds about right for a missionary's boy.

JD:
So, is it true that this Chanu is the son of the chief?
JOSIAH:
Yep. Guess I'll finally get a chance to meet him.
JD:
Meet him? You're going up to the reservation?
JOSIAH:
Somebody's got to tell him we got his boy. Yeah, figuring on staying a few days in case anybody gets any idea about breaking him out. I was hoping for a better calling card but... the Lord does work in mysterious ways.
RAFE:
Don't bother with that preacher talk up there.  [taps counter] if the great Bible-thumping Owen Mosely can't turn them don't think you can.
JOSIAH:
I ain't interested in turning them.

JOSIAH:
I know what it's like to have a Bible shoved down your throat... how mad that can make a man. See, my father was a missionary, just like Mosely. Did his work for a while... till we broke.

JOSIAH:
Ko-je... if we get to him first, we could save him. You're his father. You gotta do
what it takes to protect him.
KO-JE:
Did your father try to protect you?
JOSIAH:
In his own way, yeah.
KO-JE:
And like most sons, it angered you.
JOSIAH:
Look... my father is dead. I'd like to keep Chanu from being the same.
KO-JE:
Your father's spirit walks with you. That's why you're unbalanced. It's too heavy on your shoulder.

JOSIAH:
It's a sweat lodge.
JD:
A sweat lodge?
JOSIAH:
A purifying ritual to harmonize themselves with nature. It's sacred, and you need to show a little bit more respect.

JOSIAH:
"Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." In front of God and all us sinners tell us she didn't beg for your blessing.
MOSELY:
No! No. You're wrong!
JOSIAH:
Tell us you accepted the baby she was carrying. Ko-je told me. Your own grandchild.

JOSIAH:
Rafe. You murder him... you become him. Is that what you want?
 

Inmate 78

JESSIE:
I'm open seven days a week, sir.
JOSIAH:
Even the Lord rested on the seventh day, ma'am.
JESSIE:
Well, the Lord wasn't running a boarding house.
JOSIAH:
I always figured that's what heaven was.
JESSIE:
Oh... you a preacher, by any chance?
JOSIAH:
Used to be. Used to be. Now, I'm just a man on a mission.

[A great moment for Josiah, reasonable yet not to be messed with]:
JOSIAH:
You don't want to pull that trigger, ma'am.
JESSIE:
I will if I have to. You stay back.
JOSIAH:
Now, you've done a lot of wrong to a lot of people... but it ain't too late to mend your
ways.
JESSIE:
Don't come any closer.
JOSIAH:
We ain't gonna hurt your boy... and we ain't gonna cut him lose. The only thing you're accomplishing is getting him killed. Put the gun down. I have faith that you will do the right thing. You do what's best for your son.
JESSIE:
Go to hell, preacher man.
[Yanks away her rifle after blocking the trigger with his finger]
JOSIAH:
My faith only goes so far, sister.

Josiah Sanchez – Season 2

Josiah’s soul searching and predilection for making spiritual comments and cryptic speeches kicked up a notch or two in the second season.  We saw a lot of his friendship with Nathan in the first season and in the second we see more of his friendships with Vin, Buck and JD, and a couple of unexpected left turns in his interaction with Ezra.  No real relationship ever develops between Josiah and Chris, though we see them working together quite often.  Their friendliest scene in the entire series was probably the one in “One Day Out West”, when Chris thanks Josiah for giving him the striped serape that becomes a semi-regular part of his wardrobe.

The New Law

[Running a bad guy into a post during a gunfight]
JOSIAH:
Say your prayers, son!

[Later in the same scene, dragging the bad guy off to jail]
JOSIAH:
Arise, sinner.  Come along peacefully now.

[Upon discovering that Marshal Bryce doesn’t want the help of the Seven]
NATHAN:
Without us, you got no backup.
JOSIAH:
Except the good Lord... and he's got lousy aim.

JD:
The town's gonna be a preacher's dream-- no drinkin', no gamblin'.
JOSIAH:
Not much to do for an old reformer like me. Besides, if God's everywhere, best to start lookin' sooner more than later.
NATHAN:
[laughing] That means he's gonna find a burning bush to talk to.

