With Lincoln under military lockdown and a permanent, strict curfew enforced, Billy and the Regulators find themselves confined within their fortified HQ at the McSween house in Billy the Kid Season 2, Episode 7. They have fortified their haven to resemble a Wild West version of Home Alone, but that doesn't mean they're not still recruiting. The kerfuffle in town in Episode 6 has indeed earned them some sympathizers, including Dr. Clay and his wife, Alice, a nurse who perceives (quite rightly) that the Regulators may soon need their medical expertise.
Some still prefer peace. Pat, despite having warrants for Billy and his men's assassination of his predecessor, would prefer Colonel Dudley to deliver the paperwork rather than Jesse and his gang. However, Dudley, being steadfast in his neutrality, refuses to take sides even on that level. Everything remains precariously balanced on a knife edge, and for some, particularly Riley, things are moving too slowly.
When a mishap with a Regulator lookout results in the death of a soldier, Riley sees his chance. He pushes Dudley to authorize him to set fire to the McSween house, and in his fury, Dudley gives the go-ahead. In a single scene, the McSween house is ablaze, with Billy and the Regulators trapped inside, while the Seven Rivers Gang stands outside, taking potshots to prevent their escape.
The options are few: they either get shot, burn to death, or surrender. But it's Susan McSween who comes up with a more unconventional solution. Under a white flag, she leaves the house to petition Dudley for an intervention. She appeals to his position's responsibilities, his mercy—whatever she thinks will work. But nothing does, and she's forced to return to her burning home.
Despite Dudley's claims of impartiality, the military's position is clear in the scene above. One could argue that Dudley's hand was forced due to his soldier's death, but his men were imposing a curfew on a civilian population. Something had to give. Similarly, the military didn't pull any punches when Dulcinea and some of the other Mexicans peacefully marched through Lincoln. Despite Dudley's claims, the U.S. Army did not keep itself out of the dispute. Their efforts to maintain peace created more division and, ultimately, bloodshed.
Trapped in the roaring inferno with no realistic escape routes, the only exit for the Regulators lies through the guarded back door. While some noncombatants are granted permission to flee, McSween's fate is sealed. He offers himself up at the front of the property, his bible in hand, only to be summarily gunned down by Beckwith, Jesse's man. This act serves as a grim reminder that even a peaceful surrender would not have guaranteed safety for Billy and his men, leaving no one in doubt of the grim reality.
Dudley's actions, fueled by anger, have set in motion a chain of events that cannot be undone. Pat, tired of the relentless pressure from Dudley, desires nothing more than for this situation to come to an end. Billy, however, will not submit without a fight, especially after this latest tragedy. The Sheriff's hands are tied; his only course of action is to hunt down and terminate Billy's threat.
As Billy and a handful of remaining Regulators make their escape from the burning house, they take out a few members of the Seven Rivers Gang along the way. Set against the backdrop of McSween's blazing home, Billy cuts a sleek figure as he avenges Beckwith's handiwork. But the most captivating aspect of this tale is Jesse's indifference. When pressed, he candidly admits that he has no emotional attachment to the rest of his gang; they are all in it for the money, not each other, and he doesn't subscribe to the notion of camaraderie as espoused by others.
In fact, the only person Jesse seems to genuinely care about is Billy himself. Yet, they are on a collision course, with Pat Garrett racing to become the deciding factor. History bears witness that this story does not have a happy ending, and despite earlier hints to the contrary, it seems we are hurtling towards a bloody conclusion.
