Latham Cole

Latham Cole, also known as Mr Cole, is a fictional character of The Lone Ranger franchise, making his first and final appearance in The Lone Ranger (2013). He is a major character of the film, appearing as the film's primary antagonist.

He is a corrupt, greedy businessman/railroad tycoon who strives towards his personal endeavours for his personal benefit using various methods like extortion and murder. Throughout the events of the film, he attempts to reach high levels of power and wealth, working closely with his brother: Butch Cavendish in secret.

Cole is portrayed/depicted by English actor: Tom Wilkinson. Steve Corona portrays a younger Cole in the flashback sequences of the film.

Background[]

Latham Cole was born in the early 1800's to two unknown parents in the United States of America. At an unknown point in time, Butch Cavendish was born who became Cole's brother. The two shared a close relationship/bond with each other.

Young cole and cavendish — Young Cole and Cavendish

Several years before the events of The Lone Ranger (2013), Cole and Cavendish were travelling in the desert but were injured and passed out. Tonto, a young Comanche boy, found the two men and decided to take both of the men to his village to be healed. While sitting on the coast of the river, they had found a piece of silver and questioned the young boy where it originated from. He refused to answer so Cole bargained with the boy, giving him a small, cheap pocket watch. Intriguing the boy, he took the men to the mountain where the river begins. They found large amounts of silver, filling the men with satisfaction and greed. They took as much silver as they could carry before murdering most of the Comanche in order to keep the price a secret. They soon fled the scene. Tonto came upon the aftermath of the incident, witnessing the carnage that had transpired. He soon swore to have revenge on the men, believing they had been possessed by evil spirits within the silver named 'Wendigos'.

Cole then proceeded to maintain and uphold his confident and trustworthy persona as a railroad tycoon/businessmen, becoming renowned and well-recognised among the local citizens. In secret, he had imitated a plan, also involving his brother, to reach high levels of power and wealth through The Transcontinental Railroad, executing high intellect ideas and schemes. This would soon lead to the events of The Lone Ranger (2013).

Story[]

The Lone Ranger (2013) -[]

Latham cole picture — Latham Cole Announcement

26 years later after the aforementioned events above, Cole has become the CEO of the Transcontinental Railroad, working on a project to build a railway system connecting all of the United States- except the Comanche territory, as stated in the treaty. However, in secret, Cole was planning to build the railway into the Comanche country, so that he can take the silver to San Francisco, where the bank would pay 65 million dollars for it all. He was close allies with local ranger: Dan Reid Sir but he was coming close to his true intentions so Cole planned to have him killed with Cavendish committing the deed. The murder and slaughter of the remaining rangers, including Dan Reid is carried out successfully, guaranteeing that their plans will be kept private, secret and out of the eyes of the law.

Latham cole announcement — Cole announcing that the Comanche has "violated" the treaty

Later, he commanded Cavendish, who had now become a notorious outlaw, to make the public think that the Comanche had violated the treaty- so they would have a reason to build the railway into their territory. Cavendish subsequently raided numerous settlements of white people, posing as Comanche. Rebecca Reid and Dan Reid Jr were captured amidst the raids who were soon saved by Cole. The plan succeeds and Cole soon makes a public announcement that they are going to build through Comanche territory, announcing that all treaties with the Comanche are now "null and void". He calls in Captain Jay Fuller and his cavalry to wipe out the Comanche who have supposedly "violated" the treaty between them. Cole proceeds with his normal routines.

Fuller With Latham Cole and Others — Cole and associates

Now on The Constitution, a steam locomotive, Fuller informs Cole of his progress with the latter highly satisfied and impressed. He explains the importance of the railway system connecting all of the US to Dan Reid Jr. Rebecca Reid recovers from her injuries that she had sustained earlier and expresses her gratitude to Cole for saving them. They all have a peaceful dinner on the train but it is abruptly interrupted when John Reid (The Lone Ranger arrives with a captured Cavendish. Cole orders one of his employees to take Rebecca and Reid Jr to the supply car of the train while he and Fuller go investigate the scene. They seemingly arrest Cavendish and take him into custody. Cole invites John Reid for a meal as congratulations. Cole's plan is soon revealed after a short conversation which is then followed by The Lone Ranger arresting the corrupt businessman. They both move to the supply car of the train where they are involved in a brief altercation involving Cavendish, Fuller, Reid and Reid Jr. The altercation ends when Fuller becomes Cole's reluctant ally, siding with the latter. They overpower The Lone Ranger and arrest him, preparing him for execution by the firing squad.