JOSIAH:
Come on, Lord... I know you're out there. Give me a sign now. Talk to me.
[dog barks]
JOSIAH:
Bet you thought that was funny, huh? What kind of a sign is this?
CHRIS:
Josiah, we need your help.
NATHAN:
I thought you came up here to talk to God, not a dog.
JOSIAH:
[sighs] God…Dog…the Lord loves a riddle.
 

Sins of the Past

Josiah seems to have settled more comfortably into the role of advisor in Season 2 as well, as seen in his conversation in this episode with Buck.

EZRA:
Now that the down payment's been made, all that's needed are a few prudent investors to infuse a little working capital. Mr. Jackson?
NATHAN:
Oh, I don't know, Ezra. I mean, what do you know about running a saloon?
EZRA:
I spent my whole life in saloons. You may trust I have ample experience. What about you, Josiah?
JOSIAH:
Money... is like manure. Not good except it be spread.
EZRA:
May I take that as an affirmative?
JOSIAH:
No.

MAUDE:
Josiah. You're as handsome as ever.
JOSIAH [kissing her hand]:
If eyes were meant for seeing, then beauty is its own excuse for being.

JOSIAH:
Come on in, Brother Buck. Sanctuary's always available for the troubled soul.
BUCK:
I'm not troubled. What makes you think I'm troubled?
JOSIAH:
Ok. Forget I said it.
BUCK:
Say, Josiah?
JOSIAH:
Yep.
BUCK:
Have you ever thought about marriage?
JOSIAH:
Well... animals mate, plants grow, flowers bloom. Seems to be the natural order of things.
BUCK:
Maybe that's it. It oughta be natural, right? It's not something that's forced on you.
JOSIAH:
Exactly. Then again... could be the fates sendin' you a blessin'.
BUCK:
Yeah?
JOSIAH:
Fine wife, delights of a child. Most men would live and die for that.
BUCK:
Yeah. Well, tell me this. How do I know that Lucy is the one for me? I mean, I hardly know her.
JOSIAH:
Seems to me that'd be a good starting point if you want it.
BUCK:
Well, what do you mean?
JOSIAH:
Get to know the girl.
 

Love and Honor

Josiah again plays the role of advisor, this time in two capacities: Offering JD romantic advice and helping Buck face his fears.

[Reading a book and pretending not to notice JD’s romantic frustration as the others offer him advice on what to buy Casey as a gift]
JOSIAH:
"And the great city of Troy lays in ashes, all for the wooing of a woman." Mmm--mmm--mmm--mmm.
JD:
What?
JOSIAH:
Huh?
JD:
That--
JOSIAH:
Oh. The Iliad. A battle of courtship, like so many millions of others that have laid waste to men's souls; my own included.
JD:
Hey, Josiah, that book got any, uh... pointers for someone who might be, uh... thinkin' about courtship?
JOSIAH:
No. But if you tell me your troubles, I may be able to help.

JOSIAH:
Woman can get a powerful hold on a man, that's for sure.
JD:
So I guess we should hold off on that courtin' stuff then, huh, Josiah?
JOSIAH:
JD, nothin' you do can change what's gonna happen to Buck. Now what you want to do is focus on the heart's lighter side-- the, uh... the poetry of talkin' to a lady, the grace of a tender-hearted glance, the mystery of that first kiss.

[Josiah displays those tender fatherly feelings for Ezra….]
NATHAN:
You takin' bets on Buck's fight?
EZRA:
I am merely providing a service for interested parties. I've seen Mr. Wilmington handle a pistol. I have every confidence our Buck will prevail. If, however, some ignorant gudgeons choose to think otherwise, who am I to insist they keep their money? Ha ha. Yeah, I-- I share your dismay at today's public demand for entertainment. Why, it calls to mind the decline and fall of Rome, which--
JOSIAH:
Ezra? Shut up.

JOSIAH:
When did you learn how to fight with a blade, Ezra?
EZRA:
I have, on occasion, found it necessary to defend my good name upon the field of honor.
JOSIAH:
I can believe that.
EZRA:
Although, I'll admit, it's been a while since I've held an epee.
JOSIAH:
I can believe that, too.
 

