"Big Bad Wolf" is the first episode of the third season of the American television drama series Hell on Wheels, which aired on August 10, 2013, on AMC.
The twenty-first episode of the series is written by Mark Richard and directed by David Von Ancken.
In the episode, Cullen Bohannon attempts to obtain engineer control of the Union Pacific Railroad, while an imprisoned Thomas C. Durant (Colm Meaney) wishes to prevent that.
Alone in his snow-covered burned-out caboose, Cullen hallucinates seeing Doc Whitehead (Grainger Hines), who tells him that his candle will soon go out.
Cullen runs outside to a riverbank, splashes water on his face, and hears a wolf howl.
In New York City, Clement Beale (Ben Ratner), Secretary of Crédit Mobilier, greets Cullen and Elam with news that the Chief Engineer position has already been filled.
At the Credit Mobilier office, Congressman Ames tells Cullen the job belongs to Senator Metcalf's (Wayne Duvall) son-in-law.
He and Elam talk with Three Piece Duffy (Scott Michael Campbell) about hiring railroad workers.
Ruth Cole (Kasha Kropinski) prays in front of the train as Elam and Eva pack their belongings.