Cole striking danny across the face — Striking Dan Reid Jr

While The Lone Ranger is being prepared for execution, Cole makes his way to a captured Rebecca Reid and Dan Reid Jr who are waiting within The Constitution. He remarks that "sacrifice is needed for change to occur" while they stare at him in horror and fear. Reid spits in his face, resulting in Reid Jr being struck across the face. Cole attempts to "teach him some manners" but it is halted when the remaining Comanche launch an attack on them. The Lone Ranger is saved by a nearby Tonto while arrows fall from the sky. Cole yells towards Cavendish to get the train moving and proceeds to return inside the safety of the train while chaos ravages outside. Fuller's cavalry manages to slaughter and kill the rest of the Comanche with their advanced weaponry with Cole delighted at their victory. Cole, along with Cavendish and Fuller, proceed onwards preparing for the ceremony tomorrow.

Cole shooting haberman — Cole shoots Haberman

The next day, Cole attends the railroad ceremony, being congratulated and awarded a golden pocket watch for his dedication and hard work by the chairman of The Transcontinental Railroad: Lewis Haberman the 3rd. Cole takes Haberman and the other shareholders to another building, offering a "surprise". He orders Cavendish to bring "the girl". Cole announces his plan to the shareholders and other businessmen about selling all the silver that he has obtained to the bank at San Francisco, offering 65 million dollars for it all. Haberman attempts to leave after furiously disagreeing with Cole's offer but Cole pulls out his revolver and shoots him in the back of leg, terrifying everyone in the room. With the assistance of Cavendish, Cole extorts all the shareholders into nominating him as the new CEO. He gracefully accepts as Haberman screams in pain.

Cavendish and cole during the train fight — Cole during the final train battle

Tonto hijacks one of the trains (The Constitution), sending it slowly down the tracks. Cole notices this and orders one of the soldiers to stop him. Cole begins his pursuit of Tonto, using The Jupiter. The Lone Ranger follows close behind. Cole shoots at Tonto, accompanied by Cavendish which proves to be fruitless. Rebecca attempts to stop Cole but fails as she is almost knocked out of the train and is subsequently knocked unconscious for a short period when Tonto unintentionally throws coal at her. He is next seen detaching several carriages while making a victory gesture towards a nearby Tonto. Cole hastily departs, speeding away from the action of the fight.

Cole holding tonto at gunpoint — Holding Tonto at gunpoint

Following the deaths of Cavendish and Fuller in a train crash, Tonto, now on carriages of silver, catches up to Cole who slows down his train to end the life of the last Comanche alive. He points his revolver towards a vulnerable Tonto. However, before Cole is able to finally kill him, The Lone Ranger uses his silver bullet to knock the weapon out of his hands. Tonto grabs the dropped weapon and holds Cole at gunpoint, giving his last speech to Cole before his ultimate fate. Tonto tosses him a pocket watch, confusing Cole as Tonto remarks "bad trade". Tonto detaches his train from Cole's train, drifting further and further away as Cole stares in confusion. Unbeknownst to Cole, that was the same pocket watch that he had given to Tonto many years prior in exchange for the location of the silver.

The Jupiter Plummets Into The River Below — Cole's train plummets into the river below

Cole stares at the pocket watch, muttering the last words of Tonto: "Bad trade". He soon realises what it meant and the Indian who had given it to him however he is only given very few moments to comprehend the realisation as he soon notices that his train is beginning to fall off a bridge that had been previously destroyed by Tonto and The Lone Ranger. Eventually, the entire train plummets into the river below, sending Cole along with the train. He screams in terror. Reaching the river, he tries to make his way to the surface but fails as the countless falling silver crush him, sending him further and further into the river. He soon drowns and dies, caused by the same silver that he had greedily taken and murdered for all those years. His body goes limp while the pocket watch, still remaining in his hands, drifts off into the water.

Following his death, his crimes and corruption are exposed and all those who have suffered or were indirectly murdered by him were rightfully avenged with his ultimate death. After all those years of planning and careful execution, it has all crumbled and fallen apart. All of his allies have either been caught and arrested or were killed amidst the final train fight, including Fuller and Cavendish.