BUCK [Telling Josiah about a dream]:
It was like... I was still there. The Seminole village... the Colonel... and his sword when he... do you think it's a sign?
JOSIAH:
Yeah, it's a sign. It's a sign you're scared. Fear is part of who we are, Buck. Every time we go into a fight, I know there's a piece of me wonders if I'm gonna come through it. I can feel it in my hands... my head, my gut.
BUCK:
No gunfight ever made me feel like this.
JOSIAH:
Well, it's all right. God gives ya fear 'cause... fear helps you fight. God wants you to fight 'cause he wants ya to live.
BUCK:
So do you--you think this, uh, this dream's a sign that I'm gonna win?
JOSIAH:
Unless it's your time to die.  [That Josiah, always so comforting!]

JOSIAH:
God is with you, Buck. And if he ain't, we are.

JOSIAH:
Fate's lookin' kindly on us today, don't you think, JD?
JD:
Well, we're all still alive.
JOSIAH:
Yes, sir. And did fortune smile on you and your belle amour last evening?
JD:
If she ever talks to me again.
JOSIAH:
Well, then... let me give you a piece of advice. What you want to do is buy that girl a frog gigger.
 

Vendetta

We again see Josiah in his spiritual advisor role.  The discomfort in his reaction to Ma Nichols’ request for confession was a good, subtle reminder that Josiah once was, but is no longer, a priest.

MA NICHOLS:
Where's the priest?
JOSIAH:
No priest. Just me.
MA NICHOLS:
A house of God should be clean.
JOSIAH:
Well, this church serves many paths, even dusty ones.
MA NICHOLS:
Look at yourself. You're not a man of God. You're a...philistine. A handyman.
JOSIAH:
Jesus was pretty good with a hammer.
MA NICHOLS:
Well, if you're all that this pesthole of a town has to offer, I guess you'll do. I need confession.
JOSIAH:
Aah…Confession.

MA NICHOLS:
Forgive me, Father, for I am about to sin.
JOSIAH:
You saying you haven't sinned yet?
MA NICHOLS:
Don't worry, I will. I will sin in grand fashion. I will break the sixth commandment. And then I will rejoice.
JOSIAH:
Death is never a reason for rejoicing.
MA NICHOLS:
He took my boy from me, my precious firstborn.
JOSIAH:
Revenge won't bring your son back, Ma'am.
MA NICHOLS:
What's your point?
JOSIAH:
I can't forgive you for something you haven't done yet.
MA NICHOLS:
It's as good as done.
JOSIAH:
You know, the Navajo believe that the spirit of the dead comes back for revenge.
MA NICHOLS:
Pagan malarkey.
JOSIAH:
Come back as coyotes, whirlwinds. Why don't you let the coyotes bring your son peace?
MA NICHOLS:
I've heard better preaching coming out the backside of a horse.
JOSIAH:
The bible says forgive as you would be forgiven.

MA NICHOLS:
I know he's in heaven. David was such a good boy. Never had a hard word for anyone. He was the best one. Generous to a fault. Always had a smile for everyone.
JOSIAH:
Sounds like quite a man.
MA NICHOLS:
He was a saint. Why? Why did he take my boy? There is no answer. Is there?
JOSIAH:
Death is a question.
MA NICHOLS:
I don't understand. God protected us. Blessed us with healthy children. Now David's murdered. And he was the good one. A lamb.
JOSIAH:
How do you honor a lamb? A man of peace? With bloodshed? Or with forgiveness? You need to find forgiveness, Ma'am.

MA NICHOLS:
You're one of them. How could you, a man of God, be party to such violence?
JOSIAH:
How could a mother?
MA NICHOLS:
The debt is paid. He's on his way to hell. And there's no one can help him now.
JOSIAH:
And who's gonna help them?
JOHN NICHOLS:
Ma? Ma?
MA NICHOLS:
Has God forsaken me?
JOSIAH:
An eye for an eye leaves us... blind.
MA NICHOLS:
Forgive me. Forgive me. My sweet lamb. Forgive me. will you-- will you forgive me?
JOSIAH:
It's not for me to forgive.
 

Wagon Train

Considering that this is a 2-part episode, Josiah really has surprisingly little dialogue.  He conducts a funeral early on but except for his bits with the widow and Eugene he mostly just gives short conversational sentences or physical reactions to the comments of others.

EUGENE:
Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah. Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah.
MARY:
Eugene, please.
EUGENE:
Nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah, nyah.
JOSIAH (collaring the brat):
Familiar with the Bible, son? 'Cause there's a little place called hell I'm gonna tell you all about.

ALICE:
Isn't he an angel when he's sleepin'?
JOSIAH:
That he is Ma'am?
ALICE:
It's Alice. Remember?
JOSIAH:
Oh, right. Alice.
ALICE:
Or you can call me... Honey or Sweetheart or my favorite-- Pumpkin.
JOSIAH:
Well... all right... Alice.
ALICE:
Of course, those'll just be our at-home names.
JOSIAH:
What home?
ALICE:
Why, yours, of course. You do want Eugene and I with you, don't you? Josiah? We have no place
to go.
We'd make... a wonderful family.
JOSIAH:
Well, uh... we would make heavenly alchemy together, Ma'am, that's for sure.

[Can this man squirm out of things, or what?]
JOSIAH:
Excuse me, Eugene.
ALICE:
Oh, there's no need for that, Josiah, since we're headin' back to town with you.
JOSIAH:
Well, yeah, but not until I complete my vow of silence and abstinence.
ALICE:
Y-you're what?
JOSIAH:
Oh, yeah. Sometimes they last for years. But you don't have to concern yourself with that. This one shouldn't take more than about 6, 8 months.
ALICE:
6 or 8 months?
JOSIAH:
Oh, you would love the simplicity of it. You wear burlap robes and eat only the things you find on the ground, you know, like--like twigs and crawlin' creatures. You really develop a taste for grasshoppers and ants--
ALICE:
Oh, my. W-well, you know Josiah-- would you mind unloading the rest of that furniture? I--I just-- I think it's best if Eugene and I wait for you here.
 

The Trial

Vin mentions here that Josiah has studied Cherokee law when Josiah agrees to defend Nathan’s father against a murder charge.  Part of the 2 years of study with the Cherokee holy man referred to in “The Collector” perhaps?  Interesting that Vin is aware of this part of his life since we had yet to see Vin and Josiah share any meaningful dialogue.  It foreshadows the friendship we see later in “Penance”.

JOSIAH:
Your name...Obediah. Obediah was a prophet of God. He predicted the downfall of the Edomites. The Edomites were an arrogant people. They felt they were better than everybody else. They tried to destroy Obediah's people, but--
OBEDIAH:
It didn't work. Obediah's people rose up. Justice was served.
JOSIAH:
Anything you want to tell me before we go to trial?
OBEDIAH:
No, Sir. This Obediah just wants his day in court.
MAUDE:
You tell a story like that, Josiah... you'll do just fine.
EZRA:
Josiah. So... you have any biblical parables on hand for unrepentant grifters?
JOSIAH:
Nope.

JUDGE TRAVIS:
Mr. Sanchez, you have an opening statement?
JOSIAH:
A, uh... a great Cherokee shaman once said to me: to cross a mountain... you must first walk up to it. I think that explains what we are all doing here today.
VIN:
[softly] Come on, Josiah, get good.

[At Obediah’s sentencing]:
JUDGE TRAVIS:
Mr. Sanchez, do you have anything to say?
JOSIAH:
Yes, I do, your Honor. Just for a moment I'd like you to try on Obediah's boots. A man walks into your house. Takes your wife... and he rapes her. And you're powerless to stop him. He rapes your wife. And then he threatens to take your 7-year-old child away from you. And you are powerless to stop him. Imagine what that must be like having to stand there and watch this grievous harm be done to your loved ones. And you're powerless to stop it. I would kill that man. You would kill that man. But Obediah Jackson could not kill that man. Not until 20 years later. When Obediah Jackson saw Jonah Catchings again and remembered all that he had suffered at his vicious hands and once again felt the sting of Mr. Catchings' abuse... can any of you declare that you would have acted any differently? I believe the answer is no. If ever any man deserved to die, Jonah Catchings was that man, for all that he imposed on Obediah and his family and doubtlessly on many, many others. Just as surely, I believe Obediah Jackson deserves to live. I believe that as strongly as I believe in God's eternal love. When you pass judgment on this man, your Honor, on this decent, long-suffering man who has endured endless years of deprivation and finally--finally has a chance to live out his last days as a free man, I beg you to search your heart and do what is right and just. Let Obediah Jackson live.
CROWD:
[applause]
VIN:
Josiah, you silver-tongued devil.

Chinatown

Another small piece of Josiah’s past is revealed here as we discover that he spent some time among the Chinese in San Francisco.

JOSIAH:
[speaking Chinese]
BUCK:
What the hell was that?
WO CHIN'S FATHER:
Justice will prevail.
BUCK:
You speak Chinese.
JOSIAH:
Word or two. My father did missionary work with Chinese up in San Francisco.

VIN:
Try askin' if he knows of anyone gone missin'.
JOSIAH:
[speaking halting Chinese]
CHINESE MAN 1:
[Laughs]
JOSIAH:
What's so funny?
CHINESE MAN 1:
You ask if he know any man who smells good.
JOSIAH [laughs sheepishly]:
My Chinese is about as rusty as a dead horse's shoe, but, uh, maybe you can help me here.

JOSIAH:
You speak English pretty good.
WO CHIN:
Better than your Chinese.
JOSIAH:
Well, that ain't hard. Where'd you learn?
WO CHIN:
My father taught me. He said it would help us to become better Americans. Look what it did for him.
JOSIAH:
Your father wanted something better for you.
WO CHIN:
So now I am alone, with no family. That is better?
JOSIAH:
You know, there's an old Zen story about a man walking along a cliff and sees a tiger coming. He jumps over the cliff, hangs onto a root, looks down, sees another tiger, and the worse thing of all is there's a mouse munching on the root. Well, knowing he was gonna fall, looks over and he sees a wild strawberry growing nearby, takes a bite out of that strawberry, and it is the sweetest thing he's ever tasted. Now, what does that story say to you? Life is precious. [This story is a real Buddhist fable.  Another example of Josiah’s eclectic religious background.]

JOSIAH:
You can sleep here for a while if you want to. All people are welcome in this church, no matter what their beliefs. I spent some time with some Buddhist monks once, used to talk about there being 3 qualities necessary in life: great faith, great doubt... and great effort. Made sense to me.

JOSIAH:
[speaking Chinese]
CHUNG SUN:
[Walks away grumbling.]
JOSIAH:
See? Now that's modesty for ya. I just told him he's got a place in heaven.
WO CHIN:
[laughs] You just told him he's an idiot.
CHRIS:
[laughs]
JOSIAH:
Chung Sun! Hey, wait a minute! Wait a minute! I want to talk to you! Wait a minute!
 

Achilles

This episode has one of Josiah’s more peculiar bits of ‘comforting’ wisdom but some very nice, almost parental type interaction with JD. This is also the only example I could find of Josiah calling any of his compatriots “son”, though he does use the term occasionally with strangers, like Wo Chin in “Chinatown”.

JOSIAH:
Well, John Dunne. Long time since you been to my house.
JD:
You did a nice...funeral.
JOSIAH:
Ah, I hate funerals. I don't care if heaven is paved with the softest silk and serves Kentucky whiskey, I hate sending people up there.
JD:
Preacher... did I do something to make God mad at me?
JOSIAH:
You feelin' a mite lonely, Son?
JD:
Everything's different. My guns, they... they feel strange. I can't hardly touch 'em. I don't know what to do, Josiah.
JOSIAH:
There was a--a bare knuckle prizefighter in San Francisco Named Walleye Smith. Won 54 fights, all by knockout. Hell of a right hook. Anyway, one day he hits this guy and he kills him.
JD:
What?
JOSIAH:
After that, never won another fight.
JD:
Well, how could that be I mean, if he was such a good fighter and...
JOSIAH:
Couldn't live with his own strength, I guess.

JD:
Hello, Josiah. I come to say good-bye.
JOSIAH:
Did a lot of good while you were here, JD. I hope you look back this time with pride.
JD:
Yeah, I learned one thing: I ain't no hero.
JOSIAH:
Just what do you think a hero is?
JD:
Well, someone who shoots straight and true.
JOSIAH:
That's a good shot, is all. Takes more than that to be a hero. Takes someone who's willing to sacrifice their life for the greater good. You've proved that time and time again, John Dunne.
JD:
I made a... pretty bad mistake.
JOSIAH:
I don't know anybody who hasn't. It's what makes us human.

[After JD saves the stage passengers from Achilles Thompson.]
JOSIAH:
I'd say that was darn heroic, Son.
JD:
I'd say that was darn lucky, Preacher.
 

Lady Killers

Josiah offers spiritual comfort to yet another lost soul…

MADDIE
You like drinking alone?
JOSIAH:
Just me and my 3 friends-- Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost.
MADDIE
You're a preacher.
JOSIAH:
Not anymore.
MADDIE
Once a preacher, always a preacher. Well, you stay the hell away from me! You preachers are bad luck.

[One of the few times we ever see Josiah and Ezra collaborating as they try to distract Casey from finding out that JD has gone off with Maddie Stokes.]
CASEY:
Have you seen JD?
EZRA:
He, uh--
JOSIAH:
JD?
CASEY:
Yeah.
JOSIAH:
You mean, that little fella with the funny hat?
CASEY:
You know who I'm talking about. I heard he was hurt.
EZRA:
Oh, a mere bloody nose.
JUDGE:
JD? I just saw him. He was heading toward the livery.
CASEY:
Thanks.
JUDGE TRAVIS:
What was this all about?
JOSIAH:
(sighs) Just the end of innocence is all.

JOSIAH:
You sure know how to sweet-talk a man.
MADDIE
I told you to keep your bad luck away from me.
JOSIAH:
What makes you think I'm such bad luck anyway?
MADDIE
Every time a preacher's around, somebody dies. Last preacher I let near me was standin' Over my mama's grave, and I will shoot you dead before I'll have you standing over mine.

JOSIAH:
I know you don't want me around, so I'll just leave this here with you. Peace, I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
MADDIE:
Am I going to hell?
JOSIAH:
Well, now, some people think that hell is just a state of mind.
MADDIE
But hell's for people who've sinned.
JOSIAH:
Well, there's always redemption for a sinner.
MADDIE
[sighs] I'm scared, preacher.
JOSIAH:
That man on the stagecoach that you killed... and JD... you think they were scared?
MADDIE
[sniffles] I never thought about it.
JOSIAH:
Well, think about it. Maybe that will be your path to redemption.
 

Penance

The grim, hard-drinking, cryptic Josiah from the pilot makes a reappearance here and we find out quite a bit about his past in this episode.   Some excellent friendship develops between Josiah and Vin.

VIN:
Josiah, this is Cyrus Poplar. He's with the Pinkerton agency.
JOSIAH:
[Hung over and cranky] To what do we owe this honor, Mr. Pinkerton?
POPLAR:
This young lady in question was murdered last night. Where'd you get that wound on your head?
JOSIAH:
Murdered? Miss Irene?
POPLAR:
Can you account for your whereabouts last night?
VIN:
Now, hold on, there. What kind of question is that?
JOSIAH:
[Confused and unsure] I was... I was with her. Tried to walk her home. I was there to save her, but... She's dead. God forgive me.

VIN:
Josiah, climbin' back into the bottle ain't gonna make this go away. Now, I'm tryin' to help you here.
JOSIAH:
You can stop anytime now.
POPLAR:
Mr. Sanchez. I have some more questions to ask you now that your mind is clear.
JOSIAH:
Won't be for long.
VIN:
The man wants to be left alone.
POPLAR:
Must be a reason he refuses to talk.
VIN:
I reckon your time would be better spent askin' around about these travelin' cowboys.
POPLAR:
Perhaps you'll allow me the courtesy of conducting my own investigation.
VIN:
All you need to know about Josiah is that he watched my back in more than one gunfight, and that's good enough for me.

NATHAN:
The man is sick. He's in no mind to answer any of your questions.
POPLAR:
Look, I just want to look around. If he's innocent, he's got nothing to hide.
JOSIAH:
Come on in. I never shut my doors on those in need... Here. Let me help you.
NATHAN:
Come on, compadre, give it a rest, huh? Josiah!
JOSIAH:
Forbear to judge, for we are sinners all!

[After learning that Vin has gone to Vista City to see the mysterious Hannah]
JOSIAH:
You had no right to go see her, Vin.
VIN:
I got every right, 'cause I'm tryin' to save your damn hide. Now, who is she?
JOSIAH:
A soul in torment. That's all you gotta know.
VIN:
Then I'm gonna ride out there and get it out of her myself.
JOSIAH:
You stay away from her!
VIN:
Then talk to me, you stubborn fool! [As he starts to leave] I'll give her your regards.
JOSIAH:
She's my sister. She wasn't always like you saw her. Time was when she was real full of life. Course, bein' a missionary's daughter ain't easy. My father... My father. He said she was, uh, on the road to destruction. He tried to rein her in. But the harder he pulled, the wilder she got. Like she had a demon inside of her. Started doin' crazy things. Goin' off with men, drinkin'. He tried lockin' her up.... Sendin' her away... Beatin' her. I should've stayed. I could've saved her. But I couldn't see past savin' myself. Every time I went home, she was worse off... Till she finally got to be how she is now. Every penny I got goes to keepin' her. And when I see her, it tears me up so bad... It takes me a week before I stop wantin' to die. And now the Lord is servin' up my penance, and I'm lookin' forward to it, Vin. I really am. I need to find peace.

POPLAR:
Stay back!
JOSIAH:
Now, you can't undo what's already done. But you can put an end to it now. They torment you. They haunt you, those women. You see them when you close your eyes. There's no rest. Pay your penance, Poplar. Pay it... And be free. Hand me the knife.
[Poplar resists and gets  stabbed in the struggle over his knife.]
JOSIAH:
Of all the tyrannies of humankind, the worst is that which persecutes the mind.

VIN:
Josiah... What you told me about your sister and all... I just want you to know that... That's between you and me.
JOSIAH:
Appreciate that, Vin. But you know, saying it out loud... kind of made it a little easier to bear.
VIN:
Mm. Well... now you're free and clear.
JOSIAH:
Oh... I'll never be free and clear.
 

Serpents

Josiah and Ezra had very few one on one scenes in the series, making the harshness of this episode’s all the more striking.  This is the first and only time we see Josiah fail to offer understanding and advice to one of his friends in need and the reason, ironically, is that he understands Ezra’s problem all too well.  He feels guilty because the money he was assigned to guard has tempted him and he reacts by shoving the problem, and the guilt, off on Ezra with the excuse that he’s helping the other man face his inner demons.

JOSIAH:
[As he prepares to sleep with the source of his temptation – the $10,000] And the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made - and he said until the woman, yeah, hath God said, ye shall not eat of every tree in the garden. Destroyer of kingdoms. You caused our fall. I will not be tempted.

[Josiah is sitting in a pew glowering after having a slightly kinky dream of being tied to a post and tempted by beautiful women – including Mary Travis – holding themselves and the money just out of his reach.  Ezra, with far from impeccable timing, comes into the church hesitantly asking for help.]
EZRA:
Hark. You're always so willin’ to dispense advice to others in need. See, it's just that, um, all my life I've always gotten that... look.  You know, that tilt of the head, that - that question in the eye - can I trust him? You know, I always…hoped that my f-friends knew me better.
JOSIAH:
Let the wicked forsake his ways, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. You think you know what kind of man you are?
EZRA:
I know I've earned some measure of respect, of trust.
JOSIAH:
You blame your friends? Blame yourself! Look inside your own heart, Ezra. Face your own demons!
EZRA:
Now, you hold on just one minute, Josiah.
JOSIAH
I am the serpent, Ezra. And this is the apple. [Throws the $ satchel]  Take a bite.
EZRA:
Wait!

CHRIS:
Josiah, the money well hid?
JOSIAH:
I give it to Ezra.
CHRIS:
Ezra! What's the matter with you?
JOSIAH:
It's servin' a purpose.
NATHAN:
Yeah, making Ezra rich.
[This is an oddly cruel exchange. Ezra is standing just a few feet away in his bright red jacket, which makes it hard to believe that nobody knew he was within earshot.  It begs the question: Had Josiah convinced himself that his passing of the buck(s) was for the good of Ezra’s soul and wanted him to know it, or did he really not see him standing there?  Josiah’s part of the episode is done, so we never get to find out.]
 

Obsession

Josiah gets a new hobby in the last episode – golf!   It is interesting to note from a viewer standpoint that Josiah and Ezra seem friendlier than usual in this episode.  In airdate order, this might mean that they settled their differences after “Serpents”.  In production order (Serpents being the last one filmed), it might mean that their camaraderie here prompted Ezra to trust Josiah enough to go to him for help in the other episode.

JOSIAH:
What do you call this, Doc?
DOCTOR:
Folks over in Scotland play this. It's called golf.
JOSIAH:
Uh-huh.
DOCTOR:
Give it a try.
JOSIAH:
Love to. Wow!
DOCTOR:
Now you're hooked.

[Thwacking at golf balls and nearly taking Ezra’s head off as they ricochet back.]
JOSIAH:
Humility. That's the lesson of this game.
EZRA:
Well, you appear to have mastered it.
JOSIAH:
[sighs]

JD:
You know they played golf on the estate where I grew up? How's your swing?
JOSIAH:
Humbling. It's the kind of game you play with your worst enemy, which...turns out to be yourself.

JOSIAH:
Ezra, you hit? Nathan! Cover us!
EZRA:
I've been cheated. Cut down in my prime.
JOSIAH:
No blood.
EZRA:
The best years of my life...
JOSIAH:
(Realizing why he can’t find a bullet hole in Ezra.)  It hit the diamond.
EZRA:
(Panicking) My diamond! My diamond!
JOSIAH:
What the hell you doin'?! You lost your senses?!
EZRA:
Worse, I lost my diamond!
JOSIAH:
[Literally dragging him out of the line of fire.] Ain't gonna do you no good in the hereafter!
 

 
WHAT'S NEW?
 Been here before and just want to see what's been added?  What story links?  What features?
Check WHAT'S NEW?
Death Dogs Magnificent 7 Fan Fiction HOME
MASTER STORY LIST
by TITLE
 MASTER STORY LIST
 by AUTHOR
MISC. SITE FEATURES
CATEGORY LISTS 
FANFIC LISTED BY CHARACTER
Characterization, Canon & Fanon
COMEDY
Full stories with a comic slant
ALL SEVEN 
(or maybe just most).
Who are we?
About Our Story Categories
Just Plain Funny
JPF
PWP's, Punchlines
& Silly One-trick ponies
CHRIS LARABEE
Fan Fiction
Fan Fiction Selection Rules
& the Exceptions that Prove Them
ACTION
VIN TANNER
Fan Fiction
Our Mixed (& Mixed Up)
Feelings about Mag7 SLASH
H/C
EZRA STANDISH
Fan Fiction
 For All Intensive Purposes
FanFic Pet Peeves
AU's, X-OVERS
& ADAPTATIONS
BUCK WILMINGTON 
Fan Fiction

REVIEWS
DEATH FICS 
& TEAR-JERKERS
JD DUNNE
Fan Fiction 
DEATH DOGS
MAGNIFICENT CANON STORYTELLING AWARDS 2004
NOVELLAS
& SERIALS
JOSIAH SANCHEZ
Fan Fiction 
Mag7 FAN FICTION
Written by
The Death Dog Site Owners
SUBLIMELY SURREAL
Satire &
Off-Center Stories
NATHAN JACKSON
Fan Fiction 
 Starke Raven's Study of Ezra's Speech
The Gambler Speaks
 Just Plain Sexy
JPS
Sexy PWP's 
HET
Romance
Time Tracker's Study of Vin Speak
The Tracker Talks
CCC
Character,  Contemplation
& Commentary
 HOLIDAYS
[More mush allowed.]
 Outrider's Study of Mag7 Speech
The Big Dog & The Pup
CHILDREN &
ANIMALS
THE KIDDIE CORRAL
Kid Fic AU's
 Tunnel Dweller's
Preacher's Pulpit
 
 
 Magnificent LINKS to the Seven